Newbury hit top spot ahead of crunch clash
NEWBURY took over at the top of the Thames Valley Premier League Division 1 after completing a quickfire double over Goring United.
Manager Ben Wickens’ side edged out their local rivals 2-1 last week.
But they were more emphatic this Saturday, winning 3-0 to move a point clear at the top of the table.
Ryan Allen fired Newbury ahead in the first half, then skipper Luke Polding made it 2-0 with a superb free-kick before Carl Self, returning after a two-month injury lay-off, added a third.
The race for the Division 1 title is going to go down to the wire, with five teams still in with a chance of coming out on top.
Newbury are without a game this week, but the following Saturday, April 6, they face a crunch clash with title rivals Tadley Calleva Res at Henwick (2pm).
Manager Ben Wickens said: “We have only played six games in 14 weeks this year, so it’s been difficult.
“There are five teams still in it and we could finish fourth or win the league.”
Tadley kept up the pressure with a 4-0 win over Maidenhead Town Res.
Lors Nicholas led the way with two of the goals, while Ellis Theodore and Ashley Perryman completed the scoring.
Burghfield kept up their challenge for the Premier Division title with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Slough Heating Laurencians.
Teo Atik fired the villagers ahead before second-half goals from Adam Telford and Chris Smalley-Ward sealed the points.
Goring United crashed to a 5-1 defeat at Harchester Hawks in Division 3.
And Burghfield A boosted their hopes of finishing runners-up in Division 4 with a 3-1 win over Marlow United. Luke Skeels, Mattie Cook and Jack Sowden were on target for Burghfield. n Kintbury Rangers maintained their outside hopes of lifting the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League title with a 6-0 win over bottom club Ludgershall Sports.
Rangers trail leaders Amesbury Town by eight points, although they have a game in hand and plenty of games left to play. n Frilsham & Yattenden surrendered top spot to Kingston Colts in Division 2 of the North Berks League following a shock 3-1 defeat at the hands of Drayton Res.
But Burghclere clinched an excellent 4-1 win over Sutton Courtenay thanks to goals from Harry White (2), Jack White and Ben Wiltshire.