Trophy over, now it's back to the promotion quest for Hungerford

Home games for Tadley and Thatcham and tough away trip for Newbury

HUNGERFORD TOWN revert to the task of chasing promotion to the National League South as they begin the task of catching up on their rivals following weeks of postponed games and FA Trophy commitments.

Not having played a home league game in almost two months, on Saturday Hungerford go to Biggleswade Town, one of the sides to make ground on Hungerford while their were sidetracked and sidelined on Trophy duty.

“It’s been a great journey and a great experience for the boys, and I’m proud of every single one of them and of the club,” said manager Bobby Wilkinson.

“But now let’s get back to business and begin the job of climbing back up the table and see where we end up.”

Hungerford now have games in hand on most of their rivals, but need to find the form that saw them go 13 matches unbeaten before their last league outing produced a single goal defeat at Dunstable Town.

“We showed a lot of class as a club at Chester last week, but now it’s a question of what we can do now,” said Wilkinson, who is still without hamstring injury victim Alan O’Brien in an otherwise full-strength squad.

Thatcham Town take on Gloucester side Longlevens AFC for the first time in their history at Waterside Park on Saturday, still holding the lead at the top of the Hellenic League’s Premier Division.

Longlevens recently accounted for reigning champions Flackwell Heath with the help of two goals from top scorer Brad Martin, and they are currently nursing an eight-game unbeaten run.

Thatcham are also at home on Tuesday night when they entertain Thame United in the Perpetua Press Floodlit Cup, and a week later on February 2, they will play their delayed Berks and Bucks Senior Trophy quarter-final tie at Flackwell Heath.

Tadley Calleva entertain fourth in the table Laverstock and Ford as they continue their bid to climb back into the upper reaches of the Sydenhams Wessex League Division One table.

Boss Danny Dolan considered last week’s 1-1 draw at New Milton as “two points dropped” but he is confident tha his side can find form on a decent surface at Barlows Park.

“It’s not being disrespectful, but they are not the most technically gifted side and are fourth, and that’s the way it is this season,” said Dolan.

“But we try to entertain and play in the right manner, and I continue to believe that it’s only a matter of time before someone gets a right hiding.

Dolan hopes to have striker Tolu Sotonye and defender Spencer Barlow back in the reckoning after injury.

Newbury return to Thames Valley Premier League action, charged with the task of getting something at league leaders Marlow United on Saturday.