With half term in full swing, the youth sides have a complete weekend off, whilst the seniors sides are in league & cup action on Saturday afternoon. Please note, all kick off’s are earlier due to the clocks changing.
Darryl Curtis and his 1st Team face a vital fixture in this seasons campaign as they look to kick start their season, on the road to Crowmarsh Gifford in NBFL Division 1, kick off 2.00pm.
The two sides are languishing at the bottom end of the table, with just one league victory between them, but both sitting on three points in 11th (Town) & 10th (Giff) positions. The home side have played four league fixtures but lost only once, with three draws and will count themselves unlucky to be where they are in the table. Drawing with Wallingford Town, champions Berinsfield and Long Wittenham Athletic, with their only loss coming froma strong Kintbury Rangers by the odd goal in three. So this fixture will be very difficult for Town, who are struggling for confidence and goals at the moment. The squad is strengthened by the return of Liam Humphries, whilst Reserves striker Dan Oyston gets his chance to knock on the door for a permanent starting position. Town had the upper hand last season with two 3-2 away victories, whilst the league fixture at Tucker Park ended goal-less.
Town Reserves enter the AG Kingham Cup on Saturday, with Division 5 side Burghclere Reserves the visitors to Tucker Park, for this 1.30pm kick off.
Town will be wanting to have a good cup run and start the competition by putting a marker down to the other sides on the cup draw. The visitors are a newly formed side after the club had issues with the previously form Reserves side and have started life in Division 5 with two wins, a draw and a defeat last time out to Hanney 66 Club. To reach the 2nd Round, Burghclere had to overcome Grove Rangers Reserves 2-1, on the road and the winners of this tie will travel to Watlington Town Reserves or Wallingford Town Reserves in the Quarter Final. Town’s squad has been strengthened with Dom Wills and Andy Capper coming from the 1st Team after their re-shuffle, plus midfielder Chris Kershaw is back after being unavailable last time out.
The A Team entertained Hagbourne United in NBDL Division 4, kick off 2.00pm at Tucker Park, hoping to get back to winning ways after last weekends defeat at championship chasers Lambourn Sports Reserves.
The visitors are winless so far this season, with just the single point registered, however they have been in many cup competitions and have played three games less than Town A and will arrive on the back of a 4-1 home defeat by Kennington Athletic. Goals appear to be an issue for both sides, United registering only five in six league and cup fixures and Town A, seven in seven! The young squad of last weekend is bolstered this week with the arrival of top scorer Li-am Farmer who was unavailable last weekend, plus Dan Pugh, Dan Ray and Jamie Steele-Davis who have all missed the last two Reserves fixtures due to unavailability and injuries. Town know a win will give them the necessary boost to string some results together.
The clubhouse will be open from 12.30pm on Saturday, Carling & IPA Bitter will be £2.50 a pint until 7.00pm and Chelsea v Liverpool live on BT Sport from 12.45pm.
