06/09/2026
Didcot Town continued their 100% winning start to the season as they beat Welwyn Garden City 4-1.
Both teams went into the game as the only 100% winning teams in the division, but two goals apiece from Owen James and Reuben Harry ensured it was the Railwaymen who continued the record.
In an open first ten minutes, Lochlan Colquhoun almost put through his own goal when his block hit the outside of a post, whilst Connor Barrett had Didcot's first chance, but his effort went just wide.
The game came to life on 24 minutes when Barrett saw his effort bounce over the bar.
A minute later, Jenson Wright pounced on hesitation at the back, and after rounding Welwyn goalkeeper Oscar Frost, he was upended to earn Didcot a penalty.
On his 50th appearance for the club, Owen James continued his scintillating start to the season by scoring from the spot.
Six minutes later, James was netting his second from the spot. This time after Reuben Harry had been clattered by Frost, with the keeper picking up his second yellow card. With no goalkeeper on the bench, Welwyn captain Edward Corbit replaced him in goal. James again sent the keeper the wrong way to make it 11 goals in 6 appearances this season.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Welwyn pushed for a way back into the game and only a smart save by Leigh Bedwell denied Luis Cantello. The save was to prove crucial moments later when Didcot added a third. Felix Robertson picked out Harry and the winger fired across goal and into the far corner to complete an unforgettable opening half.
Didcot would have wanted to keep it tight for the opening ten minutes of the second half, but those ideas were quickly extinguished when Welwyn pulled a goal back. The Railwaymen failed to deal with a cross into the middle and Frankie Impey pounced to crash the ball into the roof of the net.
Harry restored the three-goal advantage for Didcot just before the hour. The winger latched onto a Sam Bailey through ball after some great play to fire the ball home.
Welwyn refused to lie down and Impey came close to adding his second when his header came back off the bar, and from the rebound, Kieran Gauthier fired over.
Bedwell then made another good save to deny Ethan Rookard after the substitute had got in behind the Didcot defence.
Welwyn won a penalty in the final minute, but Bedwell denied the hosts a late consolation goal as he pushed the effort from the spot onto the crossbar.
The full-time whistle followed soon afterwards as Didcot made it three wins from three and ended their almost three-year wait—and 12-game run without a win on an artificial pitch—since their win at Basingstoke Town in 2023.
Player of the Match - Reuben Harry
