Match Reports
24th February 2007 - Axa hit for six
Highridge v Axa had to be switched to Cribbs Causeway after the pitch at Lakemead grove was deemed unfit. The game started with Highridge taking the early initiative and only some very good saves from the Axa keeper Rob Nakielny prevented efforts from Mike berry and Jon Berry from going in. Highridge took the lead in the 12th minute when a cross fired across the Axa goal from Mike Berry was side footed home by Mike Jenkins. Axa's Andy Sledge saw his powerful header fly just over the Highridge crossbar and another effort was tipped over by the Highridge keeper Richard Jenkins. Tyrone NcNeeley had two late efforts on goal well saved by Nakielny the second a full length dive to push the ball around the post. The second half saw Highridge pushing the Axa defence early on, but it was Axa who leveled on 50 minutes when Andy Sledge fired home from just inside the box. The game turned in Highridges favour when a long ball over the Axa defence was well read by Mike Berry who ran clear to give Nakielny no chance. Then within six mad minutes Highridge went into a 5-1 lead. Mike Jenkins got his second from a corner on the hour. Then Mike Berry followed up a Mike Jenkins shot that the keeper could not hold to make it 4-1 and a cross from Mike Jenkins was volleyed home by Jon Berry for the fifth. In the 85th minute Highridge's keeper Richard Jenkins took a free kick 10 yards inside his own half, the ball bounced into the Axa penalty box and completely deceived Nakielny who could only watch as it flew over his head and into the net. Highridge completed the scoring in the very last minute when Mike Berry headed his third goal of the game.
Totterdown P.O.B. bounced back to winning ways after five defeats on the trot ith a 5-1 victory at Sea Mills Park. They took the lead in the first 30 seconds through Dale Cotttle but had to wait until early into the second half before netting again through Jamie Prosser. Dan Berry then made 3-0 with Tom Rimmer giving the visitors a four goal cushion. Tony Beacham pulled a goal back for the Millers on 75 minutes but Prosser scored again in the 88th minute to give Totterdown a well deserved win.
Wotton Rovers move of the bottom of the table after a 0-0 draw at home to Hanham Athletic. This point moves them up the table two places this is the first time they have been off the bottom all season.
D R.G. Stapleton's form continues to move them away from the bottom of the table and into a safe position. They went behind to an Eddie Rimmer goal in the 7th minute but were on level terms in the 21st minute when Chris Johnston rounded the keeper to fire low into the corner of the net. The home side had much the better of the play in the second half but left it to the very last minute when Chris Johnston's powerful header beat the Hardwicke keeper.
Pucklechurch Sports are on freefall at the moment dropping in to the bottom two after yet another home defeat this time going down 3-1 at the hands of Yate Town Reserves. Yate were fortunate to take an early lead in the 5th minute when Paul Jackson put through his own goal. Steve ball made it 2-0 after 25 minutes and Ollie Clarke netted the third midway through the second half. Sports did get on the score sheet in the 80th minute when Jon Wiltshire netted from the penalty spot.
The four remaining fixtures were postponed due to water logged pitches.
22nd February 2007 - Attendances
A spreadsheet showing League Attendances has been added to the Downloads Area. This will be updated periodically.
17th February 2007 - Yate smash seven
All Change at the top of the table as Henbury win 2-0 at Ellwood and go top. Both goals came in the first 45 minutes Nathan Baird from the penalty spot after 25 minutes and Ashley Lock got the second on the stroke of half time.
Yate Town Res recorded their best win ever in the County League with a 7-0 thrashing of Hanham Athletic. Yate's Justin Cattle making his first start for weeks weighed in with a hat-trick the first coming as early as the eight minute a simple tap in from close range. Grant Brown made 2-0 with a superb 20 yard shot that hit the underside of the bar on its way in. Cattle notched his second on 20 minutes and Steve Ball struck to make it 4-0. Hanham's Richard Thomas got his marching orders a few minutes later. Cattle completed his hat-trick on the hour after a Steve Ball assist and it was Ball who set up James Hicks for the Sixth goal. Ollie Clarke netted number seven in the 85th minute and then Hanham had a second player dismissed James Cartledge receiving his marching orders. Yate should have made it eight but goalkeeper Mark Winkler ho was called on to take a penalty right at the end struck his shot straight into the arms of the Hanham keeper.
Patchway Town who led the table before today's games found themselves trailing 2-0 at half time against Sea Mills Park. A misdirected header by Town's Neil Blundon gave Dave Harris the opportunity to put the Millers one up after 17 minutes and Moss Banderin made it two in the 37th minute. Keith William pulled a goal back for Town early in the second half and then got involved with the Millers keeper Steve Farr which resulted in both players being sent off. Patchway clawed their way back into the game and Matt Webb levelled the score midway through the second half.
Taverners were also held to a 1-1 draw at Hardwicke but were probably a shade unlucky not to have taken all three points. After taking the lead in the 40th minute when Mark Harsant rose above the Hardwicke defence to head home they conceded a goal in the 8th minute when Hardwicke's Paul Carter knocked home after the first shot was cleared off the line.
Highridge United came unstuck when they were beaten 2-0 at home to Roman Glass St George. Chris Astley gave the Saints the lead just into the second half and Nathan Churchill sealed the points with a second midway through that period.
Totterdown P.O.B.'s miserable run continued with a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Berkeley Town. Peter Lavis gave the visitors the lead with Totterdown's Matt Thomas levelling just after the break, but three further goals by Peter Lavis Mike Wilson and Tim Beames gave Berkeley three very valuable points.
Bottom Clubs Wotton Rovers and Thornbury Town gained a point each to help ease their relegation worries with a 2-2 draw at Thornbury. On target for the home side were Alec Moss and Neil Street with Wotton's reply coming from Gary Toal and Geoff Britton.
Pucklechurch Sports put up a brave first half performance without really troubling the Kings Stanley defence who were well marshalled by experienced centre back Tony Francis and went into the break trailing 1-0 after Sam Prior had netted for the visitors on 41 minutes. The Sports efforts had been limited to one long range shot that went high over the bar. Stanley began to take control and Steve Potter netted in the 56th minute with a left foot drive from just inside the box. Potters second goal in the 82 minute was a superb effort after being sent clear of the sports defence he looked up to see where the keeper was stood and crashed the ball over his head and into the net from just outside the box. Two minutes later substitute Simon Harmer broke into the box and neatly chipped the ball over the Sports keeper to make it 4-0.
A very disappointing and uninteresting game was the comment from the Axa spokesman. 1-1 the result with D.R.G. Stapleton taking the lead on 25 minutes through Tony Wimpenny and Axa gaining a point in the 70th minute through Steve Watts
10th February 2007 - Kings Stanley shock the leaders
The weather devastated this week's fixture program with only three games going ahead.
The upset of the day was the 3-0 defeat of league leaders Patchway Town at Kings Stanley. A pitch inspection in the morning gave them the all clear to stage the game but the pitch was very heavy even then. With rain falling at the 2-30 kick-off it was mighty doubtful if the match would be completed. Stanley went ahead after 35 minutes when Mitchell Grenfell-Williams hammered the ball into the Patchway net from 15 yards. It continued to rain well into the second half when Sam Prior made it 2-0 when he netted a Nick Reiger cross from the right. Five minutes later Reiger was brought down in the penalty box and although Patchway contested the penalty award Reiger hauled himself up to net the spot kick and move Stanley up to sixth place in the table.
Thornbury Town's visit to Henbury saw yet another defeat this time by three goals to one. Thornbury who have a new management team were looking to improve on recent results to try and haul themselves away from the relegation zone. They started really well taking the lead in the 29th minute through Captain Mark Viner. They held on to their 1-0 lead until the 75th minute when Adam Rosser levelled with a superb free kick. The same player had earlier struck the Thornbury post with a tremendous shot. Within a minute Henbury had the lead when Substitute Eddie Howells scrambled the ball over the line. Henbury's Jermaine Wright was dismissed for a second bookable offence leaving Henbury with ten men. They went further ahead in the 85th minute when Ian Milne picked up the ball just inside the Thornbury half broke clear of the defence and neatly chipped the ball over the keeper. Henbury finished the game with nine men after making all their substitutions and losing a further player to injury.
On a very heavy pitch that got considerably worse as the game progressed Berkeley Town were defeated 4-1 by visitors Hardwicke. The visitors were 4-0 up after 38 minutes as Berkeley struggled to contain the Hardwicke forwards. Eddie Rimmer netted after 11 minutes knocking home a rebound from a Richard James shot. Paul Carter's 18th minute goal made it 2-0 slipping the ball home after a goalmouth scramble. A free kick into the box was headed on by Adam Dunsford and Richard James made no mistake for the third. It became 4-0 when Rich James was put clear and neatly chipped the keeper for his second. Hardwicke eased off in the second period and failed to add to their score but Berkeley could only manage a consolation goal five minutes from the end when Peter Lavis netted from the penalty spot.
3rd February 2007 - Bishop heads Patchway top
Patchway Town move into pole position with a 1-0 win over Berkeley Town. Although the score remained goalless in the first 45 minutes Patchway should have gone in at least two goals up. Bradley Harris headed against the crossbar from 6 yards and Adam Searle struck the crossbar with a tremendous shot from the edge of the box. Berkeley's only chance coming from Tim Beames who shot wide of goal from just inside the box. A Mike Bishop headed goal on 70 minutes after the Berkeley keeper had made a great save turned out to be the winner for Town.
Roman Glass St George coasted comfortably to a 4-0 win over struggler's Pucklechurch Sports. Chris Astley gave them the lead after 40 minutes when Churchill's cross was met by Westwood who set up Astley to net. Simon Mansfield made it 2-0 early on in the second half with Kevin Wilson adding number three in the 80th minute. Ian Power rounded things off with a chip that deceived the keeper in the 85th minute.
Wotton Rovers drew level with Thornbury Town on points at the bottom of the table with a 3-0 win at home to Totterdown P.O.B. Peter Thomas opened for Wotton on 13 minutes who then had to wait until the 78th minute before Thomas netted again. Two minutes later Gary Cripps made it three to give Wotton a much needed win.
Kings Stanley and Thornbury Town both kept their goals in tact until the 75th minute then Danny Stephens put Stanley in front. Nick Reiger made it 2-0 five minutes later and Thornbury netted from the penalty spot through Richard Sage on 90 minutes.
Highridge United and Henbury could well have been match of the day, but Highridge ran out comfortable winners by five goals to two. Henbury took the lead on 2 minutes through Eddie Howells but United levelled from a Craig Liddell strike a couple of minutes later. Howells put Henbury back in front on 25 minutes and went into the break leading 2-1. Highridge turned the game around when Dean Maggs levelled and then gave them the lead from the penalty spot. Mike Berry popped up with number four and Maggs made it five to complete his hat trick.
Ellwood slipped up at home to D.R.G. Stapleton after controlling much of the game they fell behind to a goal scored by Chris Johnston after a goalmouth scramble in the 70th minute.
Hardwicke's recent good run came to an end going down 3-2 at home to Sea Mills Park. Hardwicke took a 2-0 lead through Eddie Rimmer and Paul Carter in the first 15 minutes but conceded a goal right on half time when Moss Banderin headed home. Dave Harris was given the opportunity to make it 2-2 on 52 minutes when the home keeper completely misjudged a high ball into the box. The Millers grabbed all the points when Sammy Lippiatt netted from the penalty spot five minutes from the end.
How the Axa v Yate Reserves game ended in a 0-0 draw is a mystery to all those involved in the game. Chance after chance from both sides were squandered throughout the whole of the game.
The exact opposite in the game between Hanham Athletic and last weeks table toppers Taverners. In a very drab and uninteresting game neither side managed to find the back of the net. This was Taverners 10th game in a row that they have not conceded a goal.