Ron's Match Reports
30th August 2010 - Tuffley come back to beat Thornbury
The match at Glevum Park between Tuffley Rovers and Thornbury Town saw two missed penalties and two sending offs and a 2-1 win for the home side. It was Thornbury Town who struck as early as the 1st minute when a cross from the right saw Tuffley’s keeper scrambling for the ball colliding with his own defender dropping it right at the feet of Tom Webb who took two touches before striking the ball into the back of the net. Tuffley were on the back foot for the next couple of minutes but soon got their game together and in the 7th minute they drew level with a goal from Dan Wallington who took a pass from Warren Mann before driving the ball past Keeper Alex Lippiatt from just inside the box. The home side should have taken the lead in the 22nd minute as Mann broke down the left before sending over a superb cross for Dan Wallington whose should have done better with his headed effort on goal. At the other end James Derosa’s shot from the edge of the box went just over the bar. In the 35th minute Richard James was unlucky as he saw his angled shot strike the upright and in trying to pick up the rebound Thornbury conceded a penalty after Mark Ford was brought down. Dan Wallington was given the task of taking the spot kick and hit a right footed shot to the right of the goal with keeper Alex Lippiatt diving full length to keep the ball out. Just before the break Matt Morrison and Steve Alexander had terrific shots well saved by the Tuffley keeper Chris Perks to keep his side in the game.
Action from Tuffley Rovers V Thornbury Town
Rovers were first on target in the second half with a splendid save by Alex Lippiatt to keep Warren Mann’s angled shot out of the net. Tuffley brought on Ben Clutterbuck and he had not been on long before he collided with Town’s keeper Alex Lippiatt and found himself in the referee’s book. Tom Webb might have restored the lead for town after 68th minutes but his effort went just over the top. Town’s keeper Lippiatt brought of a great save as Clutterbuck burst into the box the keeper saving with his legs. Rovers took the lead in the 74th minute when Thornbury conceded a free kick on the edge of the box on the left. The ball was struck into the box where Alex Lippiatt was at full stretch to palm the ball away but Richard James was on hand to knock the ball home from six yards. Three minutes later Tuffley’s Ben Harris who had come on as a sub for the home side got himself sent off for a foul off the ball. In the 85th minute Warren Mann broke down the left got into the box and was then brought down by Rikki Lippiatt. Lippiatt being the last defender was then sent off for the offence. Richard James was nominated to take the penalty kick, but once again Alex Lippiatt dived the right way to bring off his second spot kick save of the afternoon. Last years Champions have not had a great start to the season but there is plenty of time left to turn it around. Berkeley Town have had a tremendous start to the season gaining their fourth successive victory with a 3-2 win at home to Yate Town Reserves. In front of the days largest crowd 108 they fell behind in the 24th minute to a Jordan Yeo goal. Six minutes later they were on level terms when Ben Gillison netted. The visitors got back in front after 65 minutes with a goal from Cory Simpson, but two goals from Ryan Stevenson in the 70th and 85th minute keep the Hunters in second place in the table.
Pathway Town picked up their first point of the season with a 1-1 draw at D.R.G. Stapleton. Town will probably feel a little unlucky they did not take all three points as Darren Werrett scored in the 88th minute heading in from a corner to salvage a point for the home side. Earlier in the first half Patchway had taken the lead from the penalty spot when Mark Palmer saw his kick pushed on to the upright by keeper Ashley Bryan before nestling in the back of the net.
Action from Tuffley Rovers V Thornbury Town
Taverners went down 1-0 at home to local rivals Brimscombe & Thrupp. The visitors got of the a great start taking the lead after 2 minutes when a long ball from Craig Cole was flicked on to Matt Blyth to cross to the far post where Mike Beckingham was waiting unmarked to head home. The home side’s Freddie Latchford saw a couple of his shots well saved by the visitor’s keeper and Craig Mills had his effort saved by the feet of the keeper, but Taverners were unable to break through to level the score.
In today’s early kick-off between Rockleaze Rangers and Henbury the visitors always had the edge. Henbury took the lead on 16 minutes which was taken by Kris Sage and found Ross Johnson unmarked to tap in from close range. Henbury’s second came after 36 minutes when Rosser picked out Billy George on the halfway line and he left everybody behind to slide the ball past the advancing keeper. 3 minutes before the break the home side pulled a goal back as Ben Johnson fire home through a crowd of players from 15 yards. Henbury made it 3-1 on 68 minutes as a ball into the box was misjudged by Aaron Day and Eddie Howells was there to head home.
Chipping Sodbury Town suffered their second defeat in 3 days as they went down 3-2 at home to Kings Stanley. Stanley took the lead after 6 minutes with a strike from Nat Buckland with defender Grant Gordon making every effort to keep it out. Stanley went 2-0 up after 22 minutes this time Sodbury’s Joe Mullins steering the ball into his own net. The visitors were three up after 50 minutes as Buckland headed a cross into the box across goal inside the far post. Town hit back in the 56th minute when Justin Bishops cross was headed home by Shaun Halford. The home side made the score look respectable with a second in the 86th minute when Ben Rhodes headed home from a Liam Barrett cross.
Action from Tuffley Rovers V Thornbury Town
Axa remain top with a 2-1 success at Ellwood. It was the home side who took the lead on 15 minutes with a headed goal from Mike Nelson, but 5 minutes before the break Axa were level when Matt Shaughnessy headed home from a free kick. The visitors grabbed all three points in the 85th minute when Ellwood’s keeper misjudged a cross and Richard O’Kelly headed home on the far post.
Bishops Cleeve Reserves dented Hanham Athletic’s chances of gaining their first point of the season with a goal in the 70th minute by Lloyd Arkell. The home side took the lead through Gavin Garthwaite on 19 minutes but Hanham hit back within a minute to level through James Laver. Elliott Kennedy restored the lead for the home side on 30 minutes, but four minutes into the second half Shane Budding levelled the score again. Then came the killer blow from Arkell.
28th August 2010 - Axa ease to top of the table
Axa go top of the table with a 2-0 victory over previous leaders Chipping Sodbury Town. The early exchanges looked good for the visitors as they pushed forward in search of the opening goal. Axa’s Fred Hopkins should have opened the scoring after 22 minutes as he bore down on goal but his shot was smothered by Tom Sheppard. The opening goal came after 29 minutes from some brilliant interchange of passes which led to Ryan McKillop sending a superb ball to Fred Hopkins who drove the ball home from the edge of the box. Sodbury might have levelled after 36 minutes as Shaun Halford was put clear but the home keeper Matt Turner read the situation well and just managed to nip the ball away. A minute later Sheppard had to be at his best to prevent Axa extending the lead. Just before the break Turner again denied Halford whipping the ball of his toe again.
Axa should have increased their lead in the 48th minute as Richard O’Kelly found himself free on the far post, but with just the keeper to beat he failed to connect with the ball properly and it was easy for Sheppard to take. Axa took a 2-0 lead in the 56th minute as Sam Sarre pushed forward up the right side sent a superb pass to sub Lewis Morgan and his pass across goal to Dan Griffiths was superbly struck past Sheppard in to the far corner from the edge of the box. Andy Watts then saw his 35 yard free kick fly just wide of the upright and Dan Griffiths had his effort on goal smothered by Sheppard. It took Sodbury until the 87 minute to get their first shot on goal when sub Tom Blake saw his curling shot go just past the upright.
Berkeley Town brought off a surprise result with a 3-1 win over previously undefeated Kingswood. This win was their third consecutive win pushing them into second place in the table. The home side went 1-0 up after 38 minutes when Ben Gillison scored from close range following a corner. Kingswood made it 1-1 in the 68th minute with a superb strike from the edge of the box by Adam Eldridge. Berkeley regained the lead in the 80th minute when Paul Brooks headed home from a long free kick. James Mackie made the game safe for the home side four minute from the end when he ran on to a ball from Paul Brooks to slide the ball past the keeper.
Ellwood continue to climb the table with a 1-0 win at Hanham Athletic. The home side again created chances but failed to capitalise and went down to the only goal of the game when a defensive error in the 40th minute gave Mike Nelson the opportunity to put the visitors in front.
In the battle of the two Reserve sides in the league Yate Town Reserves came out on top with a 2-1 home victory over Bishops Cleeve Reserves. On target for the home side were Ross Watson & Paul Dempsey with Jamie Clarke replying for the visitors.
After Tuffley Rovers hammered six goals past Berkeley Town on the opening game of the season, in their two matches since they have failed to find the back of the net. Taverners were well pleased with their 1-0 victory over Rovers today the only goal coming from the penalty spot on 20 minutes Mike Thornton was very thankful to see his spot kick run through the keepers legs. Tom Hanley had several good shots saved by the visitor’s keeper and Taverners defender Paul Jennings cleared off the line from a Tuffley free kick. Unfortunately the game turned sour near the end when both sides had a player sent off for separate offences.
Henbury entertained last season Champions Thornbury Town with both clubs having to be satisfied with a 2-2 draw. Towns James Derosa opened the scoring after 35 minutes turning home a cross from the right. Henbury had to wait until the 70th minute to level and it was Eddie Howells who capitalised on a mistake by the Thornbury keeper to head home. Ten minutes later Thornbury got their noses in front with a Jack Barnes strike from the edge of the box. The home side kept plugging away and were rewarded in the 87th minute with a superb strike from the edge of the box by Adam Rosser
Brimscombe & Thrupp gained a 2-0 victory over D.R.G. Stapleton but it could have been a different score-line if the visitors had netted form the penalty spot after 44 minutes. Goalkeeper Ashley Bryan was given the job of taking the spot kick and his shot looked to be on its way into the goal but somehow the home keeper just managed to fingertip it on to the bar and it was cleared. After 70 minutes Brimscombe were awarded their own penalty after Craig Sperring brought down Ben Jones in the box. Peter Smith made no mistake from the spot. The home side sewed the game up in the 85th minute as Mike Beckingham latched on to a through pass from McDermott to make it 2-0.
21st August 2010 - Berkeley snatch late win
Berkeley Town snatch late goal in the 3rd minute of added time at the end of the game to gain a second successive 1-0 victory. The visitors Patchway Town were very unlucky to leave with nothing as the game had been evenly balanced throughout.
Berkeley’s Ryan Stevenson had a header well saved by Patchway keeper Liam Broomfield after 15 minutes diving across goal to palm the ball away. Patchway almost took the lead in the 23rd minute when Matt Webb’s curling shot from the left side of the box struck the upright and was cleared. Berkeley keeper Ewan Prentice fisted away a good effort from Dan Webb a few minutes later. Dan Webb was on target with another good drive from the edge of the box but Prentice was right behind the ball. The home side might have took the lead right on half time when Ryan Stevenson made space on the edge of the box but then pulled his shot wide of the upright.
Action from Berkeley Town V Patchway Town
A shot from Patchway’s Dan Webb was again well saved by Prentice in the 54th minute and five minutes later the same player might have scored as he raced on to a cross from the right but then skied the ball over the bar. On the hour mark Sam Strickland was the next on target for the home side but the visitor’s keeper was equal to the shot. James Mackie who had come on as a sub for Berkeley saw his left foot drive whistle just wide of the post. A great five man move by Patchway almost brought a goal in the 77th minute but Matt Webb was unable to keep his final shot down and it flew over the bar. With the game looking as though it would end goalless the referee signalled that there would be five minutes of added time and three minutes into this period Berkeley won the game. They won a corner on the right which was hit hard to the far post by Tom Palmer and centre back Mike Reece came steaming in to power an unstoppable header into the roof of the net.
Chipping Sodbury Town kept up their unbeaten start to the season with a hard fought 2 – 0 victory over Rockleaze Rangers at The Ridings. This victory saw them go top of the table. After 5 minutes Chipping Sodbury’s Alex Fox found space on the edge of the box and his pass found Lee Gardiner with back to goal, he turned but was blocked by a resolute defence. On 17 minutes Rockleaze might have taken the lead when a cross was headed back to goal by Ben Rhodes and his header was a bit strong and was only just held by keeper Simsek in the Sodbury goal. On 25 minutes a free-kick from midfielder Liam Barrett was curled into the box and striker Luke Meacham out jumped keeper Sam Burgess in the Rockleaze goal but the keeper managed to hold on to the ball. Two minutes before the break, visitor’s Ian Burnell had a half chance when his speculative shot deceived keeper Simsek who thought it was going wide but the ball hit the upright. As the game progressed Sodbury started to stamp their authority and on 60 minutes Lee Gardiner’s tricky foot work outside the box found substitute Danny Coombes out wide on the left and his cross was only just held by keeper Burgess. After 61 minutes Sodbury took a deserved lead when Liam Barrett was allowed too much space in the centre of the park and after the 20 yard run his pass found Luke Meacham who just had to beat keeper Burgess and made no mistake with a blistering left foot shot which gave him no chance. On 78 minutes Meacham could have made it 2-0 when he was again put through, this time from an inch perfect pass that spilt the Rockleaze defence only to see it well saved by keeper Burgess. With ten minutes remaining Sodbury got their second goal with Lee Gardiner again supplying the perfect through ball for Luke Meacham to latch onto this time coolly slipping the ball past the advancing keeper. Sodbury could have made it 3-0 in the dying seconds when striker Paul Lucas could have squared the ball to the unmarked Danny Coombes but decided to shoot instead and saw his effort turned around the post for a corner.
Action from Berkeley Town V Patchway Town
Axa move into second place with a 2-1 victory at Hanham Athletic. The home side have got off to a dreadful start this season losing all of their games so far. This result may have been much different if the home side had taken two excellent opportunities in the first half. Axa took the lead on 65 minutes with a brilliant individual goal by Matt Shaughnessy and five minute later they were 2-0 up when Dan Griffiths netted a second. Hanham did pull a goal back in the 75th minute when James Laver netted from the penalty spot. The home side were unable to get that all important second goal to gain their first point of the season.
Ellwood have started much better this season and picked up a point at home today against visitors Yate Town Reserves giving them 4 point from 3 games played so far. Ellwood took the lead after 10 minutes when Byron Ranford scored a superb goal with a chip that beat the keeper from 35 yards. Joe Martin levelled the score for Yate when he headed home from a corner. The home side regained the lead in the 40th minute with a goal from Lee Scotford, but then an error by the home keeper allowed Justin Cattle to level.
Taverners were 2-0 up after 70 minutes and must have thought they had done enough to win the game, but Henbury had other ideas and hit back with two late goals to grab a point. Freddie Latchford gave the home side the lead on 35 minutes when he capitalised on a defensive mistake to nip through and chip the ball past the keeper. The second Taverners goal came after 70 minutes as Tom Burridge headed home unmarked at the far post from a corner. Henbury pulled a goal back on 75 minutes as Aaron Anglin bent his free kick around the wall and past the keeper. Taverners have themselves to blame for dropping 2 points when a mistake allowed Anglin behind the defence to slot home the equalising goal.
The game between D.R.G. Stapleton and Tuffley Rovers failed to produce any goals but both teams created chances that could have won them the game. The home side’s Martin Nicholls missed a golden opportunity early on when he fired over the bar in a one on one situation with the keeper. Then Tuffley’s Richard James fired over when he should have scored. Mike Sadler hit the upright for the home side and even when Tuffley had a player dismissed D.R.G. failed to take advantage.
Action from Berkeley Town V Patchway Town
14th August 2010 - Tuffley and Kingswood off to flying starts
The opening day of the season threw up a couple of surprising results and a couple of heavy defeats. We also had a postponement.
The game between Henbury and Highridge United was postponed because Highridge United were unable to raise a side.
The game between D.R.G. Stapleton and Kings Stanley ended in a 2-2 draw but a very late flag from the Assistant Referee disallowing the home side a goal in the very last minute for offside was probably a fair result. Kings Stanley started the brighter and opened the scoring after 3 minutes when Matt Casey drove the ball past Ashley Bryan from the edge of the box. The home side gradually worked their self into the game and levelled the score on 22 minutes when Lee Smart turned in a superb cross from Mike Sadler. The home side took the lead on the half hour from a free kick that was hammered into the box and the unfortunate Danny Stephens turned the ball into his own net. Keeper Gavin Dean kept Stanley in the game when he turned a brilliant shot from Lee Smart around the post after 35 minutes. In time added in the first half Stanley grabbed an equalising goal as a long throw from the left caught the home defence out and Sam Prior chipped the ball home at the far post.
Action from D.R.G. Stapleton V Kings Stanley
The second period saw the home side go close almost from the kick-off but Dean again brought of a great save to deny a goal. In the 75th minute Stanley broke away and should have made it 3-2 by Sam Prior made an awful mess with his attempt and the goal at his mercy. Both keepers had to be at their best near the end as both sides had chances to win the game.
Tuffley Rovers opened their season with a resounding 6-0 win at Berkeley Town netting 4 times in the first 45 minutes. Richard James scored the first of his hat-trick on the day after 5 minutes followed by a second 3 minutes later from Danny Wallington. James netted a second on 15 minutes with Mark Wallington netting the fourth on 35 minutes. Two further goals in the second half from Richard James after 65 minutes and a final goal from Rob Cunningham in the 82nd minute capped a brilliant start for Rovers but a thoroughly miserable start for Town.
Kingswood travelled to Hanham for this opening day fixture and came away with the points after a splendid 6-1 win. The visitors opened the scoring after 2 minutes when Simon Graham headed home at the far post as the Hanham keeper misjudged the flight of the ball. The visitors went 2-0 up with a goal from Dan Griffiths after 27 minutes and a second from Simon Graham on 31 minutes gave the visitors a comfortable half time lead. In the first minute of the second half Kingswood made it 4-0 with a Tom Higgins goal and then Ryan Mudd made it five 6 minutes later. Jack Rivers pulled a goal back for the home side after 54 minutes with a superb strike from a free kick, but with six minutes left Gavin Dibden netted a sixth for the visitors.
Action from D.R.G. Stapleton V Kings Stanley
The bottom two Clubs Ellwood and Patchway Town from last season were pitted against each other on this the first game of the season with the home side running out winners 2-0. There were no goals in the first 45 minutes but both sides had chances. Ellwood’s Byron Ranford gave the home side the lead with a 25 yard shot that gave the visitor’s keeper no chance, and then with five minutes left on the watch a long ball up field from player manager Chris Addis was latched onto by Gary Wildin to net a second and take the 3 points.
Taverner’s v Chipping Sodbury Town ended all square with both sides managing a goal apiece. Taverners took the lead in the 35th minute when Richard Kerry slid the ball in after a spectacular bicycle kick from new signing Freddie Latchford had rebounded of the bar. Sodbury’s Liam Barrett went close with a header just before the break. The second half saw the visitors produce their best football and created several chances. The added pressure paid off when a Scott Wooder cross was flicked goal-wards by Lee Gardiner and in trying to clear Taverners defender Paul Jennings felt the ball strike the back of his head and finish up in the back of the net. Sodbury should have stolen the points when Luke Meacham had a clear heading chance, but the ball just skimmed over the top.
Action from D.R.G. Stapleton V Kings Stanley
A goalless score-line at the sports ground at Station Road between Axa and Yate Town Reserves. But the home side might well be rueing the penalty chance that was missed after 25 minutes. Dan Griffiths was bearing down on goal only to be brought down by Yate defender Tarik Whitcliffe. The Axa man hauled himself up to take the penalty but saw his spot kick really well saved by the visitor’s keeper. A spokesman for Axa said that there was not a lot to report throughout the game, apart from the penalty miss.