Taplow United Football Club 
                      An FA Chartered Standard Community Club                 

Berry Hill, Taplow, SL6 0DA
01628 621745

Match report Archive

Taplow Utd Res 7 Wargrarve 1
M Bevan 3, D Bisset, P Guerin,

Reading League Division 2
15 March 2008


Taplow Utd Res 1 Berinsfield 3


Reading League Division 2
1 March 2008

Runaway league leaders Berinsfield seemed to expect an easy victory but were confronted with a Taplow side determined to put up a fight.

Taplow went one up when Mike Bevan gambled on some poor defending and took the bal through the defensive line to shoot home into the corner.   Taplow continued the pressure and Bevan once again tested the resolve of the defence taking the ball through only to be fouled in the area.  Unfortunately Rob hays took the kick and missed. 

Berinsfield managed to level with a swerving shot just before half time and had the advantage of the wind in the second and even when conceding a second Taplow continued to show good form.  An unfortunate third flattered Berinsfield and illustrated that Taplow are only a few regular and consistent players away from a top of the table side.  
  



Woodley Res 5 Taplow Utd Res 1
Mark Haynes

Reading League Division 2
23 February 2008

Taplow Utd's performance belied the scoreline but they were let down by bad mistakes at crucial points in the game.

Taplow started working hard but found themselves down as Sean Ryan took his eye from his man and left him free to score.  Woodley drew further head as they hit Taplow on the break.  A third followed as the centre back and stand in goalie Kevin Hamilton Smith collided to gift Woodley the goal. 

Taplow started well in the second half and retrieve the position slightly when Mark Moose Haynes charged into score.  That however was the limit of Taplow's resurgence and they conceded two further poor goals as their lack of resilience became evident.               



Twyford 6 Taplow Utd Res 2
Rob Hays, OG

Reading League Division 2
16 February 2008

Taplow Utd's promising start was ruined by some woeful defending that gifted Twyford a two goal lead despite the best efforts of stand in keeper Pat Guerin.

Taplow clawed their way back into the game when Rob hays hit a goal from a rebound from the bar.  However,  further lapses of concentration in the Taplow back line made it possible for Twyford to double their tally by half time. 

Manager Kevin Hamilton Smith demanded a response and was rewarded when pressure from Mark Haynes led to a Twyford defender heading into his own goal.  Just as Taplow looked like they were back in the game, a mistake by Pat Guerin gave Twyford a fifth and then a long range effort into the top corner that beat Guerin hands down completed the scoring.        

Theale 5 Taplow Utd Res 0

Reading League Division 2
9 February 2008

Taplow failed to turn their strong start onto the score sheet.  Theale on the other hand converted their chances and were two up before Taplow knew what hit them.

Taplow struggled to get back into the game and created some good chances but were up against more than the player son the pitch and when Theale scored another goal the game was effectively over.  

Taplow found more freedom in the second half and several chances fell to Mike Bevan and Richard Isles but both failed to take their chances and confidence drained.  Quick counter attacks brought more goals for Theale and very blatant and partisan officiating inflamed tensions creating an unsavoury finish to the game.     
 


Taplow Utd Res 0 Berks County Sports 4

Reading League Division 2
1 December 2007

Taplow Utd took on promotion chasing Berks County Sports with some confidence and playing good football. 

In an even first half Taplow Utd were unfortunate to go behind after 5 minutes when the ball was crossed from the right and was met with a firm header leaving Guy Burford in goal stranded.  Despite this early set bakc there was little between the two sides. 

Taplow Utd pressed in the early stages of the second half looking for an equaliser.  Territorially Taplow Utd were on top but the breakthrough failed to materialise.  Changes ensued with manager Hamilton-Smith bringing on two subs but the changes failed to produce the added bite in midfield and a change of formation left taplow less rather than more resilient.  Taplow shipped three goals in the next 15 minutes and the game was over.         



Wargrave 1 Taplow Utd Res 3
R Hays, D Bisset, Ionut Luca

Reading League Division 2
24 November 2007

Taplow Utd won convincingly at Wargrave. 

Taplow controlled play from the kick-off and the first goal came from a piece of incisive play from Shane Bowden who intercepted a pass and fed Aktar Zaman.  Aktar's pass to Dan Bisset was in turn drilled through the Wargrave defence for Rob Hays to leave the defender in his wake and scored. 

Taplow Utd then became complacent and allowed Wargrave to capture a significant share of play until they were woken from their reveries by a stern half-time talk from Manager Kevin Hamilton Smith.  The second half was a different story as Taplow took a grip of the game and the release of a Rob Hays shot which came of the bar fell to Ionut Luca to score.  Wargrave then go to a goal as Taplow once more slumbered but the game was finally killed off when Dan Bisset fired a header home from a corner.                   


Sonning 2 Taplow Utd Res 5
Rob Hays 2, Dan Bisset 2 OG  
Reading League Cup

17 November 2007

A brilliant performance by Taplow Utd produced some of their best football this season.  A hand ball on the edge of the Sonning area allowed Dan Bisset to blast a free kick into the net giving the visitors and early lead.  Sonning equalised almost straight away from a penalty the result of hand ball at the other end.  With the Taplow midfield gaining control and dictating play Taplow went ahead when Rob Hays poked the ball past the Sonning 'keeper. 

With renewed confidence Taplow surged forward and from an early attack a Sonning defender deflected a cross into his own net.   Each team then created chances. Taplow's back four proved the most resolute until Sonning scored their second.  Taplow responded with a quick counter attack and took the lead once more as Dan Bisset added his second. With Sonning chasing the game Taplow moved the ball at pace and Rob Hays snatched a fifth to confirm the defeat. 

In the end a comfortable win even with several chances spurned to add to taplow's tally.  Kevin Hamilton Smith singled out Richard Isles for praise, citing him as the principal reason for the victory.      


Finchampstead 2 Taplow Utd Res 0
 

Reading League Division 2
10 November 2007

Weakened by injuries the Taplow Utd squad battled through a very even game only conceding at the denouement. 

Chances fell at both ends and Mike Bevan and Mark Landers both spurned opportunities for the visitors.  Finachampstead's free flowing passing game stretched the visitors and with no real support on the bench the Taplow side managed to match them for 70 minutes but short of fresh legs the visitors ran out of steam and conceded a goal.  Attempts to strike back by re-organising the side bacxkfired as Finachampstead sealed the game with a late second.     




Berinsfield Res 4 Taplow Utd Res 1
Richard Isles

Reading League Division 2
27 October 2007

A Richard Isles rockets from 20 metres was all Taplow Utd had to show for the long journey to Berinsfield.

After an indifferent start the game was over by half time as Taplow conceded three goals without reply.  A more robust performance in the second half produced an even contest partly as Berinsfield had no need to chase the game.  It also produced a Richard Isles rocket as he took advantage of slack defending to score his second of the season. 




Woodcote Res 2 Taplow Utd Res 3
Mike Bevan, Dale Bowden, Mark Landers

Reading League Division 2
20 October 2007

Taplow Utd were looking to avenge a narrow 1-0 defeat earlier in the season, starting the game with real purpose. 

Taplow took the lead after 2 minutes when Richard Isles headed in forcefully.  Taplow then continued to exert their authority and played good football.  A fats move from the back started by Pat Guerin produced another corner.  Mie Bevan flicked on Dale Bowden's cross and Mark Landers cracked it home. 

Taplow were very comfortable but let Woodcote back in with some sloppy defending and conceding naive free kicks.  One such free kick resulted in a goal and the Woodcote forward gathered the ball almost unhindered.  Taplow's over confidence was then punished when Dale Bowden was caught on the ball and the Woodcote winger punished over-complicated play by breaking forward and firing the ball into the corner of the net. 

Having almost thrown the game away Taplow returned to playing football and Dale Bowden pulled out al the stops working hard to cross for Dan Bisset to hold up the ball and play in Mike Bevan to score the winner.  Taplow then went on the dominate the game but in the process missed a hatful of chances.  And sat the other end the taplow defence snuffed out any Woodcote advance.     




Berks CS 1 Taplow Utd Res 0

Reading League Cup
6 October 2007

A hotly disputed penaltyr against the run of play allowed a lack lustre Berks CS side to grab the lead.  Taplow Utd's domination of play was complete but they were unable to turn their superiority into goals.

Taplow Utd were camped in the Berks CS half for virtually all the second half.  Taplow's goalkeeper did not see the ball for 45 minutes as the visitors battered away.  A penalty seemed assured as Mark Lasders was illegally brought down but what was awarded at one end was not at the other.  Free kicks from Chris Hancocks and Dave Allen exposed Berks CS but the final touch into goal eluded Taplow Utd.   


 

Taplow Utd Res 2 Sonning 1
Andy Vaughan, Mike Bevan

Reading League Division 2
22 September 2007

After a slow but improving start to their season, this was a vital game for Taplow Reserves to win to move away from the foot of the table. Sonning had a lofty table position before the game, having won a couple of their opening games of the season.  Both sides started with plenty of passing but very little penetrating football.  

Despite a lacklustre contribution from a number of players, Taplow soon became encamped in Sonning’s half and increased the pressure with multiple opportunities on goal and many corners. However many chances were squandered.  In a rare venture into Taplow’s 18 yard box, a stray Sonning ball was deemed to have hit Shane Bowden’s arm for what seemed a harsh penalty.  Sonning were one ahead and Taplow were behind as was often the case in both this and last season. In the past, they had pulled many a victory from such a negative situation and they are renowned for great fightbacks, however it was only in the second half when they started to show the added determination and effort required from all eleven players to secure the points.

The second half started well for Taplow for within a few minutes, after a move starting from defence, the ball was played into the path of Mike Bevan.  He created space for a shot from 25 yards that flew straight into the net with a hair’s width between ball and post. The tall Sonning keeper tried hard to reach it but the perfect strike would have beaten the best.  Taplow’s confidence rose and new manager Hamilton- Smith rang the changes bringing on Matt Druce, Aktar Zaman and Andy Vaughan for Dale Bowden, Rob Hays and the battling but out of position Mark Landers.

The quality of football, passing, movement & effort increased immediately and it was surely only a matter of time before a second was secured.  Again a passing game from the defence through midfield was then pulled wide on the left with lots of space for Matt Druce to set up what proved to be the winner.  Sonning were fully stretched and a square pass across the box allowed Andy Vaughan to side foot into a gaping net.  Taplow Utd were in full control and whilst Sonning made changes and pushed more players forward, it was too late against a tight Taplow defence and hard working midfield.  More of the same will be required next week when the sides will meet again in the cup with Sonning promising to return in better shape looking to avenge the defeat.  Taplow have been warned not to start the game half-hearted and half asleep.

Taplow Utd Res 0 Woodcote Res 1

Reading League Division 2
8 September 2007

Taplow started slowly for the second week running and made the mistake of playing long balls which were swallowed up by a grateful Woodcote defence.  Despite a lack of coherence in their game Taplow carved three good chances for Rob Hays, all of which he was disappointed not to convert.

Just as Taplow seemed to be getting the upper hand a long Woodcote cross was not dealt with by the home defence and they paid the penalty as the Woodcote forward stroked the ball into the corner of the goal.

Taplow regained their composure and started to create chances again but lack of confidence was spreading and the final ball was of such poor quality, matched only by the quality of the finishing.

More chances were created and went begging in the second half as Woodcote offered sterling defence and limited the clear cut chances to a minimum.  Taplow kept going but the equaliser would not come. 

Team:  Guy Burford, Shane Bowden, Aktar Zaman, Russell Hood, Pat Guerin, Chris  Hancocks, Dave Allen, Kyle Richardson, Dale Bowden, Rob Hays, Trevor Hilling, Mark Landers, Mark Haynes, Gary Jones.


Taplow Utd Res 0 Fincampstead 3

Reading League Division 2
8 September 2007

Taplow Utd's reserves paid the penalty for lack of dedication to fitness and training.  Taplow were overrun from the start.  Before Taplow could get themselves organised Finchampstead were ahead as a long range shot beat Guy Burford.

This sparked a reaction from the home side and Taplow had a good spell fro 20minutes only to fall victim to a second sucker punch as they conceded a similar second goal. 

Taplow rallied in the second half but without the ability to hold the ball up-front and lacking any real cutting edge their efforts were in vain.  As the home team tired Finchampstead became more dominant and eventually scored an easy third as thier forward skipped round Guy Burford in goal.  

Without better fitness Taplow may find te higher division a struggle.




Results 2006/7
 

League table 2006/7