Latest weekly round up. 17.09.23

Weekly round-up for Sunday 17th September 2023.
It’s week 3 and we have some Cup matches in amongst the results today. We also have “Match of the Day”, and this week that’s the match between HRI Harbury and Wellesbourne Wanderers which is a Division 3 Cup match.

Division 3 Cup 2023-24, sponsored by Nick Chambers, in memory of his father Chris - Preliminary Round
HRI Harbury 3 Wellesbourne Wanderers 2
An entertaining game for the neutral spectator here, and an enjoyable morning watching some excellent quality football from both sides, played in the right way, with a family of Buzzards circling overhead. The warm weather has left us and it was an overcast morning with a hint of rain in the air.
Harbury were on the offensive early on, and a cross whipped in was deftly pushed over the bar by the Wellesbourne keeper for a corner. Wellesbourne are straight back on the offensive, some lovely neat interpassing down the left and the cross into the danger area is smothered by Wormington the Harbury keeper. Wellesbourne look threatening and Harbury are caught several times trying to play out from defence, but the final Wellesbourne pass or finish is lacking. Another Wellesbourne attack flows down the right and again the cross is gathered by Wormington without an attacker to take advantage.
Harbury then attack with some neat one touch play down the right and this time it’s the Wellesbourne keeper who makes a comfortable save from a weak effort. Straight back up the other end and again Wellesbourne make great use of the right flank, but again the cross is poor. Harbury again start off from the back, twenty minutes gone, neat play through the middle out to the right wing. A cracking cross to the far post where Sam Pye is on hand to prod home from close range. A well worked goal. Harbury 1 Wellesbourne 0
Harbury win the ball back from the kick off. Down the left. A lovely pass into Luke Sangha who collects the ball and swivels in one motion but the shot is high, wide and handsome! Harbury come close to a second with some neat play down the left. The lay off into the box, the keeper is beaten but the shot from wide on the left with a tight angle lacks power and is easily cleared by Wellesbourne.
Harbury win a freekick for a handball. It’s played deep into the box and the Wellesbourne keeper flaps at it, and it’s enough to put the ball clear where it’s played out from defence. Great work passing the ball through the Harbury midfield. It’s swung in from the right and with a Wellesbourne player about to get on the end of it, a last desperate challenge clears it away.
Wellesbourne have a freekick thirty yards out on the right. Another deep cross and it’s met at the back but the header is wide. Another break down the left and the Wellesbourne player turns his man with a lovely bit of skill but the shot is blazed over.
Harbury continue to play out from defence. It was always going to happen, and this time they do get caught, as Wellesbourne double up the pressure and win the ball back on the edge of the box. The keeper is stranded in no-mans land and it’s a simple job for Alexander Rea to chip into an empty net. A minute later and Wormington saves Harbury from going a goal down as Wellesbourne play some delightful stuff down the left, a lovely through ball and it’s a one on one with the keeper but the shot is hard and low saved by the keepers legs. Good save. Harbury go straight back up the other end. Some tremendous footwork into the box but the striker runs out of room and it's a goal kick. Wellesbourne squeeze as Harbury continue to try to play out from the back. Another chance goes begging as the cross is met by a defender who heads back to his keeper. And then again given away down the right. Wellesbourne waste the cance as the shot goes wide.
Half Time HRI Harbury 1 Wellesbourne Wanderers 1
Harbury off to a quick start and attack in numbers but the shot goes wide. Wellesbourne win a freekick twenty five yards out. It’s a training ground move. The ball is played down the wing instead of going into the box. It catches Harbury out. The pass into the box and a good shot but Wormington again with a good save to keep Harbury in it. Harbury win a freekick but it’s played too long into the Wellesbourne box and the keeper gathers safely.
Another clear break by Wellesbourne and with only the keeper to beat he puts it wide. And again a speculative long through ball beats the last Harbury defender and with only the keeper to beat the finish is poor and Wormington saves easily.
Harbury break and this time a long cross is met by the Wellesbourne keeper who gets a hand to it under pressure, and it’s out for a corner. The corner is a deep one, and Sangha takes it down well and cuts back inside and curls a delightful chip into the far corner of the net.
HRI Harbury 2 Wellesbourne Wanderers 1
Another HRI corner but this one is far too long and goes straight out for a throw in on the far side. Harbury continue to push for another. This time a speculative shot from well outside the area but it’s well over the bar. Wellesbourne pick up the pace. Harbury are penned back and under pressure. Harbury hold on and break away. A good move down the right. It’s squared, but the shot from Kieran Walsh is blasted over the bar when he should’ve scored.
Wellesbourne win a corner . It’s another deep one which is destined to be headed home at the back post but the defender nips in to clear just in time. Wellesbourne keep the pressure on and win a freekick wide and thirty five yards out. It’s swung into the box and bounces kindly for Ryan Hopwood who fires home from close range.
HRI Harbury 2 Wellesbourne Wanderers 2
Straight from the kick off and a long ball out to Udall who controls beautifully, turns on a sixpence and slides a tremendous pass with the outside of his boot into the path of Sangha who is challenged as he heads for goal and the ball ricochets back off Sangha into the net.
HRI Harbury 3 Wellesbourne Wanderers 2
Wellesbourne continue to push but can’t get another. Harbury play keep the ball and run the clock down. Wellesbourne run out of time and still have chances but cannot get the breaks.
Full Time HRI Harbury 3 Wellesbourne Wanderers 2
HRI go into the hat for the next round.

We move on to The Tracey Thomas Challenge Cup 2023-24 - Preliminary Round

Long Itchington Reserves 8 Stockton 0

And now to the Division 4 Cup 2023-24, sponsored by Spa Trophies - Preliminary Round

Bowling Green 1 Massey Ferguson Sports and Social 3 [/b][/b]
Equal fastest goal of the day here for Connor King in less than two minutes. A superb volley into the corner of the net. The second came just thirty minutes later when Adam Buzzard followed in his first effort to smash home the rebound. Bowling Green had their keeper to thank with some great saves.
The second half saw Noah Whitlock pull one back just past the hour mark latching onto a long ball. Massey’s cemented the win with a Mitch Statham cross that flew into the top corner in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Massey Ferguson go into the hat for the next round.

Kineton Sport & Social 3 Southam Sporting 1
A Scott Dunn brace and one from Calum Naven Jones were enough here for Kineton. Keir Wood pulled one back with twenty minutes to go but it wasn’t enough.

We resume with the Division 3 Cup 2023-24, sponsored by Nick Chambers, in memory of his father Chris - Preliminary Round

H C Raiders 2 Newbold 4
An own goal supported by strikes from Daniel Masters, Jordan Evetts and Jordan Bedford were enough to see Newbold into the next round here.

Kenilworth Royal Oak 3 Stockton 2
Royal Oak were two up here through Harry Green and a James Digby penalty. Sam Rose pulled one back from the spot just past the half hour mark. With twenty minutes to go Leighton Tongue made it all square with extra time looming. Then two minutes into stoppage time Royal Oak were awarded another penalty. Digby fired home for the win to take Royal Oak into the next round.

Real Barston 1 Cubbington FC 3
Charles Pickering with the Barston consolation two minutes from time. The damage had already been done with goals from Jonathan Spencer, Sam Smith and Paul Finnegan. Cubbington go into the next round.

We move on to League action now and we start as usual with Division 1(A)
Bourton & Frankton FC 7 Chadwick End 1
A Steven Nollett consolation here with ten minutes to go.

Dynamo Leamington 3 Kenilworth Wardens 1
Wardens took a first half lead here through Charlie Waters, but Dynamo hit back in the second half. Amine Bouhali and an Aaron Rowley brace doing the damage.

Leamington Hibernian Reserves 2 Khalsa 0
Hib’s reserves tested here but a goal in each half were enough to take the points. Connor Mort and Conor Smith getting the goals.

And on to Division 1(B)
Ettington Rovers 0 Cubbington Albion 4
Second fastest goal of the day here for Freddie Finn after only three minutes. It led the way as Ibi Fofana, Max Gough and Joe Bridge-Browne added to give Albion the points.

Heathcote Athletic 3 Tysoe United 1
Three goals in a nine minute spell undid a solid Tysoe performance. Jonny Hawker, James Bye and John Aston on target got Heathcote. Sam Jalowiecki with the Tysoe consolation with ten minutes to go.

Khalsa Reserves 1 Long Itchington 2
David Benton put Khalsa ahead after the half hour mark. The Long Men struck back in the second half when Jack Dent scored just past the hour mark and Owen Wilkes got a second eight minutes later. The Long Men held on to take the points.

We move on to Division 3

Napton 6 Whitnash Town 2
Equal fastest goal of the day here for Lewis Elkins . Napton had three more before half time through James Pelter, Robbie Farrell and Chris Watts. Jon Byrne with the Town reply. Matthew Hughes scored a second for Town to make it interesting , but Max Webb and Luke Randall both scored in a five minute spell to seal the points for Napton.

We finish as usual with Division 4

A F C Snitterfield 1 Balsall and Berkswell 1
A late equalise here for Balsall and Berkswell. Talib Bellamy had put Snitterfoeld ahead early in the second half. Four minutes into stoppage time and Ruben Oliveira made it all square and a share of the points.

Wellesbourne Wanderers Reserves 0 Sporting Foresters 9
All one way traffic here as Foresters cut down the Wanderers. Jack Devonald led the way with a hat-trick in a twelve minute second half spell. Dan Eykyn grabbed a brace. Thomas Wale, Ethan Poole, Ryan Baghria and evergreen Andrew Hood getting the others.

Finally a reminder that the next Council of clubs meeting is tomorrow evening Tuesday 19th September commencing at 8.00pm.