Best Of

Apologies, I overlooked the fact that, yesterday, the U18s played in B & B Girls' Cup QF, losing 6-5 at Chesham United. Wargrave, Reading Orlando Belles and Reading Memphis Belles are the other semi-finalists.

FT Abingdon United Devs 1-6 U23s.

That win sees the U23s remain in third place. Leaders Beaconsfield Town beat Slough Town 10-0 at home today.

In the Premier, the Firsts move up to second place. On a day of county cup games, the only other league game in this Division saw Reading record their first points of the season, with a 2-1 home win against fellow strugglers Selsey, to move out of the bottom two.

Firsts - Southern Regional Premier: https://bit.ly/4e6RRDC

U23s - Southern Regional Division One North: https://bit.ly/4dUOQ9F

U18s - JPL Warriors League: https://bit.ly/4e7M7c2

Coming up this weekend.

Sunday

Woodley United v Firsts - Southern Regional Premier, 2pm, UofR Bulmershe Pavilion, Woodlands Avenue, Woodley RG5 3HE

Abingdon United Devs v U23s - Southern Regional D1N, 2pm, Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1PL

No fixture scheduled for the U18s (sigh). It must be so frustrating, eight weeks without a game due to the weather, gaps in the schedule and teams scratching. Christmas always takes two weekends out. They do have a game next Saturday.

After the Firsts' loss last week, to be champions they would have to make up nine points on Ascot, and win all remaining eight games. The latter is quite possible but it is hard to see Ascot dropping any more points. Apart from Wycombe (2-2, 2-1) and, strangely, struggling Badshot Lea (1-0), Ascot have won all other league games by at least three goals.

Woodley are having a good season, one point above the Chairgirls, but they are prone to leaking goals, 30 in their 10 games. Games between the two teams can be a battle, last season both were draws (1-1, 0-0). Woodley's disciplinary record is much improved this season, four yellows, one second yellow and one sin bin. Last season they had 15 yellows, one second yellow, one red and two sin bins. The Chairgirls have two yellows this season, one last season.

Abingdon Devs, who last played on 1st December, have won six and lost five this season. In October they beat the U23s 4-0 in the reverse fixture at Burnham.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDtUf8umXug

You can find anything on the internet these days

Thanks for your research but hearing mention of the ‘Causeway’ stadium was more upsetting than seeing the mistake that led to the goal!

Plenty of good managers around and we're in an attractive position with funds to entice them. We've got to be aiming high.

I don’t think the past is much of an indicator of future decisions under the new ownership.

Richardson, Whing and Holden would be absolutely boring appointments, I really hope Rice goes all out for Schumacher

He also has (had?) a YouTube channel which might give you some insight into his character.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyuk4fiaXQXnUlUHJj6qkAQ

Not sure I agree on Buckingham. His CV is very impressive. Worked in different leagues, in different countries and had success in all of them. Also successful at youth international level. I mean, in my view there isn't anyone to match Blooms, but Buckingham, along with Schumacher seem the outstanding candidates to me.