Hype Train and Cressex set for battle in Presidents Cup final after high-scoring semi finals wins

PICTURE: Hype Train beat old rivals Old Windsor Reserves 5-2 in the semi finals of the Presidents Cup at Britwell on Saturday.

The 2022 Presidents Cup final will be contested between Hype Train and Cressex after both teams won their respective semi finals ties on Saturday.

Hype Train have had the longest route to the final having begun in the preliminary round stage back in January and overcame old rivals Old Windsor Reserves 5-2 at Britwell.

A Phil Newport brace and a goal from John Watkins gave the Premier Division side a clear lead heading into the break. Old Windsor fought back early in the second half through Nathan Mclean and Liam Spires but, Hype Train secured their place in the final when substitute Leon Mannion struck, before Newport completed his hat-trick late on.

Cressex had no problem in seeing off lower-league Chalvey Sports A with a 6-1 win in the other semi final, played at Old Windsor. Chalvey tweeted: “Gutted! Didn’t do ourselves proud today. Fair play to Cressex, better team deserved to win. We’ve played so much better. Not easy to take tonight.”

The Presidents Cup final will take played on Saturday 7 May (2pm KO) at Burnham Football Club. Hype Train and Cressex will meet for the first team this season in the Premier Division on Saturday 23 April (2pm).

A first-half hat-trick from Hassan Mahmood saw Singh Sabha remain on course to retain the League Cup this season with a 3-0 success at Pundit in the quarter finals.

Singh Sabha will now meet Iver Heath, the most successful club in the history of the League Cup, in a semi finals tie at Stoke Poges this Saturday (3pm KO).

Old Windsor moved up into the top half in the Premier Division table after a 2-0 win at Stoke Poges, who remain in eighth position. The two goals came within three minutes in the second period with both Lewis Corney and George Gould hitting the back of the net.

PHOTO: Chalvey Sports A were, perhaps, the biggest winners without playing in Division One last weekend as Baylis United, Southcote and Eton Wick all missed the chance to bridge the gap in the promotion race.

Winkfield Reserves made it three wins in three matches in all competitions after beating Baylis United 3-2 in Division One last weekend. Defeat means Baylis missed the opportunity to move into the promotion places.

Southcote also missed the chance to bridge the gap on the promotion spots after a 1-0 loss to Braywood Beavers in the Showcase Match at Burnham on Friday night.

Frontline Reserves have also won three in three following a high-scoring 9-2 victory at home over Eton Wick. Both Dean James and Adam Richards were on target for the losing side, who were leapfrogged in the table by Frontline.

Iver Heath put one foot into the semi finals in the Challenge Cup with a 13-0 win at Riverside in Group B. The Heath are two from two in the Group Stage with one final game remaining.

The Challenge Cup continues with four Group Stage matches on Wednesday night (6pm KOs). In Group A, in form Winkfield Reserves host Harts Of Bracknell while Britwell travel to Pundit. In Group B, Riverside host Chalvey Sports A and Stoke Poges go to Iver Heath.

To enter the East Berkshire Football League ahead of the 2022/23 season, or for further information about the league, or an entry form for the upcoming season, please email the team at contactebfl@gmail.com