Pete McAlister’s men were never at their best, but did more than enough to take the three points after controlling the majority of the contest.

The nearest the hosts came to scoring in the opening half hour was when Tommy Chapman’s rasping 25-yard effort was well saved. b ut they took the lead on 31 minutes when Frank Dillon’s well-flighted free-kick seemed to elude everyone before ending up in the back of the net, although brother Jake claimed to have got the faintest of touches.

The latter should have doubled the advantage shortly after, but his attempted chip was comfortably saved when power may have been a better option.

Dillon then laid on a glorious chance for James Worsfold on the stroke of half-time, but the big striker failed to make contact with the goal gaping.

WSR improved after the break and Dillon nearly doubled the advantage with a fine volley from a Ryan Corbett cross, only to be denied by the woodwork.

Corbett then forced a good save himself in the 75th minute, before the introduction of substitute James Payne paid immediate dividends. He rolled in a simple tap-in following a flowing team move, opening his account for the club.

And like London buses, one became two in quick succession for Payne, as he finished a pin-point Dave Givens cross, before County player-manager Zak Spencer was given a red card late on for a two-footed challenge.

Three first-half goals helped Marlow United into the semi-finals of the BTC Senior Cup following an entertaining 3-2 win at Reading YMCA.

Wesley Sutherland put the visitors ahead in the fourth minute, before Andrew Nichol doubled the advantage. Billy Mason made it 3-0 on 24 minutes, and although the Young Men showed great resilience, a Dan Donegan penalty and a Ryan Adams strike were not enough to keep their Madejski Stadium final dream alive.

Marlow will now face Unity in the last four, after they disposed of Division One side Woodley Hammers 2-0, while AFC Aldermaston’s reward for their 2-0 win at Westwood United is a game with Woodcote Stoke Row.

Frilsham & Yattendon kept their faint Division One title hopes alive with a 3-1 win against Woodley Town Reserves.

Reading YMCA Rapids stayed top of Division Two, overcoming a sub-standard display to win 2-1 at Compton. Alex Caines gave the hosts a 12th-minute lead, but a first-half double from Dan Szutenberg proved enough for the unbeaten Young Men.

Thomas Heslop and Daniel Houseman were on target for Goring United, but they were beaten 5-2 at second-placed Wargrave, while Eldon Celtic annihilated Marlow United Reserves 10-2.

Taplow United Reserves reached the semi-finals of the BTC Intermediate Cup with a fine 3-2 win against Woodley Town A. Guy Coles put the hosts 1-0 up at the break, and further strikes from Michael Gaut and substitute Jack Bustard were enough to secure the win, despite Sam Skehan and Jamie Cole replying for Town.

Taplow will take on Westwood United Reserves for a place in the final after they won 1-0 at Mortimer Reserves.

Baughurst AFC suffered penalty shootout heartache as they were dumped out of the North Hants Cup following a 4-3 spot kick reverse against Hampshire Iron. The sides had played out a 0-0 draw after 120 minutes.

Helder Fveitas and Christopher Searle were on the scoresheet for Berks County Reserves, but they were knocked out of the BTC Junior Cup following a 3-2 defeat by Rotherfield United Reserves, while Marco Kreuzer was among the scorers as The Hop Leaf were beaten 4-3 by Wargrave Reserves in an exciting contest.

James Robinson and Ben Wakeford netted for Shinfield but they were eliminated by Unity Reserves after a 3-2 reverse.

Division Five champions Harchester Hawks showed no signs of a title-winning hangover as they crushed Woodley Town B 6-0. Dan Adkins and Sam Whitlock both helped themselves to braces, with George Francis and Ethan Wells also finding the net.

An Andy Miller double and strikes from Stewart Cullen and Richmond Osei helped AFC Baughurst Reserves to a hard-fought 4-2 win against TDC Knights.

Results, Saturday, February 21:

Premier Division: Hurst P-P Highmoor Ibis, Sandhurst Devels P-P Mortimer, Woodcote Stoke Row 3-0 Berks County FC, Wraysbury Village P-P Rotherfield United.

Division One: AFC Corinthians P-P R.E.M.E Arborfield, Ashridge Park P-P Sonning, Frilsham & Yattendon 3-1 Woodley Town Res, Winnersh Rangers P-P Cookham Dean Res.

Division Two: Compton 1-2 Reading YMCA Rapids, Eldon Celtic 10-2 Marlow United, Wargrave 5-2 Goring United.

Division Four: AFC Corinthians Res P-P Sonning “A”, Goring Utd P-P AFC Aldermaston Res.

Division Five: Baughurst AFC Res 4-2 TDC Knights, Harchester Hawks 6-0 Woodley Town “B”.

Berkshire Trophy Centre Intermediate Cup: Mortimer Res 0-1 Westwood United Res, Taplow United Res 3-2 Woodley Town “A”.

Berkshire Trophy Centre Junior Cup: Berks County Res 2-3 Rotherfield United Reserves, Highmoor Ibis “B” P-P FC Reading Dons The Hop Leaf 3-4 Wargrave Res, Unity Res 3-2 (after extra time), Shinfield Reading YMCA 2-3 Marlow United, Westwood United 0-2 AFC Aldermaston, Woodley Hammers 0-2 Unity.

Fixtures, Saturday, February 28:

Premier Division: AFC Aldermaston v Hurst, Mortimer v Marlow United, Rotherfield United v Reading YMCA, Sandhurst Devels v Unity, Taplow United v Cookham Dean, Woodcote Stoke Row v Highmoor Ibis Res, Wraysbury Village v Berks County FC.

Division One: Cookham Dean Res v AFC Corinthians, R.E.M.E Arborfield v Woodley Hammers, Winnersh Rangers v Sonning, Woodley Town Res v Ashridge Park.

Division Two: Sandhurst Devels Res v Wargrave, Taplow United Res v Compton.

Division Three: Twyford & Ruscombe v S.R.C.C, Woodley Town “A” v White Eagles.

Division Four: Goring Utd Res v AFC Corinthians Res, Hurst Res v Shinfield, Sonning “A” v Highmoor Ibis “B”, Wargrave Res v Rotherfield United Reserves.

Division Five: FC Reading Dons v Berks County Res.

Berkshire Trophy Centre Intermediate Cup: Reading YMCA Rapids v Imaan FC.

Other Fixtures: Finchampstead Res v Mortimer Res, Westwood United Res v Eldon Celtic.