READING FC are through to the quarter-finals of the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup without playing a game.

Last season's losing finalists, along with winners Slough, Wycombe Wanderers and Milton Keynes, all have byes in the second round.

They will be joined by the winners of these ties – Aylesbury United v Didcot Town, Maidenhead United v Marlow, Newport Pagnall Town v Beaconsfield and Hungerford v Bracknell Town.

The latter game will see Hungerford's Reading-based striker, Liam Ferdinand, facing his former club.

With Reading not entering, the B&B Women's Cup has reached the semi-final stage, where Wycombe host Maidenhead United and Milton Keynes Dons face Chesham United.

Looking at the B&B Senior Trophy, Mortimer are flying the flag for the Thames Valley Premier League.

They are through to the quarter-finals, where they will be away to Hellenic Leaguers Penn & Tylers Green on January 11.

The other ties are Wokingham & Emmbrook v Buckingham Athletic, Old Bradwell United v Wantage Town Reserves and Sandhurst v Milton Keynes Robins.

SEVERAL local teams, men and women, will be competing in a qualifying round of the FA Futsal Cup at Bohunt School in Arborfield this Saturday afternoon.

The winning teams will qualify for the regional finals, where they will be up against National Futsal Series Tier Two Clubs. Further progress leads to a round of 16 which involves some of the top Futsal teams in the country.

CONGRATULATIONS to Reading athletics star Jonathan Davies on leading Great Britain and Northern Ireland to victory in the mixed relay at the European Cross-Country Championships in Lisbon last weekend.

A gold medal was thoroughly deserved considering the amount of training he had done in recent weeks.

He spent three weeks of altitude training in the French Pyrenees before returning to the UK to compete in the Liverpool Cross Challenge, his first cross-country race in two years.

"Gaining the GB vest was a huge boost and I can’t wait to represent my country again," said Jon, who must be in the running for next year's Olympics.