SOUTH Berkshire men kept their MBB&O Division One promotion hopes alive with a 6-2 victory at basement boys West Hampstead 3rds, writes Richard Ashton.

Braces from Sam Fox-Harvey, Daniel Ray and Will Simpson did the damage as the visitors climbed to fourth in the table, goals from Tom Padden and Louis Tambe proving only consolations for Hampstead.

South Berkshire host second-placed Newbury & Thatcham 2nds in a vital clash this coming Saturday.

South Berkshire 2nds improved their chances of survival with an impressive 3-1 win at home to mid-table Phoenix & Ranelagh, Mike Baylis, Tom King and Peter Tailby on target.

Jean-Claude Mustill was the visitors’ goalscorer.

In Division Three, fourth-placed South Berkshire 3rds earned a point from their trip to fellow promotion hopefuls Aylesbury 2nds.

Division Seven basement-dwellers South Berkshire 5ths were beaten 6-2 at Marlow 5ths, and in Division Eight West, South Berkshire Terriers were held to a 0-0 draw at home to lowly Oxford 8ths.

South Berkshire Ladies put in a brave performance but were ultimately beaten 2-0 at home by runaway Trysports Three Counties League Premier One leaders Sonning.

The game was rescheduled from last month when a frozen pitch meant it could not take place.

South Berkshire will hope to return to winning ways when they host relegation-threatened Oxford 3rds this coming Saturday.

In Premier Two, second-bottom South Berkshire 2nds were held to a 1-1 draw at the only side below them in the table, Bicester.

South Berkshire 3rds stayed three points above the Division Three drop zone after they managed to secure a 1-1 draw at fellow strugglers Harlow-High Wycombe.