On Saturday Wantage host Bedfordshire side Biggleswade in the Southern League. With James Keller taking charge for the first time as head-honcho it will be interesting to see if the ‘new manager bounce’ happens, and whether there are any huge changes in style or formation!

Neither game with Biggleswade took place last season, but they did the double over us in 2019-20 winning 3-1 here in November (Jack Buchanan getting our consolation from the penalty spot), and 3-1 at Langford Road with Dec Shepperd registering for us.

This season they are ground-sharing at Bedford Town, having been a tenant at Biggleswade Town prior to that, and we travelled there on 11th September. A notable date as we recorded the first league win of the season there! Ryan Knight gave us a 4th minute lead, but Patrick McCafferty levelled after 33 minutes. Skipper Jack Alexander got the Wantage winner 12 minutes from time.

Biggleswade were on a poor run at that point but, unlike Wantage, they have turned things around and have four wins and three draws in their last seven games, and sit comfortably in 12th place.

Wantage sank to the foot of the table after Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Thame, and with Kempston winning 3-2 at St Neots on Tuesday the gap to third from bottom (Kidlington) is now 10 points.

Hope lives eternal; let’s hope we get that bounce!

Biggleswade FC was formed in May 2016 from the very successful Biggleswade Town Under 18s side that competed in the Thurlow Nunn Youth League, and won the Spartan South Midlands League Division 1 at the first attempt. Two years (2018-19) later they won the Premier Division title (Step 5) to earn promotion to the Southern League, a remarkable achievement for such a young club.

Saturday’s game is a 3pm kick-off at Alfredian Park. Admission prices are £10 Adults, £5 Seniors, £1 unaccompanied under 18's, with 18's accompanied by an adult free.

MEN’S DEVELOPMENT TEAM

15/01/22 Away v Newbury

The Development team return to action after an extended break, the last game being a 2-2 draw at Clanfield on 11th December, with a trip to Lambourn to face Newbury.

This is the first meeting of the sides this season, and the first since we were spanked 9-0 in the Berks & Bucks Trophy in September 2018.

The current club are not connected to the Newbury Town that Wantage faced for many years in the Hellenic League, not the AFC Newbury that existed shortly to replace them. This Newbury FC evolved from a Sunday League club in 2002 and made their way up through the Reading League to the Hellenic in 2008, before gaining promotion to the Premier Division in 2012.

Our First Team faced them in that, and the following, season, winning three and drawing one. Wantage’s promotion saw a parting of ways, and Newbury were then compelled to resign from the Hellenic due to financial reasons at the end of 2014-15.

Since then they have played in the Thames Valley Premier League until the FA re-organisation last summer placed them in the Hellenic League Division 2 for this season. They unfortunately lost use of the old Faraday Road ground in 2016 and have used a variety of venues since.

This season sees them languishing in 11th place with 3 wins and 3 draws from their 11 games

Saturday’s game is a 2:15pm kick-off at Lambourn Sports, Bockhampton Road, Lambourn RG17 8PS.

WOMEN’S TEAM

[16/01/22 Away v Barton United

After a fine 8-1 win last Sunday, this week the Ladies face an entirely different proposition as they travel to Barton United who have yet to drop a point this season.

Barton currently sit in second spot with eight wins from eight, but have yet to face leaders Headington, or fourth placed Wantage. They have played the team in third though, North Oxford, beating them 4-3 in the opening fixture, and 1-0 in the return in October.

Last season Wantage drew 3-3 at Barton, Beth Dutton and Meg Osborne (2) netting, although the points were later awarded to Wantage due to Barton fielding ineligible players. And in the return Wantage were comfortable 5-2 winners, Ellie Day (2), Alice Bennion and Osborne being on target.

So although they are unbeaten, Wantage should be able to go into the game with some confidence.

Wantage are also likely to include new signing Chelsey Dummett who has joined after a spell at Abingdon Town last season, and Marlborough Town before that.

The game is a 2pm kick-off at Barton Community Pavilion, Barton Fields Road, OX3 0FR.