Tuesday 5 August – Full-Time Scores
FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round – Replays
Bristol Manor Farm 0–1 Mangotsfield
Reading City 2–0 Cirencester Town
Virginia Water 3–2 Thornbury Town
Hellenic Premier Division
Hallen 2–2 Pershore Town
Cinderford Town 4–1 Cribbs
Corsham Town 1–0 Highworth Town
Droitwich Spa 5–0 Westfields
Fairford Town 1–1 Slimbridge
Hellenic Division One
Bewdley Town A-A Redditch Borough
Brimscombe & Thrupp 3–2 Chipping Sodbury Town
Carterton FC 0–1 Woodford United
Cheltenham Saracens P-P FC Stratford
Ludlow Town 1–1 Newent Town
Malmesbury Victoria 2–1 Stonehouse Town
Shortwood United 1–1 Clanfield 85
Thame United Reserves 0–1 Wantage Town
Wellington 2–2 Alcester Town
It was a proper Tuesday night shift across the FA Cup and Hellenic League as teams battled under the lights, chasing early-season momentum and, in some cases, a slice of FA Cup magic.
In the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round Replays, Mangotsfield United edged past Bristol Manor Farm in a tight 1–0 affair. Not much in it, but a single goal was all it took to book their place in the next round. Reading City put in a professional showing with a 2–0 win over Cirencester Town, looking every bit like a team who fancy a cup run. Virginia Water and Thornbury Town served up the game of the night with a 3–2 thriller, late drama, goals galore, and a crowd that definitely got its money’s worth.
In the Hellenic Premier, there were signs of rust shaking off and statements being made. Droitwich Spa produced a demolition job, steamrolling Westfields 5–0. A serious marker from the Spa lads and an early contender for performance of the week. Cinderford Town also found their groove, hitting four past Cribbs in a dominant 4–1 win. At the other end of the spectrum, Hallen and Pershore Town played out a lively 2–2 draw with neither side quite able to wrestle control.
Corsham Town will be quietly pleased with a clean sheet and a 1–0 win over Highworth, while Fairford Town and Slimbridge shared the spoils 1–1 in a contest that felt like two points dropped for both sides.
Down in Hellenic Division One, things were as unpredictable as ever. Brimscombe & Thrupp emerged victorious in a wild 3–2 clash with Chipping Sodbury Town. End-to-end stuff and three points just about deserved. Malmesbury Victoria also got the job done with a solid 2–1 win against Stonehouse Town, while Woodford United took all three away at Carterton FC thanks to a single-goal cushion.
Wantage Town did just enough to edge past Thame United Reserves 1–0, while Shortwood United and Clanfield 85 shared a goal apiece and a point each. Ludlow Town and Newent Town drew 1–1.
One of the more entertaining clashes saw Wellington and Alcester Town draw 2–2 – plenty of attacking intent, less defensive structure, and two sets of fans with raised blood pressure.
Elsewhere, the drama wasn’t limited to the pitch Bewdley Town’s clash with Redditch Borough was abandoned. We were made aware of an injury to a player at the time of writing this and we wish Thoses injured a speedy recovery. Meanwhile, Cheltenham Saracens v FC Stratford was postponed, because it’s not a Tuesday night in August without at least one mystery P-P…. But in reality we’re informed it was a flood light postponement and we hope more light can shine on this at a later date!
All in all, it was a night of goals, red cards, graft, and early-season unpredictability. August football never disappoints and neither did tonight. Cup dreams are alive, league tables are starting to shape, and some teams already have a lot to think about at Thursday’s training! Looking forward to a full fixture list Saturday where more teams will go in to battle to see who can come out on top and take all three points.
Picture credit: Pete Kinsella