SOUTHCOTE Colts avoided going through the season without a Reading & District Sunday League Senior Division win by causing a major shock last weekend, writes Dave Wright.

They won their final fixture 3-2 against second-placed The Sportsman at Whitley Wood Rec to end a run of 11 games which saw them manage just one point.

Reece Bucket, Joe Partridge and Harry Peters were their goal heroes, with Money Mills Chandler and Vinny Nash on target for the hosts, who were suffering only their third defeat.

Burghfield boosted their hopes of clinching the runners-up spot in the Premier Division after beating Caversham AFC 3-2 in midweek and then leap-frogging Pangbourne Barbarians 2-1 last weekend.

Kieran Smith and Chris Smalley Ward, with a second-half brace, earned the win over Caversham, who replied through Joe Cohen and David Johnson.

Josh Cook then scored twice in the opening half-hour to put Burghfield on their way to a vital victory against Barbarians.

They have completed their fixtures with 28 points, but can be overhauled by Woodley Wanderers Reserves who are on 25 points with two fixtures remaining against Tilehurst YM.

Wanderers moved closer to their target courtesy of a walkover at the expense of Caversham AFC.

In Division One, Henley Town won 5-1 at Coley Park to secure third place while leaving their rivals fourth.

Hugh Barklem came off the bench to net a hat-trick with Jack Byerley getting the other two goals.

There was also only one Easter fixture in Division Two, and that saw Wokingham & Emmbrook lose 2-0 at home to Brimpton Rangers.

South Reading look favourites to lift the Division Three crown after an excellent 5-2 win away to title rivals Shinfield Park United last Thursday.

There was a hat-trick for Cary Grant with Lewis Bloom and Sukhbir Hunjan getting a goal apiece, while Brett Rann bagged a brace for the hosts.

Amazingly, Grant netted another treble on Sunday, helping his side to an equally impressive 6-1 victory at sixth-placed Mortimer, where he was joined on the score sheet by Liam Goddard, Michael Hunt and Luke Maze, all this after Jamie Seward had netted an early opener for the hosts.

Shinfield Park quickly bounced back to winning form on Sunday, hammering AFC Panbourne 5-1 thanks to goals from Mitch Cooper (2), Dean Beasant, Pat Gardner and Rann, with Kaine De Costa getting a consolation for the visitors.

United remain top of the standings with 48 points from 19 games, but South Reading are just two points behind with three games left to play.

Jamie Clark notched four second-half goals as Theale inflicted an 8-0 defeat on bottom club 116 Exiles Reserves, with the others coming from Andy Simon, Sam Hutt, Ed Whitesmith and Alek Yankov.

Third-placed AFC Lowfield Green were awarded a win after Kings United had scratched their fixture, while Tilehurst Club Reserves also benefited at the expense of FC Showcase.

Division Four champions Burghfield Reserves won 3-0 at Calcot Royals courtesy of Sam Raines, Alex Vallins and Dan Fuller.

Borussia Teeth leap-frogged Caversham United into second spot by beating them 3-2, leaving both sides on 42 points with one game remaining, the former having much the better goal difference.

Sam Foster and Joe Hales were on target for Caversham, who host Sanctuary Strikers this coming weekend.