BETHEL United are still at the top of the Thames Valley Churches Football League – but their lead has been cut to just three points and second placed Brookside Saint Laurence have a game in hand, meaning there’s everything to play for.
Snapping at their tails are Tilehurst Albion and West Reading, who have two games in hand on Bethel.
It’s been another busy month in the League, with Philmar cup games taking place just after this issue had gone to press.
There are two more rounds of fixtures this side of Christmas, when there will be a seasonal break until January 12.
Will there be a change at top between now and the New Year?
If you’re free on a Saturday morning, why not pop down to a game near you and support your local team? Kick-off is at 10.30am.
Prayer meeting
Everyone is invited to a prayer meeting for the Thames Valley Churches Football League which takes place later this month.
It will be held at Finchampstead Baptist Church on Tuesday, December 11 from 8pm. The church is on Gorse Ride North in Finchampstead and League organisers look forward to seeing you there.
October 27
The league took a backseat to the Philmar Cup and it was a week of high scores.
With much as stake, there were 42 goals scored and only two teams – Reading Saints and West Reading Reserves – failing to find the back of the net. Interestingly, both teams lost 5-0: Saints to Tilehurst Albion and West Reading Reserves to St Paul’s Ealing.
Brookside Saint Laurence continued their strong start to the season with a 5-1 demolition of Greyfriars FC. The same scoreline saw South Ealing and Brentford overcome Finchampstead Baptist Church.
Carey Corinthians’ cup run continued with a tight 4-3 win over Reading Community Church, while St Andrews drew 4-4 with Norreys.
Wycliffe Wanderers drew against Bethel United and Kerith Community Church won 2-1 against West Reading.
November 3
There was just one game on November 3 – a league match between Brookside Saint Laurence against Kerith.
The Bracknell-based Kerith team were on form, finding the net four times including a hat trick from Ben Findlay, but Brookside managed to net five in reply, giving their strong start to the season a boost and leave them sniffing at Bethel’s place at the top of the league.
November 10
Bethel’s lead was cut back after drawing 1-1 with a Kerith squad keen to make up for last week’s defeat.
However, Brookside was unable to captialise on Bethel’s two points dropped, as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Wycliffe Wanderers.
High scores were to be found elsewhere: West Reading Reserves beat Greyfriars 3-1, while West Reading beat Finchampstead Baptist Church 4-1. Jamie Carstairs scored a hat trick, while Finchampstead’s reply was an own goal from the West Reading side.
Tilehurst Albion had an amazing game
with two hat tricks from Steve Hannah and Danny Lawrence and another three goals from Lewis Wigginton, James Anderson and Chris Mills to beat Reading Saints 9-0.
November 17
Tilehurst Albion repeated the amazing
9-0 scoreline as they press home their advantage against West Reading Reserves. This time, Steve Hannah netted four times, with a brace from Josh Baines.
Wycliffe Wanderers game against
Kerith Community Church was a
high-scoring thriller, with Neil Healy found
the net four times as Wycliffe beat the Bracknell team 6-4 and leapfrog them in the table.
At the top, both Bethel United and Brookside Saint Laurence won their
games – Bethel were away to Finchampstead and won 4-0, while Brookside, also away, beat Greyfriars 6-1.
Reading Saints beat Norreys 4-0, which sees Norreys the only side without a win in the contest so far.
December 8
B’side St Laurence v Norreys
Finchamp’ Baptist v Wycliffe Wanderers
Tilehurst Albion v Greyfriars FC
Reading Saints v Bethel United
West Reading v W Rdg Reserves
December 15
Wycliffe Wanderers v Tilehurst Albion
Greyfriars FC v Norreys10:30
Kerith Community v Reading Saints
B’side St Laurence v West Reading
Bethel United v West Rdg Reserves
January 12
Norreys v Tilehurst Albion
Reading Saints v Finchamp’ Baptist
West Reading v Greyfriars FC
W Rdg Reserves v Kerith Community
Bethel United v B’side St Laurence
January 19
W Rdg Reserves v Finchamp’ Baptist
Wycliffe Wanderers v Norreys
Tilehurst Albion v West Reading
Greyfriars FC v Bethel United
Kerith Community v B’side St Laurence
The results of these matchs, and previous ones, can be seen at tvcfl.footify.com
