27th April 2024 - Hardwicke lose fight for County League survival
Mark Simpson
Unfortunately, Hardwicke take one of the bottom two places after their home defeat to Frampton United, and its going to be a nervy finish for the four teams above them. In midweek Bromley Heath United had a home win over Broadwell Amateurs 3-1, Avonmouth defeated Rockleaze Rangers 6-2 at KGV and were presented with the Championship Cup, Almondsbury won 1-0 at Wick, Hanham Athletic lost in the County Cup Final, and also lost at Bromley Heath United 1-0, and Sharpness against Quedgeley Wanderers never got played due to the Referee being delayed on the M5.
Hardwicke took on local rivals Frampton United at Green Lane needing to secure all three points to avoid relegation. Both teams were fairly even in the opening ten minutes, testing each others resolve. Frampton started to up their game and fifteen minutes in Henry Driver-Dickerson crashed the ball against the bar from 30 yards. Two minutes later the lively Henry was brought down by Josh Stevens and he slotted home the resultant penalty. Their only other chance in the first half fell to George Blythe whose fierce shot from 30 yards was well saved by Jack Sargeant. Hardwicke battled in midfield, but it wasn’t until just before the break for their first chance with Pat Vernall’s header just wide. Frampton started the second period on the front foot with Driver-Dickerson testing Sargeant from thirty yards and ten minutes later he was causing problems, his cross cleared by Vernall. The resulting corner by George Driver-Dickerson was firmly met by Nathan Dennis’s head and was just over. The two Driver-Dickersons combined well and Henry fed George whose shot was saved by Sargeant’s feet. With ten minutes to go Hardwicke’s Jacob Waddington fouled Jacob Geddes and Henry scored his second penalty of the game. Unfortunately for Hardwicke they take one of the two bottom places losing 2-0.
After a disappointing week for Hanham Athletic they took a trip up to Ruardean Hill Rangers (second time this season the first one abandoned) and the first chance was for Hill after quick passing sees Steve Clark find some space outside the box and tried to lob Sam Brown who just got back in time. Another chance for Hill, this time Tommy Coleman created some space but his curler was down Brown’s throat. Hanham took a 17th minute lead, somewhat against the run of play, when a great cross from Brandon Barnes gave Tom Morgan a free header into the top corner. Two minutes later, Barnes beat the offside trap, cut inside and smashed the ball past Aaron Underwood – 2-0. After half an hour with Hill continuing to press Brown saved Fin Jones’ fierce shot. A minute into the second half Ollie Mason’s free kick was straight at Brown. With Hill still searching for an opening, a great cross on the hour from Mason was headed against the bar by Bobby Walding. Ten minutes on Clark was through one on one but Brown made a great save. Clark finally got his goal a minute later as he takes a chance on a long through ball and slotted past Brown. On 73 it was all square, Hill working a chance for Mason to take aim from 25 yards and in it went off the post. Ten minutes from time Coleman was free at the back post but Brown made a point blank save. Hill still looking for a winner had two good chances first Walding tried his luck from thirty yards with a volley just over and Jones smashed over when clear on the edge of the box. Hanham nearly stole it at the death Craig Spearing’s chance turned round the post by Underwood and 2-2 it ended.
Almondsbury took on Rockleaze Rangers at The Field and it was Rockleaze who controlled the first half hour without really creating anything, although they had the ball in the net on 22 minutes but ruled out for offside. On 35 minutes Rockleaze made a breakthrough, a corner on the left headed in at the back post by Jenson Beard. Straight from the restart Almonds attacked down the right Oakley Dawes crossed into the box and Omar Alwari knocked it down and Loui Ward finished with his left foot. The second half started at a fast pace and it was clear the Almonds were going to play on the front foot more, creating a number of half chances but nothing clear cut. On 63 minutes Theo Cox took a lovely touch on the halfway line passed to Ward who flicked it around a defender, put Alwari through who cut back in onto his right and fired in from just outside the box. A five minute period of sustained Almonds pressure followed and it looked like they would carve out a third but the final ball was never there. Rockleaze began to rally attacking continuously down their left and on 74 a cross from the left was headed in by Drew Sawdon. Rockleaze continued to press and Almondbury stated to tire and on 88 minutes Rockleaze with another left side attack and crossed in for Dan Webb to poke the ball home and a 3-2 Rockleaze win, leaving Almondsbury still in trouble.
Bromley Heath United hosted Quedgeley Wanderers With both sides having a real incentive to win the game this match turned out to be a very competitive and sometimes nervy affair. Bromley are still chasing runners up spot for the second year in succession and Wanderers need just a few more points to be sure of staying up. Bromley looked like they were going to make light work of the job in hand when they took an early lead with just 10 minutes on the clock. A weak goal kick when straight to Luke Bessell who sent it straight back towards the goal for Aiden Noble to run onto and finish neatly under the keepers body. Bromley slightly edged the first part of the game creating more chances to score but Wanderers had a very good chance to equalise on 25 minutes when a fantastic effort by Abiodvn Odewale was tipped just over the bar by Ferguson in the Bromley goal. And again on 35 minutes when Sean Lawson hit a long range effort just over the bar. The first half finished with flurry of chances at both ends but to score remained 1-0 at half time.
Wanderers started the second half the stronger and were obviously determined to get the equaliser, which then did just 5 minutes into the half. A clever turn and cross to the far post by Odewale was met by Rio Spencer on the far post to slot home. The joy was short lived for Quedgeley however when 10 minutes later Bromley took the lead again from a corner which was flicked on for Nathan Rose to head in from close range. As in the first half both teams continued to create chances with both keepers making good saves. Although Wanderers hit the woodwork and had plenty of the possession they just couldn't find another equaliser and Bromley finished as 2-1 winners.
At Hamfields Sharpness v Broadwell Amateurs was abandoned on 60 minutes with Sharpness 2-0 to the good. (Broadwell player injury).
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