TVL: Berks County break duck with Reading City U23 success

Woodcote Stoke Row ended a run of three straight defeats with a comfortable 3-0 home success against Wokingham & Emmbrook Reserves.

The woodwork came to the rescue of the visitors on three occasions, with Ed Gadd, James Worsfold and Sam Green unfortunate not to put Cote in front.

Green and Gadd also headed over when well placed, while Ben Rusher had a good shot well saved before the inevitable goal came in the 38th minute, Tyler Brandon-Lee heading home Sam Tucker’s corner at the far post.

Almost on the stroke of half-time, Woodcote made it 2-0 when a bad back pass was latched on to by Gadd who rounded the keeper for a tap-in.

In a pretty nondescript second half, the hosts wrapped up the scoring after 75 minutes, when the three best players on show combined. Tucker’s corner was headed back from the far post by Brandon-Lee and converted from close range by the excellent Ryan Corbett.

Reading YMCA’s astonishing 69-match unbeaten run in the league was finally ended as they went down 4-2 at Wraysbury Village.

The Young Men had last been defeated by Marlow United back in March, 2016, but a brace from Mike Wilson, a George Dewhurst strike and an own goal ended their record.

Basement boys Woodley United Royals were thumped 5-0 at home by Richings Park, while Cookham Dean edged to a 2-1 victory against Burghfield FC.

In Division One, second-placed FC Imaan Lions battled to a 2-1 home win against Hurst, George Dallarda and Sabeel Ashgar with the goals for the hosts.

Jerol Forbes netted for Hurst.

David Reading, Simon Fuller – who was later sent off – and Macauley Bleasdale were among the goalscorers as Cookham Dean Reserves eased to a 5-1 success at White Eagles, while Rotherfield United beat Maidenhead Town 3-1.

Nick Payne and Max Swift scored for Finchampstead in their 2-2 draw at home to Reading YMCA Rapids. A brilliant Jordan Sawyer hat-trick fired Mortimer Reserves to a 5-3 win in their Division Two top-of-the-table clash at home to Woodcote Stoke Row Reserves.

Sam Jordan and Kian Sawyer were also on target for the home side, with Jos Millar, Matt Belcher and Tom Brownlow (penalty) replying for WSR.

Joe Wigmore bagged a brace and Callum Alliston and Sam Wild were also on the scoresheet as Wargrave eased past Harchester Hawks 4-1, while Richings Park Reserves edged a five-goal thriller 3-2 at home to Phoenix Old Boys.

Bailey Fullbrook netted for AFC Corinthians in their 2-1 defeat at Hurst Reserves, while Marlow United Reserves overcame Maidenhead Town A 4-2.

Rousel Moore, Delroy Howell and Theo Alexander were among the Marlow goalscorers, while Darryl Wearn and replacement Anthony Lane hit the back of the net for the visitors.

Archie Wheeler scored for Pangbourne in their 2-1 home defeat to Division Three table-toppers Berks County Reserves.

A Jack Page-Smith effort was a mere consolation for Goring United Reserves in their 5-1 drubbing at Henley Town, while Andy Benyon’s double fired Twyford & Ruscombe to a 2-0 success against Woodley United A.

James Murdoch and Raj Sandhu both netted for Taplow United A to earn their side a point from a 2-2 draw at Cintra Park Rovers.

Division Four leaders Berks County Rovers hammered Farnham Royal Mavericks 7-1, Alfie Haverley with the consolation for the hosts.

Daniel Chenery, Badr-Eddine Sharaz, Kudzai Chunga and Adam Henchcliffe got the goals as second-placed Datchet Village eased past Harchester Hawks Development 4-1.

Ethan Harris and Ashraf Ali goals fired AFC Corinthians A to a 2-1 success at Phoenix Old Boys Reserves 2-1, while a Jamie Boot brace earned Taplow United Reserves a 2-2 draw at Westwood United Development.

Newbury progressed in the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy with a 2-1 victory at Delaford, but Goring United exited the Oxfordshire Intermediate Cup after going down 3-1 at Kidlington Reserves. Mo Adam and Jonny Openshaw netted for Hambleden, but they were knocked out of the High Wycombe Challenge Cup 3-2 at home to Hazlemere Sports Titans.