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Ron's Match Reports

27th October 2012 - Tuffley stay top at windswept Hanham

Tuffley Rovers still head the table with slender 1 – 0 win at Hanham Athletic. Southmead CS Athletic are on the same number of points after their 2 – 0 win at Taverners but have scored one goal less and have a game in hand.

Kings Stanley lose ground after winning at Yate Town in the week they go down 0 – 2 at home to Chipping Sodbury Town. Fourth place Kingswood are held to a 1 – 1 draw by Rockleaze Rangers.

At the bottom Berkeley Town pull off an excellent win at Yate Town Reserves to close the gap between the bottom teams.


Hanham Athletic V Tuffley Rovers
Hanham Athletic V Tuffley Rovers

At Hanham on a bitterly cold day the game with Tuffley Rovers was affected by a very strong wind both teams struggled to cope with the conditions which resulted in a very dour affair. The home side defended well but lacked any penetration up front which was born out by the fact that they only managed two attempts on goal in the 90 minutes. The league leaders Tuffley Rovers did have the better of the possession but also failed to break through a very stubborn home defense until the 37th minute when Warren Mann got behind the home defense down the right, pulled the ball back to the edge of the box where Mark Ford was motoring towards goal and struck a first time hard drive that took a slight deflection off a Hanham defender and into the net.

Hanham had a great chance to level on 59 minutes when a corner from the right was well met by Jack Tottle but his header went over the bar. At the other end Mark Wallington chipped home keeper Dan Fletcher from a very narrow angle but the ball hit the inside of the far post and rebounded straight back into the keepers hands. James Cox who had come on as a sub for Rovers then saw his neat flick from a corner hit the cross bar before being cleared by the home defense.


Hanham Athletic V Tuffley Rovers
Hanham Athletic V Tuffley Rovers

A 2 – 0 win at Taverners by Southmead CS Athletic keeps them in touch at the top. A goal after 6 minutes by the visitors, a pass by Bobby Massey out to the left found Dan Glancy and his pin point cross saw Rob Sivers strike the ball home for the lead. Taverners had their chances but failed to grab an equalizer then in the 85th minute a second goal by the visitors put them in the driving seat and it was a cross into the box by Dwayne Pope and a mix up between Taverners keeper and his defender allowed Danny Simpson to drive the ball home.

Kingswood entertained Rockleaze Rangers and almost fell behind after ten minutes when Shane Budding’s shot looked goal bound but unfortunately it struck his own team mate Nathan Bryer and deflected it out for a goal kick. Kingswood’s Simon Clarke then saw his goal bound effort strike a defender and fly away for a corner. Frank Hitchings then missed a good chance for the home side to take the lead. In the 20th minute Rockleaze took the lead through Nathan Bryer and minutes later they almost went 2 – 0 up when Bryer’s shot hit the post. Kingswood got back on level terms rather fortuitously in the 60th minute when a cross into the box was deflected into the Rangers net by a defender.


Hanham Athletic V Tuffley Rovers
Hanham Athletic V Tuffley Rovers

Manager less Thornbury Town who had suffered several defeats in recent weeks, pulled off an excellent 2 – 1 at Longlevens. The home side took a tenth minute lead after Shaun O’Conner was brought down on the edge of the box, decided to take the kick himself, the shot was deflected on its way into the net. Thornbury were level three minutes later, after home keeper Lee Martin pushed a shot away for a corner and from that resulting corner Nathan Sage scored from close range. Thornbury went ahead in the 63rd minute from the penalty spot after Dave Rich had brought down Dan Thompson and from the resulting kick, brother Steve Thompson squeezed the ball just under the diving Lee Martin. Thornbury should have made it three but Steve Thompson missed a great chance late on.

Kings Stanley slumped to a 2 – 0 home defeat at the hands of Chipping Sodbury Town the home side had plenty of possession in the first half and a good save from the Sodbury keeper kept Liam Gayle’s shot at bay. Stanley’s failure to capitalize on their possession in the first half tolled when they fell behind on 55 minutes when a long clearance was latched on to by Mark Totterdell who volleyed the ball into the roof of the net. A penalty ten minutes later which was put away by Justin Cattle gave the visitors a much needed win.


Bishops Cleeve Reserves v Ellwood
Bishops Cleeve Reserves v Ellwood
Image courtesy Peter Langley

The biggest win of the day was at Bishops Cleeve Reserves who recorded a 4 – 1 victory over visitors Ellwood. The home side took a 1 – 0 lead into the break when Jack Fairburn picked up a re-bound after Mike Sholly’s shot had hit the upright. Ten minutes into the second half Matt Addis put Ellwood back on level terms but the home side re-took the lead in the 65th minute when Declan Chick headed home Liam Scott’s cross. Five minutes later it was Scott again sending the ball into the box where Paul Ireland dived full length to head home. A second goal from Ireland from a Jamie Lock cross five minutes later wrapped up the points for Cleeve.

Berkeley Town pulled off an excellent win at Yate Town Reserves to close the gap between the five teams languishing at the bottom of the table. It was Yate who dominated the first half but failed to find the back of the visitors net. It was Ross Phillips who gave Berkeley the lead after 51 minutes then on 62 minutes Yate’s Ashley Hawkins had a great chance to level from the penalty spot but Berkeley’s keeper Ewen Prentice pulled off a great save. A minute later Berkeley were 2 – 0 up Sam Strickland breaking through the home defense to score. A penalty in the 70th minute for the visitors’ was put away by Sam Strickland giving them a comfortable 3 – 0 lead and a late Jack Parker goal was a consolation for Yate Town.


Bishops Cleeve Reserves v Ellwood
Bishops Cleeve Reserves v Ellwood
Image courtesy Peter Langley

With major works to their dressing rooms being undertaken by DRG Frenchay this was only their second home game of the season and it turned out to be a second defeat this time going down 2- 0 at the hands of Henbury. The visitors took the lead on 25 minutes as they broke down the left and the final cross into the box was met by Ben Sandle to fire into the bottom corner. A second goal on 40 minutes saw Ed Wright travel 20 yards to head home from a corner.

Patchway Town bounce back from their 2 – 0 defeat at Rockleaze last week to gain an excellent 2- 0 home victory over Bristol Academy. The visitors who had a majority of the possession through-out the game failed to create many chances but they should have gone ahead on 30 minutes after Town had given away a penalty. Malik Jammeh was given the opportunity from the penalty spot but Martin Alford Patchway’s keeper read it well and dived to push the ball out for a corner. It took until the 70th minute for Patchway to break the dead lock when Matt Davis was brought down on the edge of the box the following free-kick was struck against the wall, Brandon Benjamin picking up the re-bound to fire them into the lead. A second goal in the 85th minute a 35 yard lob over the keepers head by Dan Bendall saw the home side take all three points.


Bishops Cleeve Reserves v Ellwood
Bishops Cleeve Reserves v Ellwood
Image courtesy Peter Langley

20th October 2012 - Rockleaze too strong for Patchway

Tuffley Rovers edge top spot in the table on goal difference from Southmead CS Athletic after both teams recorded victories today.

Kings Stanley drop to fourth after losing their unbeaten record at Tuffley.

Kingswoods game at Thornbury Town was abandoned after 19 minutes due to a bad injury to Kingswoods Gary Simons. The ambulance took over 40 minutes to arrive and the referee felt that their would not be enough time to complete the game..

At the bottom end of the table Berkeley Town remain bottom after another defeat, but Chipping Sodbury Town lifted themselves up the table with their third win of the season.

Rockleaze Rangers ran out 2-0 winners over local rivals Patchway Town at the Coombe Dingle complex.

The opening exchanges saw both sides trying to break through tough defences with out any success. The first shot on goal went to the home side a free kick on the left curled into the box by Matt Beadle that deceived everyone except Patchway keeper Martin Alford. Beadle broke down the left and pulled the ball back from the bye-line only to see it run across the box and straight to a Patchway defender. Rockleaze should have taken the lead in the 17th minute as Beadle again sent over a curling cross into the box but central defender Aaron Day who had a clear sight of the target headed over. At the other end Brandon Benjamin found space down the right to send in a low cross that home keeper Sam burgess could only parry, but was surrounded by his own defenders and they cleared up field. Rockleaze took the lead after 20 minutes from a long ball up field by Valentin Pomfret that dropped over the visitors defence, it caught Towns keeper Martin Alford on the hop and as he failed to make it to the ball Shane Budding nipped in rounded the keeper and slotted the ball home. The visitors were struggling to find any pattern in their play and their attacks kept breaking down near the edge of the box. The home side might have made it 2-0 by the break as Matt Beadle drove a tremendous shot at the target but it went just the wrong side of the post.


Rockleaze Rangers V Patchway Town
Rockleaze Rangers V Patchway Town

Martin Alford kept his side in the game early in the second half with a good save from a Beadle free kick just on the edge of the box. Patchway made two changes 15 minutes into the second half and this definitely made a difference as they pushed forward to get on level terms. Burgess brought of a brilliant save to deny Mark Stoneham leveling from his 25 yard free kick in the 50th minute. The home side had a great chance to go 2-0 up in the 54th minute as Beadle broke into the Patchway box and was brought down by Paul Barnes. Beadle was entrusted with the spot kick but made a real hash of it as he pulled the ball wide of the target. The visitors were beginning to get on top and pushed the Rockleaze defence hard with Matt Tovey firing just wide and then had a great chance to level as a low cross into the box was missed at the far post by Brandon Benjamin. Rockleaze broke away in the 72nd minute and got a second goal when Shane Budding’s cross to the far post was headed home by Matt Beadle. Alford kept out a great shot from substitute James Cinicola on 75 minutes. Patchway almost got a goal back in the 89th minute as Mark Palmers free kick was pushed away by Burgess for a corner. A good performance from both teams with Rockleaze just edging it.

A 2-2 draw at Ellwood where Hanham Athletic were the visitors. A goalless first 45 minutes, but five minutes into the second half Derek Roberts gave Ellwood the lead. A second strike from Roberts put them two up and looking comfortable, but two goals in the last five minutes from Hanham the first from Mike Saddler on 85 minutes and a second from Jack Baber on 88 minutes gave them a point to take away.

Eight goals at Henbury as the home side go down 5-3 to visitors Bristol Academy. All the goals were netted by three players, a two hat-tricks and a brace. Eddie Howell netted all three for Henbury whilst Malik Jammeh netting three for the Academy and Jake Jackson the other two. Henbury opened first with a goal in the 8th minute Gary Clark finding Aaron Anglin who in turn set up Eddie Howell for his first of the afternoon. The home side went 2-0 up two minutes later from a Ben Sandle cross that was helped on by Jack Mills for Howell to head his second. The Academy hit back on 19 minutes as a Henbury defenders poor pass back was picked up by Jake Jackson who squared the ball for Malik Jammeh to slot home. The visitors were level on 31 minutes when Jammeh turned the ball in from a corner. A tremendous 25 yard drive from Jake Jackson on 49 minutes put the visitors in front and they went further ahead in the 64th minute with a third from Malik Jammeh. Jake Jackson outpaced the home defence to make it 5-2 in the 88th minute, then a minute later Howell completed his Hat-trick when he turned home a Rosser corner.

Tuffley Rovers are top on goal difference after their 2-1 home win over Kings Stanley. Mark Ford gave Rovers the lead after 5 minutes when he headed home a Mark Wallington cross at the far post. Stanley drew level on 14 minutes with a rasping shot from Andy Roberts from just inside the box. The winner came in the 81st minute from a Marcus Foxwell’s cross come shot that drifted over the keeper and just under the bar.


Rockleaze Rangers V Patchway Town
Rockleaze Rangers V Patchway Town

Southmead CS Athletic are just behind Tuffley Rovers and are keeping up their challenge with another 3-1 victory at home to D.R.G. Frenchay. It was the visitors who opened the scoring after 22 minutes Kris Douglas scoring from close range. Rob Sivers headed the home side level on 35 minutes. It was deep into the second half before the home side managed to get in front and it was player manager Gary Booth who scored from a free kick in the 75th minute. Three minutes from the end a neat flick on by Chris Storr put Bobby Massey clear to round the keeper for the third.

Chipping Sodbury Town had the same opponents as last week only this time it was league game. After going out of the cup last week to Longlevens they had a chance to redeem themselves and try to get a win on the board. This they managed to do by three goals to two. Longlevens took the lead on 6 minutes through Brad Martin but the home side drew level three minutes later from a Craig Davidge strike. Justin Cattle put the home side back in front on 27 minutes but that only lasted six minutes as Brad Martin netted his second to level. A second goal from Justin Cattle on 55 minutes gave the home side the three points.

Berkeley Town are still propping up the table as they go down 4-2 at home to Bishops Cleeve Reserves. Cleeve went ahead on 12 minutes with a 25 yard dipping shot from Jamie Lock. Four minutes later they were two ahead as Mike Sholly side footed home a cross from the right. Luke Palmer was put clear to pull a goal back for Berkeley on 20 minute but they conceded the third in the 40th minute as Declan Chick picked up a rebound off the home keeper. Sam Strickland netted a second for town, but the visitors hit back again to score a fourth in the 65th minute Declan Chick striking the ball into the top corner.


Rockleaze Rangers V Patchway Town
Rockleaze Rangers V Patchway Town

Frampton United and Taverners had to share a point each in a 1-1 draw. Craig Hughes gave Taverners the lead on 47 minutes, but eight minutes later Karl Palmer bundled the ball over the line in a goalmouth scramble to put Frampton on level terms.

The game between Thornbury Town and Kingswood was abandoned after 19 minutes due to a bad injury sustained by Gary Simons of Kingswood. The score at the time was 1-1. Dan Thompson had put the home side in front with a strike into the top corner from the edge of the box on 8 minutes, but Ryan Mudd leveled just two minute later.


Rockleaze Rangers V Patchway Town
Rockleaze Rangers V Patchway Town

13th October 2012 - Cleeve win clash of reserves

Only three fixtures scheduled for today as most of the Clubs were playing in the GFA Challenge Trophy Rd 2

Unfortunately D.R.G. Frenchay was called off at around 2.00pm after a tremendous storm flooded an already very heavy pitch.

For the first time since I have been reporting on Gloucestershire County Football League fixtures we travelled to Yate Town Reserves where they were entertaining the other Reserve side in this league Bishops Cleeve.

The result ended in a 2-1 win to Bishops Cleeve gaining revenge for the 2-1 home defeat by Yate Town just a few weeks ago.

Cleeve opened the better of the two sides with Jack Fairbairn breaking into the Yate box in the 3rd minute and should have given the visitors the lead but fired wide of the upright. Yates first attempt on goal came after 9 minutes a curling left foot shot from Kirk Waldren that just cleared the bar. Cleeve almost opened the scoring in the 24th minute as Jamie Lock unleashed a powerful shot from 25 yards that Yate keeper Damien Freeman could not hold and it rebounded to Delcan Chick who then fired against the upright. In the 31st minute Jay Belton latched onto a loose ball in the visitor’s box, turned and struck a low shot goal-wards but it went just wide of the post. In the 38th minute Jack Parker saw his shot well saved by Dan Greenhouse and the rebound went back to Parker who saw Greenhouse at his best again to keep his second shot out. Then 2 goals in two minutes from Cleeve in the 41st and 43rd minute shook the home side. The first goal was a brilliantly worked interchange of passes before Jack Fairbairn got behind the home defence and coolly stroked the ball past Freeman. The second two minutes later came from a cross from the right to the far side of the box, it was headed on by Fairbairn and Delcan Chick got in behind the home defence to place the ball past Freeman.


Yate Town Reserves V Bishops Cleeve Reserves
Yate Town Reserves V Bishops Cleeve Reserves

We had to wait until the 70th minute for any real goalmouth action in the second half and it came courtesy of Jay Belton who dispossessed a Cleeve defender on the edge of the box right on the byline and created an angle to fire a brilliant shot past Greenhouse into the roof of the visitors net. Yate should have been level in the 75th minute as Belton got clear of the Cleeve defence and then shot wide with just Greenhouse to beat. Cleeve could have wrapped the game up in the 88th minute but with a clear sight of goal Delcan Chick shot straight into Freemans arms as he tried to chip the keeper.

An eight goal thriller at Berkeley Town but the home side were on the end of a 6-2 defeat at the hands of Ellwood. The star man for Ellwood was Daryl Addis who hit a hat-trick, one of the three Addis brothers who netted for the visitors today. The score line looks as though it was all one way but the game was even until the 64th minute at 2-2. Town should have opened the scoring in the 1st minute but Peter Lavis missed a golden opportunity. Berkeley did however take the lead in the 18th minute when Luke Palmer turned in a low cross from Jamie Mackie. Dan Mason’s 30 yard drive struck the Berkeley crossbar denying Ellwood a leveller. Five minutes later the same player saw his penalty kick saved by home keeper Ewan Prentice. At the other end Tom Frankham struck the crossbar for Berkeley. Ellwood got on level terms with a slice of luck in the 42nd minute Peter Lavis turning a low cross from Derek Roberts into his own net. One minute into the second half Berkeley were back in front when Sam Strickland fired home a cross from James Mackie. Luke Palmer almost made tit 3-1 to the home side on the hour but his effort struck the crossbar. Just three minutes later the Ellwood goal glut started as Jamie Addis headed the equaliser on 64 minutes. Julian Addis then put the visitors in front for the first time with a shot from just inside the box and two minutes later Daryl Addis netted the first of his three goals as he cut into the box and scored from a an acute angle. Paul Brooks brought down Matt Addis in the 82nd minute for a second penalty to Ellwood and this time Daryl Addis took it and made no mistake. Ellwood rounded off the scoring in the 89th minute when Daryl Addis headed home a Mitchel Hathaway cross.


Yate Town Reserves V Bishops Cleeve Reserves
Yate Town Reserves V Bishops Cleeve Reserves

GFA Trophy

The biggest win of the day was the 7-0 thrashing that Henbury handed out to Gloucester City Development. There was a hat-trick from Eddie Howell, a brace from Aaron Anglin, one from Jack Bebbington and an own goal. Henbury score after 2 minutes as Kris Sage’s corner was flicked on by Howell and it went off a Gloucester defender into the net. Eddie Howell made it 2-0 on 25 minutes as he beat the offside trap from a Ben Sandle through ball and coolly knocked it past the keeper. Henbury were three up just two minutes later Jack Mills’s cross was helped on by Howell and Aaron Anglin drove the ball home. It was Anglin again in the 55th minute as he latched onto a long ball and neatly chipped the keeper. Defender Jack Bebbington made it five when he was played in by Ben Sandle rounding two defenders before driving the ball home. Two further strikes by Eddie Howell in the 88th and 90th minute made it a thoroughly miserable day for the visitors.

Kings Stanley go out of the cup well beaten by Toolstation Division one side Oldland Abbotonians. Trailing 3-0 at the break and then conceding a fourth early in the second half saw the visitors home and dry.

A close game at Patchway Town who progress to the next round with a 4-3 victory over Southmead CS Athletic. Patchway took a two goal lead with two strikes from Ben Purdie early on. The first a simple tap in and the second a well directed header. Mark Palmer made it three from the penalty spot after Brandon Benjamin had been brought down. Southmead hit back with a Luke Coghlan goal before Ashley Lloyd made it 4-1 to the home side. Rob Massey had his penalty saved but Luke Cox followed in to make it 4-2. A brilliant 20 yard free kick from Gary Booth made for a very exciting finish but the home side hung on.


Yate Town Reserves V Bishops Cleeve Reserves
Yate Town Reserves V Bishops Cleeve Reserves

Kingswood were up against Toolstation Premier Division side Bitton and although beaten 3-0 in the end gave a very good display considering the difference in divisions between the two sides. In fact Kingwood could have gone ahead in the 11th minute but Frank Hitchins missed a sitter from a Ryan Mudd cross. In the 17th minute Jason Liama gave the visitors the lead with a header following a corner. It took until the 73rd minute before there was another goal and it came from Matt Knapman’s free kick from the edge of the box. Kingswoods Leonard Miller was brought down on the edge of the box and Simon Clark took the free kick which found Miller to hit a tremendous shot at the target but then saw it pushed away by the visitor’s keeper. Bitton concluded the scoring on 85 minutes when Mark Salter netted in a goalmouth scramble.

Chipping Sodbury Town are out of the cup after going down 4-2 at home to Longlevens. Justin Cattle gave them the lead on 10 minutes, but Brad Martin leveled in the 35th minute. Sodbury retook the lead on 51 minutes with a goal from Ben Hemmings, but Brad Martin made it 2-2 on 65 minutes. Ryan Dunn put the visitors ahead in the 75th minute and Jake Underwood netted a fourth to see Longlevens through.

Rockleaze Rangers narrowly beat Hanham Athletic 1-0 at Vicarage Road. It was all Rockleaze in the firt half and they scored after 35 minutes through Richard Bray. It was a different story in the second half with Hanham dominating the game but could not score. Both sides finished the game with ten men.


Yate Town Reserves V Bishops Cleeve Reserves
Yate Town Reserves V Bishops Cleeve Reserves

FA Vase - GE Hamble 3 Bristol Academy 1

Bristol Academy started the game slowly and after losing possession in midfield and a Jarvis run ended with him shooting past Horsell to give GE Hamble the lead. Bristol Academy responded well and had a series of possession and shots but failed to breach GE Hamble’s rearguard.

A tweak in formation at half time and Sam Hill being replaced by Josh Cann the Academy were level on 54 minutes. Josh Cann played a speculative diagonal ball which GE Hamble’s centre back attempted to head back to the keeper. The header was short and Malick Jammeh nipped in to take full advantage and slot home. Bristol Academy were spurred on and had numerous chances to take the lead. Jake Jackson having the best of them which he spurned shooting straight at the keeper. GE Hamble regained the lead on 82 minutes when Bristol Academy were slow to react to a corner and Javis produced a deft flick at the near post to beat Horsell. Bristol Academy pushed forward in an attempt to get back in the tie and on 84 minutes were caught on the break when Williams fired home. Malick Jammeh was tripped in the area but the referee waved away strong appeals for a penalty and Tyler Finch Vassell shot straight at the keeper when he only had him to beat.

Bristol Academy acquitted themselves well against a side two rungs above them on the pyramid but will rue failure to take chances and conceding some sloppy goals.

6th October 2012 - Frampton win at DRG as Kingswood go top

With both Tuffley Rovers and Southmead CS Athletic on Cup duty this week it gave Kingswood the chance to go top if they could win at home to Chipping Sodbury Town. They did just that with a 2-0 victory and are sitting at the top of the table one point clear. Kings Stanley move into third place with a 2-1 win over Ellwood. Surprise of the day was the 2-1 victory by Berkeley Town at Hanham Athletic.

Kingswood’s 2-0 win over Chipping Sodbury Town took them to the top of the David Wilson Homes Gloucestershire County Football League for the first time since joining the League four season ago. Sodbury had the better of the exchanges in the first 15 minutes and the home side had to ride out the storm. They gradually got into the game and went close with a couple of good shots. They took the lead in the 34th minute with some good passing between Simon Clark and Ryan Mudd with the final pass from Mudd to Gavin Dibden to chip the ball over the Sodbury keeper. Sodbury had a great chance to level on 54 minutes but Chris Fox pulled off a great save to deny Justin Cattle. A few minutes later Fox was in action again to deny Sodbury getting on level terms. The home side dented the visitor’s hopes in the 80th minute when a Simon Clark free kick was put away by Gary Simons.

It was a hard fought game at Frenchay between D.R.G. Frenchay and Frampton United two teams languishing in the lower regions of the table the spoils went to the visitors with a solitary goal midway through the second half.

Frampton had the better of the exchanges in the first 45 minutes although Fabian McCarthy was unlucky not to have given the home side the lead after 9 minutes when his shot on target rebounded of the legs of Frampton’s keeper Craig Barnfield to safety. A couple of minutes later home keeper Lee Francis brought off a tremendous save when he finger tipped the ball over the bar from a Stuart Maule shot. There was a lot of midfield play for the next 28 minutes with both sides trying to get control. Then in the 40th minute Karl Palmer unleashed a hard left foot drive from 25 yards that had Francis diving full length to push the ball around the post. Three minutes later Francis was well beaten when Stuart Maule unleashed a tremendous shot that had the keeper struggling to reach it as it stuck the crossbar and rebounded back to Maule who then headed over the bar. Right on half time Francis prevented Palmer from giving the visitors the lead when he closed him down at the far post.


DRG Frenchay v Frampton United
DRG Frenchay v Frampton United

We had to wait until the 70th minute for the deadlock to be broken and it came from a shot by Frampton substitute Matt Cook, he struck a great shot from the edge of the box that took a deflection on its way into the net. D.R.G.s Ben Burrell should have leveled the score five minutes later as he burst past three Frampton defenders and with the goal at his mercy he pulled his shot wide of the post. The home side had one more chance to try and get something from the game in time added at the end, but Fabian McCarthy fired over the bar.

Berkeley Town pulled off the surprise of the day with an excellent 2-1 victory at Hanham Athletic. They did it the hard way after going behind in the 10th minute to an Adam Grinter strike from the edge of the box. The equalising goal came from an in swinging corner in the 57th minute sent over by Sam Strickland and deceiving everyone to go straight into the net. The winner came five minutes from the end Ben Gillison finishing off a good move from inside the 6 yard box.

Thornbury Town went down by the odd goal in five at home to Yate Town Reserves. The opening goal came after 13 minutes from Jay Belton who broke down the left side before driving a hard low shot past the home keeper. Just four minutes later Yate were 2-0 up as Jack Parker broke down the left cut into the box and smashed the ball into roof of the Thornbury net. The home side pulled a goal back in the 35th minute from an inswinging corner that travelled low across the 6 yard box and where Steve Thompson was positioned to tap the ball over the line from very close range. Thornbury were on level terms just three minutes into the second half with a well taken goal from Nathan Irwin who coolly looked up picked his spot and placed the ball into the roof of the Yate net from the edge of the box. There were several hold ups in the second half through injuries which accounted for six minutes of time added at the end of the game and with just one minute of that time left Yate grabbed the winner from a corner to the near post that was met by Jay Belton who flicked his header across to the far post and into the net.


DRG Frenchay v Frampton United
DRG Frenchay v Frampton United

Kings Stanley remain unbeaten after a 2-1 win over visitors Ellwood. The visitors were the better side in the opening exchanges and the home defence had to be at their best to keep them out, then against the run of play Stanley broke away and Andy Roberts gave them the lead after receiving a defence splitting pass from Ben Newman. Both sides had chances leading up to half time but it remained 1-0 at the break. A second goal from Nick Humphries on 55 minutes gave the home side a 2-0 cushion and the Ellwood keeper kept out some good shots on target by the home side to prevent them going further ahead. Ellwood’s Dan Mason gave them a glimmer of hope when he scored direct from a free kick ten minutes from the end but the home side hung on for the win.

There were 2 post postponements due to waterlogged pitches.

Bishops Cleeve Reserves v Henbury
Taverners v Bristol Academy

Les James league Cup Round 1 - sponsored by Braley Business Systems

Two games played in the Les James League Cup today that were postponed from August. Both games involved the top two Clubs in the league although not against each other.

Rockleaze Rangers took on Tuffley Rovers at Coombe Dingle Complex but were knocked out by two goals in the last four minutes of the game. Although it remained goalless at the break there had been chances from both sides in the first 45 minutes with Rovers keeper Mark Harris pulling off several good saves and home keeper Sam Burgess denying Shane Bradley on a couple of occasions. Tuffley took the lead in then 86th minute when Mark Wallington followed up the rebound from the home keeper who had saved the initial header from Shane Bradley, and than they grabbed a second right on 90 minutes from a Shane Bradley volley.


DRG Frenchay v Frampton United
DRG Frenchay v Frampton United

In the other first round tie Southmead CS Athletic took on Longlevens this game being abandoned in August after Mark Moore suffered a cardiac arrest.

There was a collection made at the game today by the Southmead Club with the proceeds going to the British Heart Foundation. £128 was raised and will be handed to Longlevens to put with their fund raising scheme that they have been carrying out since the incident on that night in August.

The game itself saw Longlevens progress to the next round of the cup with a 4-0 victory. Brad Martin gave the visitors the lead after 25 minutes with a shot from the edge of the box. Southmead had a good spell this side of half time but failed to break through. Scott Hayward made it 2-0 on 63 minute after he drove home a good cross from the right. The home side was reduced to ten players after Dave Hewitt received his marching orders for a bad tackle. A third goal from Jake Elmore in the 83 minute after an excellent piece of football by the visitors put them in the driving seat. Then in the 84th minute Dave Rich netted a fourth to send Longlevens into the next round.


DRG Frenchay v Frampton United
DRG Frenchay v Frampton United