Witney & District Football Reports - Week 23

Watts Junior Cup 17-18 - 1st Round
The Watts Junior Cup continued this weekend with the majority of the remaining games playing to a conclusion. There were goals aplenty but it was also the shot stoppers making the headlines as George Lambourne of Witney Royals saved TWO penalties to against hosts Stonesfield to help his side to a 2-0 victory. Strikers Matt Thompson and Miles Roberts obliged with the goals for Royals.

Bourton Rovers will be joining Royals in the next round after they saw off Brize Norton 1-0. A single Lee Mosson was enough to take the Division Two side through to the next round while goals from Todd Parker Hunt and Russel Fujack ensured Bletchindon's passage into Round Two after their 2-0 win over Eynsham SSC.

Hanborough Reserves were knocked out by Aston, 3-2 with James Fleming, Jamie Kennedy and Warren Austin all on the score sheet. Luke Archer and Lewis Maskens’ goals nearly taking the game to extra time.

Milton also find themselves in the hat for the next round after they saw off Middle Barton 3-1. John Umney scored for the hosts but goals from Alex Ayres, Levi Steele and John Chapman settled the tie in Milton’s favour.

Witney & District Supplementary Cup 17-18 - 1st Round
Bletchington Reserves booked their tickets to round Two of the Supplementary Cup after their 4-2 win over Bourton Rovers Reserves. Michael Trafford bagged a brace while Nigel Taylor added the other. Bourton’s goals were scored by Jay Mosson and Dan Bourton.

Minster Lovell also progressed courtesy of their 4-0 win over FC Mills. Rui Alves and Rob Hipkin added to David Souch’s double.

Premier Division
FC Hollybush extended their lead at the top of the Premier Division to six points after they defeated Hailey 3-1. Jake Smith was on target for the visitors but goals from Dan Bishop, Jacob Hughes and Al Rogers secured the points for the league leaders.

Hollybush were helped in part by Chipping Norton Town’s 5-2 win over second place Kirtlington. The wheels seem to have come off their title challenge as they fell to a second defeat in a week. Dan Bott scored a hat trick for Chippy with Josh Hunt scoring the other two. Shane Probitts and Nathan Kelly scored the goals for Kirtlington.

Meanwhile Hanborough continue to make quiet progress and moved into third place after their 3-0 win over Charlbury Town. Boro’ who have a stash of games in hand over the teams around them are now just 3 points from second place courtesy of goals from Craig Johnson, Ian Steele and Dan King.

Carterton Town A beat local rivals Carterton Rangers 3-1 leaving them precariously close to the drop zone. Ben Pearce scored the goal for the hosts but goals from Mike Bolt, • Olly Bush and Steve Harries secured the points for Town.

Relegation threatened Combe gave their survival hopes a boon with a convincing 6-2 win over fellow strugglers Spartan Rangers. Combe and Spartan, from whom they are still five points adrift, occupy the bottom two places, however goals from Matt Baker (2), Sam Hibberd, Simon Gale, Callum Surrage and Mike Gardener and two games in hand gave Combe a glimmer of hope. Alfie Saunders and Charlie Harper scored for the visitors.

Division Two
In the days only Division Two game, Spartan Rangers Reserves went down 1-0 to Moreton Rangers who jumped four places in to second courtesy of an Adam Chadwick strike.

Division Three
Division Three leaders Siege FC extended their lead over the chasing pack after their 4-2 win over Ducklington. Nathan Howells (2), Will Griffiths and Andy Makepiece were on target for the hosts with Ciaran Doyle and Jack Meagher getting two back for Duck.

Two of the promotion hopefuls lost ground on Siege at the top after being held to draws by mid-table sides. Corinthians escaped with a point after their trip to Burwell courtesy of a 2-2 draw with Witney Royals Reserves. The hosts came from behind after Mikey Piper had cancelled out Perry Lettens earlier strike. With 1-0 minutes to go, Rory Murphy popped up to give the hosts the lead with his first goal for Royals. However with the game approaching its conclusion, the visitors pressure paid off when Luke Cuthbert levelled the tie.

Wootton will also be ruing missed chances as they were held to a 1-1 draw with Combe Reserves. Lee Spencer had given the hosts the lead only to be pegged back later in the game after a strike from Combe’s Mark Duvall.

Milton Reserves remain at the foot of the table after they were defeated 2-0 by Chipping Norton Town Reserves. Darren Bridge and Rocky Burton with the goals for Chippy.

Division Four
There were no surprised in Division Four where the bottom two sides were issues with jolly good spankings by two of top three sides. Leaders Carterton Town B put fifteen on the board during their 15-0 demolition of neighbouring Siege FC Reserves. Goal machine Dave Wanless smashed in five with Shay Lowthian scoring a hat trick. Jack Gibson and Danny Haining each scored twice with Dan Chillington, Liam Felstead and Jack Cullip completing the rout.

Third placed Kingham All Blacks Reserves were also in a clinical mood putting six past FC Ascott Rangers. Adrian Williams was in prolific form as he smashed in four with Paul Tyak and Olly Peters getting the others.

In the middle of the table, Chadlington Reserves went down 3-0 to Stonesfield Reserves Jamie Gardner (2) and James Ryan each finding the back of the net; while at the very foot of the table, FC Ascott Reserves are still seven points from safety after they were beaten 5-1 by Bampton United Reserves. Will Coles scored for the hosts but goals from Josh Morgan (2), Kieron Colley, Steve Newman and Lewis Townsend settled the tie.