Match Reports
31st March 2007 - Patchway close the gap at the top.
The top of the table clash between leaders Highridge United and Patchway Town was decided by a brilliant goal from Ben Purdy whose shot from the edge of the penalty area flew past Brimble into the roof of the Highridge net after 22 minutes. Chances were few and far between but Highridge had a golden opportunity to draw level right on half time when the referee awarded them a penalty for a push in the box. Steve Dowling was the player selected to take the spot kick but Alford guessed right and diving to his right saved the shot. Ten minutes into the second half Patchway had the chance to go further ahead from the penalty spot but Brimble stood his ground and Keith William drove the ball straight at him the keeper punching clear and the rebound being driven into the side netting. In the later stages Highridge pushed forward trying to force and equaliser and were caught by Patchway on the break. Firstly Palmer beat two defenders as he broke into the box and then drove his shot straight at Brimble and in the last few minutes Aaron Anderson broke clear sent the ball over the keeper but it struck the crossbar and went out for a goal kick. Highridge are still six points clear at the top but the chasing pack have games in hand.
Henbury still keep their second position after a slender 1-0 win at home to D.R.G. Stapleton. The home side should have gone a goal up after four minutes but Nathan Baird missed from the penalty spot. Ian Milne netted the only goal of the game after 31 minutes from a Adam Rosser cross.
A 3-0 win for Taverners at Sea Mills Park keeps then in contention for the title. Leading 2-0 at the break with goals from Mike Thornton on 8 minutes and Mark Harsant a minute before half time with a third from Fran King on 77 minutes.
Thornbury Town’s recent run of form came to an end when they went down 2-1 at Totterdown P.O.B. A brace of goals from Shane Hobbs on 67 and 69 minutes put the home side in the driving seat, but Thornbury hit back with a Mark Viner shot from the edge of the box in the 77th minute leading to a very tense final few minutes.
Roman Glass St George were involved in a six goal thriller for the second week running. Visitors Yate Town Reserves took a 2-0 lead with goals from Steve Ball and Jack Smyth in the first half but let the saints back in the game when Ian Power pulled a goal back on 57 minutes. Yate restored their two goal lead with a second from Steve Ball on 75 minutes but further goals from Ian Power and Chris Astley on 85 and 88 minutes salvaged a point for the home side.
A disappointment in the first order was a comment received from Kings Stanley as they went down 3-0 at home to Hardwicke. It could have been very different if Tony Francis had put away a first half penalty for Stanley and instead found themselves trailing 2-0 with goals from Eddie Rimmer and Luke Kavanagh. To make things worse Danny Rasdale then netted a third for Hardwicke.
Basement club Pucklechurch Sports suffered yet another defeat at the hands of visitors Ellwood. Sports lead this game for 80 minutes after a Jon Wiltshire free kick had given them the lead in the first half. But two late goals from Ellwood’s Julian Addis 80 minutes and Gary Wildin right on the final whistle meant the Sports were doomed to defeat yet again.
Hanham Athletic’s 2-1 defeat of Berkeley Town means that they have done the double over the club that joined the league along with themselves at the start of the season. Joe Allan gave the home side the lead in the first half but James Firth levelled the score for Town in the second half, only for Hanham to snatch the points when Allen netted for a second time.
The game between Axa and Wotton Rovers ended in a 0-0 draw.
24th March 2007 - A rare good day for Thornbury and Berkeley.
Highridge United have opened an eight point gap at the top of the table with their latest 2-0 success at Kings Stanley. Goalless in the first half Mike Jenkins opened the scoring a minute after the restart and Dean Maggs saw Highridge home with a second on 85 minutes.
Berkeley Town eased their relegation worries with a 2-1 win at home to Sea Mills Park. They should have been one up after 30 seconds but James Firth missed an easy chance after Tim Beames had sent him clear on goal. Firth had another chance to open the scoring but headed over the bar from six yards. No goals at the break but within 10 minutes of the restart Berkeley took the lead. A Dave Phillips free kick looked harmless enough until Firth challenged the Millers keeper for the ball which was completely missed by Alister Keys and the ball crept into the net. Ten minutes later Sea Mills were level when Mike Rees brought Moss Banderin down in the box and Jack Barnes gave Terry Stevenson no chance with the spot kick. Within three minutes Berkeley were back in front when Tim Beames broke clear and sent the ball into the far corner of the net.
Surprise of the day was Pucklechurch Sports who nearly took all three points of high riding Henbury. Sports took the lead on 90 minutes through Adam Young but straight form the kick-off in time added on Nathan Baird got Henbury out of jail.
Patchway Town also slipped up at lowly Wotton Rovers only managing to salvage a point with an Aaron Anderson goal in the second half after Wotton’s Mike Cotton had given them the lead on 8 minutes.
Thornbury Town’s recent revival continued with an excellent 1-0 win at home to Yate Town Res. A Mark Viner header after 15 minutes won the game for the home side.
Hardwicke marched away with the three points after an excellent 3-2 win at Hanham Athletic. On Target for the visitors was Rob Hine and a brace for Eddie Rimmer. Both the Hanham goals came from the penalty spot netted by Simon Bryant.
Taverners game was held up for thirty minutes in the second half because of a serious injury to one of D.R.G. Stapleton’s players. Taverners had taken a 2-0 lead into the break with a headed goal from Dave Legg and a clever lob over the keepers head by Sid Lawrence on 30 minutes. Daniel De-Gay hit back for the visitors but a second header in the last minute from Legg made the game safe.
Six goals shared at Roman Glass St George in An exciting game that the home side should have won. The saints took the lead on 10 minutes when Mark Westwood headed them in front but within ten minutes Craig Timbrell had levelled for Totterdown P.O.B. Chris Astley gave the Saints the lead again right on half time. In the second period Nathan Churchill made it 3-1 before Timbrell popped up with his second and minutes later Tom Kilbane pulled it all square.
Ellwood took the lead after 15 minutes at home to Axa with a Jamie Addis goal but two strikes in the second half from Axa’s Stephen Watts and Tom Blythe saw the visitors home.
23rd March 2007 - League General Meeting
The next league general meeting has been moved to 1st May and will be at the Almondsbury Sports and Social Club.
17th March 2007 - Unlucky thirteen for Taverners
Taverners first defeat in 13 games when they went down 1-0 to Highridge United at the Creek. Taverners should have taken the lead after 11 minutes but put through on goal Aidan Mercer skewed the ball wide of the goal with just Jenkins to beat. Highridge used the long ball tactics in the first half which Taverners dealt with very effectively until the 45th minute when Mike Jenkins unleashed an unstoppable shot that flew into the top corner of the Taverners net. The second half was a different story and Taverners created plenty of chances with Harsant’s header being save on the line by Jenkins. Then both King and Legg should have scored. Taverners undefeated run comes to an end while Highridge move three points clear at the top of the table.
Patchway Town kept up their challenge for the title with a 2-1 win at home to Totterdown P.O.B. Aaron Anderson put Town ahead midway through the first 45 minutes but Shane Hobbs levelled in time added on. 2 minutes into the second half Anderson score what would become the winner for Town.
Yate Town Reserves gave visitors D.R.G. Stapleton a 5-0 thumping with Ollie Clarke grabbing a hattrick. Clarke put Yate ahead in the 15th minute with James Hicks making it 2-0 by the break. Clarke notched number three in the 50th minute and they went further ahead from a Marc Hughes penalty fifteen minutes later. Clarke rounded off the scoring five minutes later to spoil the afternoon for the visitors.
Wotton Rovers fell to a 4-0 defeat at Henbury. The home side took the lead after just 2 minutes through Eddie Howells and were 2-0 in front five minutes before the break when Ashley Lock scored. Two further goals in the second half from Nathan Baird on 57 minutes and Adam Rosser ten minutes from the end kept Henbury in second place in the table.
Kings Stanley’s Steve Potter scored the only goal of the game after 75 minutes with a neat chip over the Berkeley Town keeper as he tried to close him down. A spokesman for Stanley said that a very strong wind and the pitch drying out did not bode for a very good game.
Basement club Pucklechurch Sports slipped to another 1-0 home defeat this time at the hands of Axa. Andy Sledge’s scrambled goal after 25 minutes was enough to sink Sports.
Ellwood’s second win on the bounce this time coming away with a 1-0 win at Sea Mills Park. The mood change in the 47th minute when a mistake by the home defence allowed Matt Foxwell the opportunity to drive the ball into the net.
Thornbury Town and Hanham Athletic played out a 0-0 draw at the Mundy Playing Fields but the point for Town means they move up a place in the table in their struggle to avoid relegation.
Another goalless game at Hardwicke where both sides failed to come to terms with the weather conditions but the point gained by visitors Roman Glass St George keeps them in contention for the title.
10th March 2007 - Highridge move into pole position
Highridge United are in pole position again after a 2-1 win over Hardwicke. Hardwicke took the lead in the first half through Eddie Rimmer and held on to that lead until midway through the second half when Mike Berry levelled. With both teams looking as though they would be sharing a point each Mike Berry ruined the day for Hardwicke when he netted in the last minute of the game.
Patchway Town’s 4-2 victory at D.R.G. Stapleton puts them in third place on the same number of points as the leaders but an inferior goal difference. Town were 3-0 up at the break with goals from Neil Blunden after 8 minutes Clayton Clarke after 18 minutes and Mark Palmer on 34 minutes. A Ross Watson penalty made it 3-1 but Towns Ben Purdie gave them a 4-1 lead before Watson scored again for the home side in time added on.
Axa sprung a surprise with a 2-1 victory at King Stanley. A spokesman for Stanley said that although they had plenty of possession it looked as though they were never going to score. Andy Sledge gave Axa the lead on 75 minutes, this prompted the Stanley side to push forward and they levelled ten minutes later through Nick Reiger. The final blow came in the 90th minute when Axa’s Nathan Lumbar netted the winner.
Thornbury Town’s 2-1 win at home to fellow strugglers Berkeley Town eased their relegation worries. Town took the lead after 5 minutes when Dean Kingman headed home after Neil Streets header rebound of the cross bar. Berkeley levelled on 30 minutes when John Cain side footed the ball home from six yards. Thornbury’s much needed winner came in the 87th minute from a Niall O’Loughlin shot.
Taverners kept up their push for the title with a slender but comfortable 1-0 win over basement club Pucklechurch Sports. Taverners enjoyed the better of the first 45 minutes but some great goalkeeping by the sports keeper kept the game at 0-0. Sports continued to deny Taverners a goal until the 85th minute when Mike Thornton’s 30 yard drive eventually beat the keeper.
Sea Mills Park gave Yate Town Res a bit of a shock with a 3-1 win at the Kingsweston Sports Ground Richard Nelmes opened the scoring for the Millers after 26 minutes with Dave Harris netting from the penalty spot on 57 minutes. After 78 minutes they were 3-0 up when Nelmes netted again. With 2 minutes to go Marc Hughes pulled a goal back for Yate Town.
Totterdown P.O.B. crashed to a 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Hanham Athletic. Joe Mogg gave the visitors the lead on 35 minutes and Simon Dew made it 2-0 from the penalty spot right on half time. A Simon Bryant goal just past the hour sealed the victory for Hanham.
Ellwood gained a valuable 3 points with a 3-1 win over Wotton Rovers. Rovers had the lead after 5 minutes when Gary Cripps netted from the penalty spot. Ellwood eased their way back into the game when Kerry Hale levelled on 15 minutes. Julian Addis put them 2-1 up on the hour and Hale completed his double with a second on 75 minutes.
Henbury entertained high flying Slimbridge from the Premier Division of the Hellenic league in the Semi-final of the GFA Trophy and although going down 2-1 gave Slimbidge a very tough test. Slimbridge who are the favourites to lift the cup took the lead through Will Morford on 44 minutes and went 2-0 up when Tim Haddock netted on 74 minutes. Henbury fought back and although leaving it late were rewarded with a goal from Nathan Baird in the 89th minute.
6th March 2007 - Les James Cup Semi-Finals
The semi-final due to be played on Wednesday 7th March between Patchway Town and Taverners has been postponed as the pitch at Lodge Road Yate is not fit following the recent wet weather.
This game will now be played on Wednesday 21st March. The second semi-final between Hanham Athletic and Yate Town Reserves will now be played on Wednesday 4th April. The date of the final will be advised when its been arranged.
3rd March 2007 - Henbury take over at top
Henbury move to the top with a 2-1 success at home to Sea Mills Park. Ian Milnes corner was headed home by Ralph Timms in the 15th minute and they were 2-0 up after 26 minutes this time Nathan Baird slotting home an Ian Milne cross. Sea Mills were down to ten men after 50 minutes when keeper Steve Farr handled outside the area. The game never looked in any doubt as far as the home side were concerned as it became a little scrappy. Sea Mills popped up with a goal in time added on when centre back Adam Harley netted with a drive from well outside the penalty area.
Thornbury Town did really well to take a point from promotion contenders Taverners. The visitors took the lead after 5 minutes when the Thornbury defence allowed Mark Harsant to run through and score. It stayed like that until the 85th minute when Thornbury produced the equalising goal and it came from the head of substitute James Pilling who rose above the taverners defence to head home Niall O'Loughlins cross. The last few minutes was a nightmare for town but they hung on. This point moves them up two places from the bottom of the table.
Hanham Athletic had a two goal lead at home to Axa but had to settle for a point in the end. Richard Sperring headed Hanham into the lead after 20 minutes with Simon Bryant netting from the penalty spot midway through the second half after Spencer Thomas had be brought down. Andy Sledge pulled a goal back for Axa and Brian Casey salvaged a point for the visitors in the very last minute of the game.
Patchway Town looked as though they would be taking all the points at home to Roman Glass St George until Kevin Williams scored from the edge of the box after the ball had been squared back to him. Early in he first half Keith William had put Patchway one up when he squeezed the ball in after the keeper had kept the previous shot out. A point each keeps both clubs in contention for the title.
Pucklechurch Sports slip to the bottom of the table after a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of D.R.G. Stapleton. Sports thought they had scored after 10 minutes when Jon Wiltshire netted but the referee rule the goal out for an infringement. The winner came in the 60th minute when David Healy stabbed the ball home after a goalmouth scramble.