WITH the North Berks League Division 1 championship already done and dusted, there was an end-of-season party atmosphere when Berinsfield played their final Division 1 game of the season at Charity Shield winners Wallingford, writes PHIL ANNETS.

However, they crashed to a 4-0 defeat – only their second reverse of the campaign – as Ashley Searle netted a brace and Andy Allum tapped home late on sandwiching a Shane Harris own goal.

With Berinsfield’s team playing in unaccustomed positions, the defeat came as no surprise.

Traditional playmaker and captain Mark Ingram turned out in goal, while the front two of Luke Saunders and Luke Hammond are more used to stopping attackers than being them.

This led to a rather less competitive affair than it should have been.

Wallingford took the lead after 15 minutes, with Searle opening the scoring.

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The striker hit a shot on the run that Ingram did well to push upwards, but only onto the underside of the crossbar, and the referee adjudged the ball bounced over the goalline.

With a 1-0 lead at the break, Wallingford came out for the second half with more purpose and doubled their lead after capitalising on a short backpass.

Connor Mattimore stole in to nick the ball and laid it off to Searle, who slotted into the empty net.

Just past the hour-mark, the visitors made it 3-0.

Nathan Larking delivered a long throw into the six-yard box and Harris inadvertently sliced the ball into his own net past the despairing Ingram.

Harris then took over from Ingram between the sticks, and soon pulled off a fine double save.

He went one better on 86 minutes, saving three shots in quick succession only for the ball to fall to Allum, who made it 4-0 from close range.

There was still time for Harris to produce a last minute stunning save to deny Searle his hat-trick.

Berinsfield, who had clinched the title with an exciting 4-3 victory at Crowmarsh Gifford on Tuesday, received the league trophy after the defeat to Wallingford.

They edged Kintbury to the title by two points.

North Berks League committee member Derek Meadham presented the trophy to captain Ingram, who was mobbed by his delighted teammates.

Berinsfield will be aiming to complete the double on Saturday, when they take on league runners-up Saxton Rovers in the North Berks Cup final at Abingdon United’s Northcourt Road (7).

This will be preceded by the AG Kingham Cup final between East Hendred Res and Kintbury Rangers Res on the same ground at 2.30pm.