EVERSLEY SCORE LATE WINNER

Inspirational referee awarded MBE

ONE thing that intrigues me about each New Year’s Honour List, is that you learn for instance, that a singer has received an award for service to music, but without mention of what that service has been.

I was therefore pleased to see that when Jawahir Roble was made an MBE for service to the game of football, some details of her service was given.

She has become the first hijab-wearing referee to receive such an award and it’s worth looking at the reason she was felt worthy.

What is remarkable perhaps, is that Jawahir was born in war-torn Mogadishu in Somalia, where as a football mad young girl, she grew up playing football in the streets.

When her family moved to Wembley, she was 10, and carried on playing with her eight siblings, in the house, outside in the garden, or where ever they could find a space to kick a ball.

Later, Jawahir became a volunteer for Football Beyond Borders.

FA Trophy fifth round

BRACKNELL TOWN’S journey in the FA Trophy came to an end with a home defeat to Altrincham.

Having gone two goals down in the first-half, the Robins salvaged some hope when Guy Hollis found the net to make it 2-1.

But the away side would progress when they hit Bracknell on the counter in the final few minutes of the cup tie.

Bracknell co-manager Carl Withers said: “Immensely proud of everyone of our players who deserved so much more but key moments sadly went against them.

“Now we must regroup and take

Football

everything positive from this cup run into our league campaign.”

Co-manager Jamie McClurg added: “We got the performance but not the result.

“Nothing but praise for the group in so many watts, so easy to get distracted when moments go against you but we stayed focused and gave it all.”

Isthmian South Central

BINFIELD slipped to a loss on the road against Guernsey after a disappointing first-half display.

The Moles found themselves going into the break three goals down after a quickfire treble from the hosts.

Binfield responded in the second0half with a goal from Conor Lynch, but weren’t able to prevent defeat.

The Moles are in fifth position on 41 points from 23 games.

Combined Counties Premier North

READING CITY clawed back a late goal to rescue an away point against Wembley.

Finding themselves a goal down, the Cityzens managed to take a point after Alex Donville scored a late leveller.

The draw means Reading drop

Tilehurst Panthers Continue Pursuit Of League Title

By ANDY PRESTON sport@wokingham.today

Thames Valley Women’s Division One

TILEHURST PANTHERS’ pursuit of the title continued with a thumping away win at Banbury United.

A hat-trick from Thea Wright and goals from Leah Why, Charlotte Wheeler and Deanna Cane helped them to a stunning 6-0 away win.

Tilehurst are in second, eight points behind league leaders New Bradwell with two games in hand.

Southern Region Women’s

Premier

ASCOT UNITED were dealt just their second league defeat of the season against table toppers Abingdon United.

In a match between the top two sides in the table, it was the leaders who came out on top with a 2-0 victory.

Ascot are in second position on 26 points from 12 games.

Southern Region Women’s Division One North

CAVERSHAM UNITED fought back from two goals down to claim a point away to EVERSLEY & CALIFORNIA

After goals from Natasha Elcox and Rae Roberts had put the Boars 2-0 ahead before Stephanie Nelson netted a brace for the Goats to see the points shared.

Thames Valley Premier League down to fourth place, but have games in hand on the two sides above them in the table.

BURGHFIELD had to settle for a point in their contest against Westwood Wanderers.

Reading City manager Simon Johnson said: “Got out with a point today (Saturday).

“Well below par performance but every team has a bad spell. We’ll come back stronger.”

Charles Twelftree Trophy

FINCHAMPSTEAD moved through to the next round after overcoming Hale Leys in a six goal game.

A brace from Callum Vallance and goals from Stephen Hunt and Joel Day saw Finch take a 4-2 triumph.

This is a charity working with young people from areas of social economic disadvantage at school, and who are football fanatics, helping them to finish their schooling and obtain skills that will enable them to make a successful transition into adult life.

And all done with the power of football. Jawahir set up the charity’s first woman’s football team as well as qualifying to become a referee.

Jawahir said: “Who would ever think that a small, black immigrant girl wearing a hijab would ever referee a man’s game in England?”

As male players know however, Jawahir takes no nonsense on the pitch.

Her dream is to encourage more Muslim girls to play football, which she says is a sport for everyone.

No doubt she would be pleased to learn that woman’s football is growing throughout eastern Islamic countries.

In Jawahir’s country of birth, football is now said to be women’s favourite sport although they still face restrictions and lack of funding.

Lewis Butcher and Ollie Brown were on the scoresheet for the Fielders to help them to a 2-2 stalemate. READING YMCA climbed into third position after securing an away win at READING CITY U23s

Pele Hagger’s goal proved to be the only one of the game as YMCA picked up all three points to put them on 20 points from 12 games, six points behind second placed Finch with a game in hand.

In Pakistan they are about to start a women’s national League for the first time.

In Bangladesh their woman’s team won the SAFF woman’s championship in 2022 and were Olympic qualifiers.

In Afghanistan the woman’s team were doing well until the invasion by the Taliban.

Their flight when they used footballing terms in their escape, could be made into a breathtaking film.

Alongside this, the stories of women in Africa and eastern countries who have defied opposition to become referees, could fill a book.