FC Barometrics Reserves are through to the last four of Cheltenham League’s Senior Charities Cup.

The Division Two side upstaged their Division One rivals Shurdington Rovers, winning 4-1.

And when they came off the Shurdington pitch, they won’t have been surprised to learn that one of the other teams just one game from the final are Cheltenham League champions Cheltenham Civil Service.

Steve Holend’s men, who are already through to a County Cup final, won 6-2 at home to fellow Division One side Newton.

Another top flight team, Whaddon United Reserves are also through after overcoming Bishop’s Cleeve III 1-0, while the all Division Three battle between St Paul’s United and AFC Renegades was won by Renegades.

It was close though, very close, with Renegades winning 4-3 on penalties after the game had finished 2-2 after 90 minutes.

Into the league, and there was only one match played in Division One. It was a decent game though because Tewkesbury Town won 2-0 at second-placed Upton Town, and now trail them by one place and one point.

There was one other fixture scheduled in this division, but RSG were unable to raise a side for their match against Andoversford, and the point deduction that will follow will further hamper their chances of staying in the top flight.

The introduction of promotion play-offs this season for the teams who finish second, third, fourth and fifth has added a new dimension to the league, and given teams in the top half of the table in the bottom three divisions a lot more to play for.

Cheltenham Civil Service Reserves are one of the teams hoping not to be involved in those end-of-season games, however, because they still have their eyes very much on the Division Two title.

And they moved to within three points of leaders The Beeches, who were without a game, with a 5-0 win at home to Pittville United.

Service also have two games in hand on the leaders.

Hanley Swan cemented their place in third with a 3-0 win at Bredon Reserves, but Southside Star, one place below Hanley, lost ground when they were held to a 2-2 draw by Gala Wilton Reserves.

At the other end of the table there was a very important win for Prestbury Rovers, who overcame second-from-bottom Tewkesbury Town Reserves by the odd goal in three.

The win leaves Prestbury two places and eight points better off than Tewkesbury.

It was a tough day for the bottom two in Division Three, with bottom side FC Lakeside Reserves going down 3-1 at home to Leckhampton Reserves and Cheltenham United losing 2-1 at FC Barometrics IIIs.

Elsewhere, third-placed Brockworth Albion Reserves secured a 4-1 win over Windyridge Rovers, and Dowty Dynamos Reserves and Cheltenham Civil Service III shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw.

The big game in Division Four saw Prestbury Rovers Reserves slump to their first defeat of the season after 14 straight wins.

They were beaten 3-1 by leaders Malvern Vale FC Academy, who stretched their advantage on them to four points, albeit they have played five more games.

Welland Reserves are still very much in the hunt for play-off places after defeating Gala Wilton III 5-2, but Malvern Vale FC First slipped up when Cheltenham Saracens III pulled off one of their best results of the season, winning 3-2.

Woodmancote United remain in fourth after a 2-1 win at Andoversford 3rds, while Fintan Reserves climbed into seventh after an emphatic 6-1 win at bottom club Charlton Rovers III.
 
In the final game, Bishop’s Cleeve Development III, who are on a good run, defeated Smiths Athletic Reserves 4-2.
 
The Cheltenham League is sponsored by Bristol Street Motors.