Thames Valley Church Football League 2011/12

Last-Gasp Jones Sinks Vineyard

A classic bottom of the table six-pointer lived up to its billing at Woodford Park, where Reading Saints came out on top in their encounter with Vineyard FC.  First half goals from Phil Greaves, Dave Kemp, Chris Frame and Matt Blake saw Saints take what looked like a decisive 4-1 lead at half-time. Vineyard's Alex Nicholls struck early in the second half to lift their hopes, but the three goal lead was restored quickly by Blake's second strike of the game.  However, Vineyard upped the tempo and responded with goals from Sam Pearson, Nicholls again and Mark Healen to level the score at 5-5 with only minutes to play. The league's bottom side were now in the ascendancy and looked like securing their first league point of the season until Reading Saints' player manager Rob Jones plundered all the points for his side with a dramatic last-gasp killer blow in the dying seconds.  In form James Hern hit a hat-trick for the second week running to help Greyfriars FC overcome Real World Corinthians 5-0 and pull well clear of the bottom three.  Greyfriars were on top from the start and Jeff Hallet headed them in front after just two minutes.  Hern then uncharacteristically spurned a couple of chances before heading in the second from a corner after half an hour.  Soon after the break, Hern was clumsily brought down in the box and got up to slot home the penalty, before completing his treble ten minutes later, turning to lob the keeper from the edge of the area.  As injury time approached, Jack Bradbrook sealed the victory, rounding off a fine display by heading in Alex Barltrop's pinpoint cross.  Meanwhile, at the top of the table, Kerith Community Church missed an opportunity to move ahead of the chasing pack suffered their first defeat of the season, 1-0 to Tilehurst Albion who closed the gap to 1 point with a game in hand. Warfield FC were unable to take advantage of Kerith’s slip to go top as their game against West Reading CFC was postponed due to a frozen pitch.   Ten-man Wycliffe Wanderers, unbeaten in the last 7 league games, also won 1-0, beating Bethel United to put themselves firmly in touch with the top four teams.  Potent league-leading marksman Neil Healy netted the match-winner.