Tadley double up to dent Newbury title bid
NEWBURY’S hopes of lifting the Thames Valley Premier League Division 1 title suffered a huge blow this week.
Manager Ben Wickens’ side went into their game with title rivals Tadley Calleva Res in top spot.
But they slipped to second after going down 3-0 – meaning Tadley completed the double over Newbury following their 5-0 home win earlier in the season.
Binfield Development under-23s took over at the top.
But it is Tadley and Reading YMCA Rapids who are the biggest threats to Newbury’s title challenge as they both have games in hand.
Cameron George, Lors Nicholas and Jack Snelgrove were all on target for Tadley, while Newbury’s miserable day was compounded when Ross Lawrence was sent off in the 81st minute.
Newbury will be confident of getting back to winning ways on Saturday when they visit bottom side Woodley United Development.
Tadley visit lowly Hambleden on Saturday and two days later face another crunch clash at YMCA.
Burghfield’s Premier Division title hopes are over after they suffered their second defeat in a week.
They followed up their 4-2 setback at leaders Westwood Wanderers by crashing to a shock 3-1 defeat at Henley Town on Saturday.
Charlie Douglas (2) and Tom Barker fired Henley into a 3-0 half-time lead before Burghfield grabbed a consolation.
Mortimer Development also saw their Division 2 title hopes disappear after going down 3-2 at leaders Penn & Tylers Green Res.
A win would have kept Mortimer right in the chase for top spot, but, despite two goals from James Croft, they were edged out by the Bucks side.
The North Berks League Division 2 title race is going right down to the wire.
The race was thrown wide open on Saturday as leaders Kingston Colts were beaten 2-1 by second-placed Letcombe Res – leaving the way open for Frilsham & Yattendon and Lambourn Res to mount a late challenge.
Lambourn, though, had to settle for a point this week after drawing 1-1 with Benson Lions.
Frilsham were in cup action, losing out 2-1 to Division 1 Woodcote in the semi-finals of the Charity Shield.
Tobias Nowell and George Scoffham struck for Woodcote before Josh Johnson’s late consolation.
Burghclere were plunged deeper into relegation trouble afteer losing 2-0 at rivals Woodcote Development.