6th February 2010 - Five star Henbury stun AXA
The local derby between Axa and Henbury turned up a very surprising result as Henbury went away with all three points after thumping 5 goals into the Axa net without reply. This might have been a different story if Axa had scored the two great chances they had just before the break but it was just not their day. The visitors will be very pleased with a great result and a brilliant hattrick from Ben Sandle who entered the game as a substitute 3 minutes before half time.
Axa had a good chance to open the scoring after 4 minutes but Steve Winters free kick went straight into the arms of the keeper. Within a minute Henbury were in the lead when an interchange of passes on the edge of the Axa box ended with Adam Rosser driving the ball home. A fumble by the Henbury keeper almost gave Axa a chance to level but Henbury just managed to clear. The home side should have levelled the score in the 43rd minute but David Shore’s header went just over the bar. Then a minute later Dan Griffiths skied his shot over from 8 yards with only the keeper to beat.
Action from AXA V Henbury
Image courtesy Nigel Meaney
Axa's intentions were clear right from the start of the second half as they pushed forward to try and pressure the visitors into making mistakes, but it back fired when a long ball up field from the Henbury defence was latched onto by Ben Sandle who coolly slotted the ball past the advancing keeper after 49 minutes. Henbury made it 3-0 on the hour when Axa’s Steve Winter allowed Sandle to run clear and drive the ball home for his second. 2 minutes later Eddie Howells saw his shot well saved by the home keeper. Then at the other end Axa just skimmed the upright. Ben Sandle completed his hattrick in the 66th minute as he steamed away from the Axa defence to slot the ball home. Eddie Howells completed the misery for Axa as he was put clear to round the keeper and knock the ball into an empty net. Axa did there best to get back into the game but it was just not to be.
Kings Stanley with games in hand go back to the top of the table with a 4-2 victory at Yate Town Reserves. It was the home side who took the lead after 6 minutes when Ryan Bath netted a flick on from a free kick. Stanley were level 9 minutes later Matt Casey heading home. It was Matt Casey who then gave the visitors the lead on 58 minutes as he latched onto a through ball from midfield. Two more goals in the 68th minute and 75th minute from Jon Embling and Ben Newman gave Stanley a convincing 4-1 lead until Yate’s Justin Cattle rounded several defenders in the 85th minute to net a second.
Thornbury Town’s Steve Thompson grabbed the only goal of the game in this home fixture with Rockleaze Avonside. In a very even game when it looked as though it might end in a goalless draw a run by Liam Dixon down the right to the by-line saw him scuff his cross into the goal area it was missed by everyone except Steve Thompson who prodded the ball home on the far post.
Action from AXA V Henbury
Image courtesy Nigel Meaney
Patchway Town are still struggling near the foot of the table after their 4-2 defeat at the hands of Brimscombe & Thrupp. The visitors opened the scoring after 15 minutes with a 25 yard screamer from Gary Probert. Town hit back to level on the half hour with a brilliant build up that saw the Brimscombe defence mesmerized as John Pugsley finished off the move. Just before the break Brimscombe took the lead again this time John Dalton finding the back of the net. John Dalton increased the visitors lead in the 60th minute before Tim O’Loughlin headed home from a free kick to bring the score back to 3-2, then with 5 minutes to go Lee Pritchard struck again for the visitors and there was no way back for Town.
Taverners continue their recent good form with a 2-1 win over bottom club Ellwood. The visitors took the lead midway through the first half when Gary Wildins great run down the right was met by Julian Addis whose shot was well saved by Duanne Portlock but Allan Williams followed up to net the rebound. Taverners were level just before half time when Mike Thornton’s low drive crashed through a crowded box into the net. The home side grabbed the winner on 70 minutes as Jamie Bish found himself clean through on goal but then squared the ball across for Tom Hanley to tap into the net.
Hanham Athletic’s recent good run of results came to an end when they went down 2-0 at home to Highridge United. In the first 45 minutes the home side had much of the play but it remained 0-0. The second half belonged to the visitors and two late goals by Shane Hobbs in the 80th minute and Nick Pratton five minutes later saw Highridge United go away with the three points.
Chipping Sodbury Town recorded their first win with new boss Mark Stenner in charge and a much need three point indeed. Sodbury opened the scoring on 35 minutes with a superb 35 yard drive from Alex Fox and the same player grabbed a second with a header on 78 minutes.
Action from AXA V Henbury
Image courtesy Nigel Meaney
Kingswood made sure of a victory with three second half goals to add to the one they scored in the first half gaining a 4-1 victory over visitors Berkeley Town. Berkeley shocked the home side when Richard Langford gave them the lead on 30 minutes, but the home side levelled on 40 minutes with a Ryan Mudd strike. Ten Minutes into the second half The home side took the lead through Gavin Dibden and then disaster for Berkeley as Gary Gaynor drove the ball into his own net to put Kingswood 3-1 up. Kingswood rounded the scoring off in the 88th minute when substitute Scott Wooder netted a superb goal.
Bishops Cleeve Reserves v Tuffley Rovers postponed due to waterlogged pitch.