Its another busy week for the clubs football sides this weekend.
Darryl Curtis & his 1st Team squad will be happy knowing that they have an opportunity this weekend, to put their poor run of form behind them and put some daylight between themselves and bottom side Dorchester FC. The home side in this NBFL Division 1 fixture, are currently pointless from their opening eight league fixtures, whilst Town who sit 2nd bottom have gained just the single win over East Hendred in nine attempts. Kick off at the Recreation Ground is 2.00pm and Town will be hoping a second league victory will allow them to close the gap on the teams above them. With only one side likely to be relegated, after the disappearance of Ardington & Lockinge at the start of the season, this is a real six pointer. Town’s squad finally looks to becoming back to full strength, with only Mark Simpkins & Derren Harrington long-term absentee’s and this week see’s the return of Josh Forth, Dan Oyston and Dan Bradbury after missing last weekend’s fixture.
The Reserves will be hoping to avoid a repeat of the scoreline they suffered when they faced Kintbury Rangers Reserves earlier this season, when the sides meet at Tucker Park on at 2.00pm on Saturday. Town traveled to Rangers in decent spirits a couple of months ago, but came away with a 5-1 defeat, in a game which could have ended 5-5. Town have continued to struggle, however last weekend’s battling 0-0 draw with top of the table Stanford ITV will give the side plenty of confidence against fourth placed Rangers, who come into the fixture on the back of a four match winning run. Town will again be without Chris Kershaw, Tommy McCulloch, plus Alfie West this week, however a number of the lads who stepped up last weekend, keep their places in the squad and it’s bolstered by the return of Dom Wills and keeper Pete Doolan.
The A Team will be hoping to match or surpass the exploits of the Reserves, when they entertain top of the table Stanford ITV Reserves in NBFL Division 4 at Tucker Park, kick off 2.00pm. The visitor have been boosted this season by the demise of Ardington & Lockinge, with a number of last seasons Division 4 champions squad traveling along the A417 to join their management team. So far, the side is unbeaten in both league & cup fixtures with striker Jamie Gregory leading the way, with 14 goals from 10 appearances. Town’s youthful squad will need to work hard and compete with their more experienced opponents and the management team of Paul Hulme & Nick Wojcik will have fingers crossed for a positive scoreline.
The Development teams start their Spring League! campaigns in December, with the under 8’s in action at Tucker Park on Saturday morning, Marston Saints the visitors. The under 9’s continue their progression as a team with an opening trip to Bardwell FC, whilst the FTFC U10’s Trophy Event winners make the journey to Ardington & Lockinge, all kicking off at 10.30am.
Town under 12’s are in Knockout Trophy action, with an away trip to Wantage Town Juniors on Sunday morning for a 10.30am kick off. C League Town, will want to take their last two victories into this match with E League Wantage and progress in the competition.
The under 13’s are without a fixture.
The under 15’s are also in Cup action, as they welcome Crowmarsh Youth Tigers the visitors to Tucker Park on Sunday morning, kick off 10.30am. The two C League sides sit in 4th (Town) & 6th (Tigers), with the two sides yet to meet in the league.
Town under 16’s are the last remaining side who remain in the Berks & Bucks County Cup, with Slough Town Youth the visitors to Tucker Park on Sunday afternoon, kick off 1.30pm. The visitors make the long journey into West Oxfordshire, a long way from their normal Wycombe & South Bucks Minor league campaign. Slough have won 2, drawn 3 and lost 2 of their seven fixtures so far.
The under 17’s are back into action after a blank weekend, with the visit of Quarry Rovers to Tucker Park in OIYL C, kick off 2.00pm. Town have slipped to 7th in recent weeks after a couple of defeats, but do have games in hand, whilst Rovers have just the one victory from six league attempts and sit in 10th position.
