13th September 2026 - Quedgeley Wanders continue impressive start
Mark Simpson
Quedgeley Wanderers have certainly set a pace at the top, not only winning games but winning by some big margins as unbeaten Henbury & Rockleaze found out yesterday. I’m sure they will not have it easy all season because there are a number of ambitious Clubs in the chasing pack.
Quedgeley Wanderers produced an impressive victory over unbeaten Henbury & Rockleaze at Waterwells with a strong all-round performance creating plenty of chances. QW started brightly and their first chance on 9 minutes forced keeper Harry Trett in to a good save. Just two minutes on Alfie Pledger delivered a dangerous ball into the box which was only half cleared and the resultant effort was over the top. QW pressure soon paid off with some good interplay down the right and the low cross found Tom de Quincy Adams who netted for a thirteenth minute lead. H&R tried responding with long balls which the QW defence dealt with comfortably. At the other end QW continued to look dangerous and Riley Stokes had a good run but shot just over. H&R had their best spell around 25 minutes but keeper Steve Sparrow made an important save to keep QW ahead and they went two up in the 38th minute when a through ball wasn’t dealt with by the defence and Henry Miles picked up the loose ball, rounded his man and finished brilliantly and just five minutes later he scored again from a corner. H&R tried to get into the game early in the second half but found the QW defence too well organised. The fourth goal eventually arrived in the 72nd minute with a fine individual goal from de Quincy Adams who cut in from the left before finding the net to put QW firmly in control. H&R continued to battle and had a number of set piece opportunities which were stifled by Sparrow and his defence. QW were able to see the match out for a 4-0 victory.
Ruardean Hill Rangers played only their second game of the season against Bishops Cleeve Development at the Ruardean Rec. but it wasn’t until the 11th minute when the first chance came along as a free kick from Underwood found its way straight to Telling who headed straight at Parry in the Cleeve goal. Ten minutes later a good spin from Stephens saw him create some room for himself but his shot was straight at Parry. Hill took the leads on 25 minutes as a Cleeve mis header in midfield saw Clark take the gamble and he watched his lob drop into the back of the net. On 30 minutes a lovely diagonal ball from Brown found Clark whose first time lay-off found Barrett whose deflected shot was handled by Parry at the second attempt. Cleeve went close three minutes later as Monty New found some room but dragged his shot wide. On 38 minutes another long free kick saw Josh Long’s header back to his own goal and forced Parry to tip over and from the resulting corner Alex Stephens headed just wide. On 43 minutes a Cleeve free kick on the edge of the box saw Kian Gardener curl just wide, and right-on half-time Cleeve equalised as the ball ricocheted to Ross Langworthy who slotted into the far corner. On 49 minutes Hill were back in front as a bad back pass was intercepted by Stephens who made no mistake at Parry’s near post. On 55 minutes it was 3-1 after an overhead volley by Telling hit the bar and Harrison Creed reacted quickest to the rebound. On 70 minutes it maybe should have been four after a good run by Parfitt he slipped Clark in but his shot was into the side netting. On 80 minutes a long throw from Cleeve’s Sam Smith was flicked towards goal by Langworthy but the ball was well gathered by Underwood, and just after, a great run by Alex Stephens saw a half tackle fall back to him and his strike cannoned off the bar with Parry gathering the rebound. On 88 minutes Cleeve got their second goal with a ball floated into the box and Henry Danter-Welch on hand to net. Overall, a deserved 3-2 win for Hill.
At Coombe Dingle the University of Bristol faced Totterdown United on another sunny afternoon. The hosts had the majority of possession in the opening exchanges, with Totterdown looking dangerous on the counter. The first real chance fell to University winger Khoa Dao arriving late at the back post but his attempt to tap in went wide. It was the students however, who took the lead ten minutes before half-time with Jai Bhatti finishing calmly after a great through ball from Arthur Baldwin. Moments after the opener Totterdown almost equalised with a fantastic long-range strike that was tipped wide by keeper James Harwood at full stretch. After half time the hosts continued to dominate and began to create more chances playing at a higher tempo. Sebastien Tolosa scored his sixth goal in the last three games with another cool finish before Nemo Al-Qaq capitalised on a mistake at the back by Totterdown. On another day for the University it could have been a bigger scoreline with Tolosa and Zach Twaddle having further goals ruled out but the three points were secured in a straight forward 3-0 win.
A hard-fought encounter at Highfield Way ended goalless as Chalford and Frampton United shared the points in extremely difficult, windy conditions. The opening stages were evenly contested, with both sides looking comfortable in possession. Chalford created the first opportunity from a free kick which Silas delivered into the penalty area but nobody could apply the finishing touch. Soon after, another dangerous Chalford ball forced keeper Moroney to rush from his area to head clear. Frampton threatened on the counter early on and a final pass was overhit and ran safely through to the keeper. Chalford continued to look dangerous from set-pieces with Keylock putting several balls into the box. As the half progressed the wind became increasingly more significant and Chalford’s best opening came on 28 minutes when Maryon found space in the box and was unlucky not to score. The hosts kept pressing with Dzecko heading over from a corner before winning a penalty after being brought down, but Ryan Vincent’s spot kick was excellently saved by Moroney. The second half followed a similar pattern with both teams battling against the wind and the game became increasingly physical. Chalford started brightly winning an early corner, and Silas Sinclair forced another good save by Moroney from Keylock’s free kick. The contest became scrappy as the yellow cards mounted up and Adam Day saw red for his second yellow. Despite being down to ten Chalford defended stoutly restricting Frampton to few clear chances. Frampton were also reduced to ten when having no one to replace an injured player. Kieran Miller continued an excellent afternoon at the heart of the Chalford defence clearing Frampton’s dangerous late corner. The drama wasn’t over when Frampton’s Ali Aayaan received a straight red for a foul and both defences stood firm to see out a 0-0 draw.
At the SGS stadium Tewkesbury Town were Stoke Gifford SGS United’s visitors and a bright start to the game saw both teams playing attacking football. Gifford had the first opportunity with Tom Manley being denied by keeper Xavier Welch when through one-on-one. At the other end Jamie Goodwin broke clear but the post came to Gifford’s rescue. On 17 minutes Luke Money’s pin point cross found Manley who headed home from inside the box. Gifford then took control of the game but failed to press home their advantage. On the stroke of half-time a well struck free kick from Nathan Newland-Gallaway almost drew Town level but his shot was deflected for a corner. The start of the second half was fairly even until the 60th minute when the ever-dangerous Goodwin capitalised on a mix up in the Gifford defence to calmly finish for 1-1. Tewkesbury were now in the ascendancy but Gifford were defending strongly and looking good for a hard-earned point but, after four minutes of time added on a ball into the Gifford six-yard box saw Alex Roder deliver the killer blow to secure a Tewkesbury Town win by 2-1.
Wick started brightly against AFC Mangotsfield Rocks at the Nest, looking to get on the front foot from the first whistle. Within in minutes the hosts won the ball high Lewis Densley breaking into the final third before squaring to Sam Archer who was unable to connect cleanly. Mangotsfield responded with a series of crosses into the Wick box but were not able to cause any problems. On four minutes Wick came even closer, Louis Short broke down the right gliding past his man before fizzing a dangerous ball across the 18-yard box, evading Kai Shellard before Archer’s effort was cleared off the line. Both sides looked to get in behind during an open start with Wick looking particularly dangerous. The tempo dropped slightly as the half progressed but Wick were creating the better opportunities. Densley again won possession high and lifted the ball over the top for Archer who was unable to bring it under control. However, minutes later the breakthrough finally came when a Wick corner caused problems and the loose ball dropped to Short whose effort somehow looped over keeper Luke Baker for 1-0. Mangotsfield responded with direct balls over the top but the Wick defence was well marshalled and Rocks threatened from a free kick on the edge but Gigov preserved Wick’s advantage. The tempo slowed further after a break for an injury to a Rocks player, but Wick found another gear before half time and on 37 minutes a well worked move released Archer who beat his man one-on-one before Densley nipped in ahead of Baker for 2-0. Archer continued to cause problems and almost created another goal while a wicked Bayley Rudge delivery found Sparks whose header was wide. Wick started the second half rather slowly with some careless possession which allowed Rocks to break on the left and with a dangerous ball into the box Gigov came to Wick’s rescue. The hosts soon settled back into their rhythm and a quick Callum Winters throw allowed Densley to release Rudge down the right who cut in but could not connect cleanly with his effort. On 59 minutes Wick got their third, Shellard intercepted a pass in midfield and released Short who raced through and slotted his second. Wick continued to push forward and came close to a fourth, Baker fumbled and Rudge reacted and his effort came back off the bar. Wick were now firmly in control and their persistence paid off on 81 minutes when Barker won possession and found Rudge who finished for 4-0. Rocks continued to battle and forced an excellent save from Gigov, but their task became harder when Stuart Nelson saw red for a second yellow, however, they did grab a consolation in time added on Anthony Batt scoring. Overall, a comfortable 4-1 Wick win.
More Here
