It’s been a much better week weather wise and the sun has appeared on frequent occasions, so here is hoping for plenty of football! Hard to believe February is coming to an end.
The Izusu FA Vase Quarter Final tie between Hallen and West Didsbury & Chorlton takes place on Saturday atHallen. West Didsbury & Chorlton ply their trade in The North West Counties Football League Premier Divisionand are currently in 6th place, but well placed for a play-off spot. The club was founded in 1908 and is based in Chorlton which is just outside Manchester. All our hopes are firmly pinned on Hallen to make it through to the Semi-Finals.
In the UHL Premier Division last Saturday, we had a pretty much full program with only the Slimbridge v Corsham Town game falling to the weather. Worcester Raiderscontinued their climb up the table and took over 2nd place with a hard fought 2-1 away win v Cirencester Town. Raider’s winner came in the 97th minute. Tuffley Roverswon their 3rd game in a row with a narrow 1-0 home win v Westfields. Mangotsfield United made the relatively short trip across Bristol to play Cribbs and won 1-0 with an 84th minute goal. Fairford Town and Cinderford Town’s recent revivals in form ended on Saturday with Fairford losing 2-0 away to Lydney Town and Cinderford losing 2-1 away to Royal Wootton Bassett Town. Hereford Pegasus lost 3-1 at home to Thornbury Town and Longlevens lost 2-0 away to Highworth Town. Hallen (with games in hand on teams around them) had a good 3-0 away win v Pershore Town to enhance their hopes of beating the drop. On Tuesday night we had Slimbridge v Worcester Raiders, with Raiders continuing their fantastic form, winning 1-0 and taking over 1st place in the table. Cribbs are a little marooned at the bottom of the table at present and it’s quite tight between the bottom 5. At the top, it’s ultra-competitive with the top spot and play-off places being fiercely contested.
In the UHL Challenge Cup on Tuesday, Droitwich Spahosted Fairford Town and duly won the game 5-2 to set up a semi-final tie away v Slimbridge.
In UHL Division One on Saturday, we also had a pretty full program of league games played. FC Stratford continued in 1st place with a tricky visit to 5th placed Newent Town. They came away with a 2-0 win. Wantage Town hosted Carterton and won the 5-goal thriller 3-2 to maintain 2ndplace. With Bewdley Town not in action, Stonehouse Town closed the gap with a 4-1 away win v Thame United Reserves. Cheltenham Saracens continued their impressive season with a 2-1 home win v Woodford United. Brimscombe & Thrupp v Redditch Boroughended 0-0, Shortwood United won 1-0 at home v Wellington, Ludlow Town travelled to Clanfield 85 and a Ramzi Killicaslan hattrick saw them travel home with a 3-2 win. Alcester Town v Malmesbury Victoria was postponed. In mid-week, FC Stratford had a very impressive 7-1-win v Woodford United with Toby Nichollscoring 4 of the goals. Bewdley Town travelled to Alcester Town and won 1-0 and Cheltenham Saracens hosted Redditch Borough and won 2-0. It is still really close at the top of the table and there is sure to be some movement at the bottom.
In the UHL Supplementary Challenge Cup Banbury United Dev v Chipping Sodbury Town ended 3-2, with both of Chipping Sodbury’s goals coming in stoppage time. Mohammed Gaye scored a hattrick for Banbury.
In the Batemans Sports Alliance Challenge Cup, UDA Glos Dev won 4-0 v Newent Town Dev.
In the Alliance East there was one game on Friday eveningwhich saw Hungerford Town Res beat Eversley & California Res 6-0 and one game on Saturday which saw Marlow Res v Headington Amateurs end 2-2. In midweek, Easington Sports Dev won 8-0 v Eversley & California Res.
In the Vets Premier we had wins for Faringdon Town Vets, Didcot Town Old Boys Vets and Penn & Tyler Green Vets.
In the Vets Division One, we had wins for Witney Royals Vets, Bicester Town vets and Holyport Vets.
Fingers crossed on the weather front,
Regards,