A full fixture list completed over the past weekend, mainly in glorious sunshine!
The Isuzu FA Vase semi-finals are taking place tomorrow with pride of place for the UHL in the hands of Hallen. These games are played over two legs with Hallen at home v AFC Stoneham in the first leg and away next Saturday in the second leg. AFC Stoneham play in the Velocity Wessex League Premier Division and currently sit top of the table having only lost two league games. Hallen have raised their game in this competition so far and we wish them all the very best to do the same over the two legs. A day out at Wembley Stadium is very much within their grasp.
In the UHL Premier Division last Saturday the league leaders and the chasing pack all maintained their places although Cirencester Town swapped places with Corsham Town to move into the last play-off place. Current leaders Slimbridge won 2-0 away at Thornbury Town with the 2ndgoal coming in the 94th minute. Droitwich Spa hosted Highworth Town and won 1-0, Worcester Raiderstravelled to Royal Wootton Bassett Town and won 2-0 with two first half goals. Cirencester Town travelled to play Hereford Pegasus and led 1-0 at half time. A second half triple with goals in the 61st, 64th and 67th minutes saw them win 4-0. Corsham Town travelled to Mangotsfield Unitedand drew 2-2 with a healthy 305 in attendance. Fairford Town were held to a 1-1 draw away at Hallen and Cinderford Town continued their good form with a 2-1 home win v Westfields. Longlevens v Cribbs ended 1-1. In midweek Slimbridge continued in pole position with a Jack W Smith hattrick to thank in the 5-goal thriller at home v Corsham Town. Worcester Raiders travelled to Cinderford Town and won 3-1 to continue in 2nd place and 3rd placed Droitwich Spa were held at home 2-2 by current bottom of the table Lydney Town. Fairford Town drew 1-1 at home v Pershore Town, Tuffley Rovers travelled down to play a resurgent Hallen and lost 3-0. Mangotsfield United and Hereford Pegasus shared a 2-2 draw. Games are now catching up and it is still very much in the melting pot as to the Divisional Winner position and the play-off positions.
In UHL Division One on Saturday, leaders, FC Stratfordhosted Ludlow Town who were mid-table and the game finished 1-1. 2nd placed Wantage Town travelled to fellow play-off placed Cheltenham Saracens and won 2-0. Bewdley Town hosted Thame United Reserves and won 4-1. Stonehouse Town travelled to Clanfield 85 and won 2-0. Newent Town travelled down to Chipping Sodbury Town and regular goal scorer Dylan Hart scored two goals in the 3-0 win. Malmesbury Victoria travelled up to Alcester Town and won 1-0 with an 8th minute goal. Redditch Borough hosted Carterton and the game was evenly poised at 2-2 at half time. The game ended 4-3 to Carterton with an 89th minute own goal settling matters. Brimscombe & Thrupp won 4-1 at home v Woodford United with 3 of their goals coming in the 2nd half. Shortwood United continued their climb up the table with a 2-0 away win v Wellington. In Midweek, only Cheltenham Saracens of the current top 5 played. They travelled to Redditch Borough and won 3-1, Newent Town travelled across to Carterton and drew 2-2, Malmesbury Victoriatravelled to play Shortwood United and drew 0-0, Alcester Town hosted Woodford United and won 6-0, Brimscombe & Thrupp travelled to Clanfield 85 and after their 4-1 win on Saturday, they hit another 4 to win the game 4-0. Woodford United made the long trip to Shortwood Unitedon Thursday evening and won 3-2.
In the Batemans Sport Alliance Chairman’s Challenge Cup on Saturday, we had wins for Marlow Res, Easington Sports Dev, Banbury United Dev and Wantage Town U23.
In the Alliance East on Saturday, Ardley United Res won 4-3 v Eversley & California Res. In midweek, Hungerford Town Res v Ardley United Res finished 6-1.
In the Alliance West in midweek, Bourton Rovers Dev v University of Bristol ended 0-1.
In the Vets Premier Division we had wins for Didcot Town Old Boy and Watlington Town Wanderers.
In the Vets Division One, we had wins for Bicester Town, Henley Town and Watlington Town Old Boys.
In the GFA Challenge Trophy in midweek, the all UHL Derby between Stonehouse Town in D1 and Longlevensin the Premier ended 2-0 to Stonehouse Town. The other UHL team playing in midweek; Roman Glass St Georgeone 2-0 away v Bitton of the Western League.
Great to see Westfields winning their midweek HFA Challenge Cup Semi-Final v Bromyard to progress into the Final.
We have chosen Brimscombe & Thrupp FC to host our Chairman’s Cup and Presidents Cup Finals on Saturday 25th April. These games will kick off at 1.00pm and 4.30pm. Thanks to all clubs that made the offer to host, we do try to move the Finals around to different venues to give all clubs the opportunity to host.
Finally, it is of course the UHL Challenge Cup and Supplementary Challenge Cup Finals this Sunday. They are being hosted at Hereford Pegasus. The Supplementary Challenge Cup Final kicks off at 1.00pmand features Shortwood United v Newent Town. The Challenge Cup Final kicks off at 4.30pm and features Hereford Pegasus v Droitwich Spa. Come on down for what will hopefully be two really good games.
There is so much football going on at the moment, I apologize if I have missed anything.
Time to catch my breath,
Regards,
Ian