Double trouble for tired Tadley’s play-off hopes
TADLEY Calleva’s Combined Counties Premier South play-off hopes suffered a double blow this week.
Tadley had been looking a sure bet to reach the end-ofseason play-offs, but their incredible fixture backlog seems to have finally caught up with them.
Before last Thursday’s game at home to Spelthorne Sports, the Barlow’s Park side faced a gruelling run of eight games in 16 days.
Tadley won that game, but then crashed 6-1 at AFC Croydon Athletic in Saturday, and then lost the return at Spelthorne 3-1 on Tuesday night.
Tonight, Tadley host Woodley United in the Combined Counties League Cup, before travelling to Camberley Town in the league on Saturday and hosting Alton on Monday (11.30am).
It’s a run that was bound to catch up with them eventually, but they are still well placed to finish in the play-off places.
Tadley proved far too strong for Spelthorne in their first encounter, taking the lead through Alex Miller in the 22nd minute before two goals in the final 10 minutes from Jack French sealed the points.
But they were brought crashing down to earth on Saturday at play-off rivals AFC Croydon.
Pierrick Brandon Keutcha put the South London side ahead after just two minutes, then Richard Junior (2), Olalekan Nosa and Shawniki Clement-Peters made it 5-0 before Connor Thorne grabbed a consolation in the 78th minute.
There was still time for Croydon’s Brady Shalom Ayoola to grab a sixth late on.
Then in the return at Spelthorne, Tadley again conceded an early goal before Alex Fragata levelled in the 22nd minute.
But two second-half goals earned Sports a revenge win.
Tadley’s reserve team have also seen their hopes hit by a fixture backlog.
They are well placed to challenge for the Thames Valley Premier League Division 1 title, but are running out of time to fit their remaining games in.
On Saturday, April 6, they face a cruinch clash at leaders Newbury at Henwick.