This week’s action at Cantley Park got off to a frosty start with the Mens 3s match being called off against Oxford due to a frozen pitch.
The Men’s Sixth Team faced Yateley next. This top-of-the-table match ended with Berkshire triumphing 5-2. Goals from AJ, Steve Potter, Will Thompson, and two from Jack Hitchens kept South Berkshire in second place, reducing Yateley’s lead at the top to three points, with Berkshire having a game in hand.
Next, the Ladies’ First Team played against Alton in their first encounter. Goals from Liz Zutshi and Bello Pio secured a 2-2 draw for Berkshire, maintaining their fourth position in the league.
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The Ladies’ Fifth Team’s match at 4:30 PM saw a 0-0 score at halftime. As the temperature rapidly dropped, the pitch became unplayable, leading to the game being abandoned. Both teams agreed to take a point each, with the Ladies remaining at the top of their league.
On the away front, the Men’s Fifth Team lost 2-0 at Stoke Green, and the Ladies’ Third Team suffered a 3-0 defeat at Newbury. The Ladies’ Fourth Team experienced their first loss of the season, going down 3-2 at Staines. Goals from Kat Smith and Ellie Neal couldn’t prevent the defeat, but they still hold the top spot in the division.
The Ladies’ Second Team clinched a tight derby match 2-1 away at Reading Phoenix, with a last-minute goal from Emily Powell and another from Emily Evans.
The Men’s First Team had a delayed start at Marlow due to a last-minute change of venue caused by a frozen pitch, not kicking off until nearly 4 PM.
Berkshire, still grappling with injury issues, conceded two goals before halftime against a strong Marlow team. As the temperature fell under the lights, Marlow capitalised on defensive errors to add two more goals before Josh Cowell scored from a short corner. The pitch became increasingly slippery, and Marlow scored again, concluding the match with a 5-1 victory. This result leaves Berkshire in ninth place, with two crucial fixtures against Oxford Hawks and Slough remaining in the first half of the season.
The standout performance of the week was the Men’s Fourth Team’s stunning 8-2 away win at Reading. Goals from Mike Baylis, Mark Andrews, Duncan Clarke, Tom Scott, and four from Justin Patterson propelled them to second in the league.”
