22^nd February 2026 - Sharpness extend lead as Chalford stun Tewkesbury

Mark Simpson

Sharpness maintained their push for the title with a good win at Broadwell whilst Tewkesbury fell off the pace a little with their first defeat since mid-September. At the bottom Hanham fell to Filton, who helped their position in the top three and Totterdown gave themselves a boost at the bottom with a win over Henbury and Rockleaze. In the first Les James League Cup semi-final Frampton United eased into the final against Ruardean Hill.

Tricky pitch conditions at the Hawthorns where Broadwell Amateurs took on League leaders Sharpness with Broadwell finding their feet first with a bright opening ten minutes and the first goal following a low whipped free kick from Dan Brain and Kristian Burnard getting the slightest of touches to flick home for 1-0. Sharpness grew into the game and had a goal disallowed for a foul on keeper Jack Watkins, but they equalised shortly after a low diagonal cross, a flick through bodies and tucked away by Bryant for 1-1. Sharpness finished the half the stronger of the two and should have took the lead when Watkins was rounded and with the goal open Creighton got back and cleared to safety. The Sharks took the lead early in the second half after along throw headed home by Bennett. Broadwell’s equaliser came twenty minutes from time when Kian Skidmore’s low driven shot was fumbled in by keeper Dykes. Sharpness found their third and the winner when low driven shot from Bennett took a wicked bobble off the pitch and lifted over the diving Watkins for a valuable three points for the visitors.

With title chasing Tewkesbury Town arriving at Highfield Way in a confident mood Chalford delivered a composed and clinical performance to secure a superb 2-0 victory. From the first whistle Chalford showed their intent forcing the first corner of the afternoon and setting the tone early on. In the 6th minute that pressure told, with Keylock scoring directly from a corner. Tewkesbury looked to respond earning corners in quick succession but Chalford were well organised at the back and indeed broke from one of the corners and Cooke was unlucky not to double their advantage. Chalford continued to press with Fletcher just wide on 25 minutes and Tewkesbury also going close on two occasions. The second half almost began perfectly for Chalford, with Cooke finding space but firing just wide. Tewkesbury started to press more earning a succession of corners but were not able to truly trouble the Chalford back line. Williams delivered a delightful free kick only for Maryon to lose his footing at the crucial moment and minutes later he was involved again narrowly heading wide from a corner. Tewkesbury also had their moments with a shot crashing off the crossbar and shortly after Jordan’s free header was saved by the Chalford keeper. Chalford continued to threaten on the break with Cooke just wide on the hour and a tremendous strike By Newell forced an excellent save. Tewkesbury pushed harder but Chalford remained resolute and the decisive moment came in the 76^th minute when a mistake in the Tewkesbury defence was ruthlessly punished by Cam Kerr whose calm finish made it 2-0. Two minutes later Kerr was through again but was brought down, with Newell’s free kick striking the wall, and Maryon almost added a third on 84 minutes firing just over. So, a clinical performance from the hosts and a well-earned 2-0 victory.

At Vicarage Road Hanham Athletic took on title chasing Filton Athletic and both teams started well and had chances in the first few minutes. Liam Jenkins shot for Hanham was well saved by Tom Evans before Taylor Anderson shot wide for Filton when clean through. It was Hanham who took the lead on 13 minutes when, after good work by Abraham and Plummer, Mickey Golding nipped in to score. It was almost two on twenty minutes but Nathan Hall’s brilliant shot across the keeper cannoned off the post and out of danger. It didn’t take long for Filton to equalise in the second half when a minute in David Quick beat Taylor from the edge of the area. But, Hanham regained the lead on the hour when a corner was knocked down and Lewis Williams smashed the ball home. Filton equalised again on 75 minutes when Trey Merrett struck a fine free kick past Taylor and Keiron Cooper made it 3-2 to Filton on 80 minutes when a mistake by Harley Boyce allowed him to shoot past Taylor. A good win for Filton against a struggling Hanham, but they all count.

Quedgeley Wanderers (Red) v Bromley Heath United (Yellow), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Quedgeley Wanderers (Red) v Bromley Heath United (Yellow), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Quedgeley Wanderers (Red) v Bromley Heath United (Yellow), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Quedgeley Wanderers (Red) v Bromley Heath United (Yellow), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Quedgeley Wanderers (Red) v Bromley Heath United (Yellow) - Images courtesy Peter Langley

Quedgeley Wanderers (Red) v Bromley Heath United (Yellow), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Quedgeley Wanderers (Red) v Bromley Heath United (Yellow), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Quedgeley Wanderers (Red) v Bromley Heath United (Yellow), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Quedgeley Wanderers (Red) v Bromley Heath United (Yellow), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Quedgeley Wanderers (Red) v Bromley Heath United (Yellow), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Quedgeley Wanderers (Red) v Bromley Heath United (Yellow), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Quedgeley Wanderers (Red) v Bromley Heath United (Yellow), Images courtesy Peter Langley

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At Waterwells Quedgeley Wanderers hosted Bromley Heath United and the opening exchanges were evenly contested, although Quedgeley enjoyed early territory. Luke Horrocks saw plenty of the ball down the line and efforts from wide areas showed early intent. Bromley’s first shot of the game forced Tony Hawkins into a good save. QW’s breakthrough came midway through the half when Ollie Barnett delivered a free kick that Fin Jenner met with a header, and with Ferguson misjudging the flight the ball ended up in the back of the net. Chances continued to fall for QW, a header drifted wide, Billy Osabuohien was narrowly off target when played through and Jenner tested the away defence with a shot just wide. Quedgeley doubled their lead on 40 minutes, a free kick from distance by Riley Stokes was struck with precision by Luca Horrocks for 2-0 at the interval. Bromley Heath responded after the break and an early free kick was headed wide before a shot from distance tested Hawkins. Bromley came back into the mix when Jack Waldron capitalised on a mistake by Hawkins to make it 2-1. The game opened up and Bromley had one disallowed for offside and both sides traded chances. Free kicks from wide areas caused problems and Osabuohien’s clever flick went untouched as it flashed across goal. Substitutions followed as the intensity increased and QW forced Ferguson into action from another set piece, and sustained pressure led to a scramble in which Seb Keith’s effort was dramatically cleared off the line. Despite Quedgeley’s pressure Bromley Heath carried a threat on the break with one effort rattling the bar after a quick counter and with just minutes remaining the decisive moment arrived, a failure to clear allowed Ollie Hanham to pounce and fire home turning the game on its head at 2-2.

A welcome gap in the weather saw football back at Oldbury Lane where Wick and Stoke Gifford SGS United met looking to elevate their mid table positions. Stoke Gifford started brightly creating three opportunities within the first few minutes, which Mason Hawkins in the Wick goal had to deal with to prevent an early goal. Wick came into things in the 6th minute when Gifford’s defence failed to effectively clear a Wick attack but the chance went begging. Two minutes later Wick did open their account when Jaye Rudge put George Lloyd through and he made no mistake giving Taylor Smith between the sticks no chance. On 15 minutes Gifford drew level with Wick falling asleep at a corner, allowing a short corner, and a pin-point cross for Daniel Twomey to head past Hawkins. In a fast-paced game Wick should have retaken the lead after Rudge’s shot cannoned off the bar and the in-rushing Lloyd ballooned his shot over. With their tails up Wick thought they had scored on 22 minutes when Lloyd’s goal-bound effort was brilliantly cleared off the line. Wick started the second half on the front foot but without troubling SGS keeper Smith. That changed however, on the hour, when Cory Langdon crashed his shot into the roof of the net after Smith could only parry a fierce shot. With the game now end-to-end both sides were looking to create scoring opportunities and on 75 minutes a great run by Wick’s Louis Short down the right cutting inside to shoot and bringing a great save by Smith. Ten minutes later the game was effectively put to bed when Langdon notched the third finding the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the area. An entertaining game with Wick taking the three points after a 3-1 win.

Les James League Cup holders Frampton United took on Ruardean Hill Rangers in this years semi-final at the Bellfield and came out comfortable winners. Frampton’s Dom Brown had a good chance to open the scoring after twelve minutes but Underwood did well to get down and palm his header away. Five minutes later Frampton scored when a Billy Curtis cross was missed by a defender and Manolo Marquez headed in for 1-0. Five minutes into the second half Marquez scored again when he squeezed the ball past Underwood. Ruardean’s Oli Mason had a good chance to pull a goal back when he ran clear but Tom Kaye was on hand to save his effort. Theo Browne made it 3-0 when he headed in a Joe Rowsell cross and Ruardean pulled one back when a cross by Mason was deflected in by a Frampton defender. Theo Browne scored his second when he cut inside a defender and slotted home and Frampton’s fifth came from a Ruardean own-goal. So, a disappointing performance from Ruardean who have shown good League form of late, and to another final for Frampton.

The conditions were nice at Norton Lane at kick off, the pitch in good condition with the grass having a bit of zip in it for Totterdown United against Henbury & Rockleaze. Totterdown began up the slight slope and came bustling forward straight from kick-off putting H&R under early pressure. The first chance fell to Lovell who shot just wide after a good passage of play and Saunders was proving to be a real handful for the H&R defence, holding off defenders, running channels and bringing Totterdown’s other attackers into play. On 20 minutes a Sylvester pass was pounced on by Lovell who got between a defender and keeper, and rounding Dunning to slot home. Totterdown continued to dominate but H&R saw a ball over the top latched onto but went wide. More pressure from Totts with plenty of crosses and Tobin and Makers making driving runs from midfield. Finally, a second goal for Totterdown came when a smart turn and cross was nodded home by Saunders. Both teams came out to the rain in the second half with H&R making a change in personnel and shape. The game was much more even now with H&R stringing some passes together, but other than a few corners Ashley Martin wasn’t really tested. However, it was Totts who came closest after Maker’s surging run beating three defenders and cutting back for Lovell only for the ball to be taken off his toes. In the 75th minute H&R pulled one back, a free kick out wide came in and Webb got up well and with Martin caught out his header looped into the middle of the goal. More pressure came from H&R with a dangerous ball flashed across Totts box and another cross dropped for H&R to score but Martin made a great point-blank save. The last ten minutes were fairly comfortable for Totterdown with a few changes being made and with Sulyman settling them down they saw the game out with a deserved 2-1 victory.

14^th February 2026 - Filton Athletic keep pressure on at top

Mark Simpson

Filton Athletic closed the gap on Tewkesbury Town and Sharpness at the top whilst at the bottom Hanham Athletic are starting to come a little bit adrift and Totterdown United have slipped into the bottom two after defeat at fellow strugglers Cribbs Reserves. Ruardean Hill’s form has improved no end. Sharpness followed Bromley Heath United into the semi-finals of the County Cup.

At Elm Park Filton Athletic came from behind against Quedgeley Wanderers to make it six League wins in a row. There was an early chance for the hosts when a good cross from Tom Fry was headed over by Kieran Cooper. He then had another chance when a corner wasn’t cleared and Taylor Anderson put the ball back in only for Cooper’s header to be saved by Stephen Sparrow. Quedgeley had a chance of their own when Nathan Payne was put through but he shot tamely at Tom Bradley. Filton kept pushing and from a corner Fry headed straight at Sparrow. But, as it happened, it was the visitors who scored first when a good Harry Reynolds strike from the edge of the area flew into the corner of the net. Filton almost equalised soon after when an acrobatic Cooper effort went just wide and QW should have gone two-up when after a mix up in the Filton box the ball fell to Riley Stokes but his effort went straight to Bradley. Early in the second half the hosts went close but, to his frustration, Cooper shot just wide. Filton eventually equalised when after good work down the right Taylor Anderson fired the ball across goal and an unfortunate defender put through his own net. Filton soon made it 2-1 when Trey Merrett clinically finished Anderson’s flick on, and Filton seeing out the rest of a hard-fought game for a 2-1 win.

Totterdown United visited the Lawns to take on Cribbs Reserves with both teams looking for points to move away from the bottom of the table with both having picked up points in recent weeks, and it was the home side who took the lead on 3 minutes when Dan Monk’s pass found Luco Ponsillo on the edge of the box and his low right footed drive found the bottom left hand corner of the net. On ten minutes Monk’s lofted ball sent Alex Craig through but his lob lacked enough height to beat Ashley Martin. Both teams passed the ball around well on a sticky surface and whilst Cribbs limited Totterdown to long range efforts they themselves lacked the final ball. Cribbs almost made it two just before half time when Harvey Jasper had an effort cleared off the line and James Capon hit a post. The second half followed a similar pattern to the first but on 65 minutes Cribbs were awarded a penalty for a push on Ponsillo who the stepped up only to put his spot kick tamely wide. Totts pushed for an equaliser putting more men forward with Chas Hemmings a constant threat and the pressure almost paid off when during a goalmouth scramble Cribbs keeper somehow scooped the ball off the line. The game became stretched and was end to end but Cribbs held on for a vital win.

Hanham Athletic and Bishops Cleeve Development played out an open game at Kayte Lane, but it was the home side who ran out comfortable winners. On only two minutes Soloman Osinuga was set free by Smith and slid in to give Cleeve the lead. Hanham then started to ask a few questions of the hosts with Sunter in the Cleeve goal being called into action. The game remained open with both sides trading attacks but it wasn’t until the second half that Cleeve really asserted their dominance on the game. New continued his scoring run with a quick-fire double before Ellerton added to his goal tally for the season with a tap in from close range. Cleeve contrived to waste further opportunities through Smith, Ellerton, and Debonis, but the game was already won by then. So, 4-0 to Cleeve leaving Hanham an awful lot of work to do.

Bishops Cleeve Development (Green) v Hanham Athletic (Black/White), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Bishops Cleeve Development (Green) v Hanham Athletic (Black/White), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Bishops Cleeve Development (Green) v Hanham Athletic (Black/White), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Bishops Cleeve Development (Green) v Hanham Athletic (Black/White), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Bishops Cleeve Development (Green) v Hanham Athletic (Black/White) - Images courtesy Peter Langley

Bishops Cleeve Development (Green) v Hanham Athletic (Black/White), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Bishops Cleeve Development (Green) v Hanham Athletic (Black/White), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Bishops Cleeve Development (Green) v Hanham Athletic (Black/White), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Bishops Cleeve Development (Green) v Hanham Athletic (Black/White), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Bishops Cleeve Development (Green) v Hanham Athletic (Black/White), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Bishops Cleeve Development (Green) v Hanham Athletic (Black/White), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Bishops Cleeve Development (Green) v Hanham Athletic (Black/White), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Bishops Cleeve Development (Green) v Hanham Athletic (Black/White), Images courtesy Peter Langley

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At the Bellfield Frampton United welcomed Broadwell Amateurs and it was the visitors who had an early chance through Liam Brain who cut inside the defender but shot just wide. Frampton responded with a quick break with the ball crossed in for Manolo Marquez to slide in but his shot crept just wide. The only goal of the game came from a 30-yard strike by Frampton’s Lewis Vye which flew into the top of the net. On 75 minutes Broadwell had a great opportunity to equalise when they were awarded a penalty but Frampton keeper Tom Kaye saved well from Jamie Belfitt’s effort. Broadwell’s Ben Lear was unlucky when his turn and strike came back off the crossbar and was followed by a good run by Frampton’s Vye who pulled the ball back only for Kak Tyers’ shot to go wide. Frampton held out for the rest of the game to take the points with a 1-0 win.

Bromley Heath United took on Ruardean Hill Rangers at Pomphrey Hill and the first part of the match was a very tight affair with both teams having good possession without really creating anything. On the half hour mark Ruardean won a corner, probably against the run of play at that stage, and the ball sailed in beyond the far post where it was neatly controlled by Tom Landon who smashed it into the net. Ten minutes later Max Telling found himself in space on the edge of the six-yard box and looped a header over the keeper for 2-0. Bromley came out for the second half determined to get something out of the game but couldn’t really fashion anything clear cut and were hit with a sucker punch when Harry Clark put Ruardean further ahead ten minutes into the half with Bromley’s makeshift defence not reacting quick enough to clear the ball. However, five minutes later a well-placed header from Bromley’s Trai Elliston-Sackett gave them some hope of getting back into the game. The rest of the game rather fizzled out with Ruardean determined to consolidate their lead and with Bromley desperate to pull something back the inevitable happened and Ollie Mason scored a breakaway goal for the visitors. A good 4-1 victory for Ruardean continuing their climb up the table and on this occasion not to be for Bromley Heath.

With the sun making a rare appearance of late Stoke Gifford SGS United and Chalford both started brightly at the SGS College and 17 minutes in Gifford took the lead, a mistake in the Chalford defence allowed Froilan Lopez a free hit from the edge of the box giving Chris Load no chance with the ball finding the bottom corner. Within three minutes however, Chalford were level, a well delivered cross into the box saw an own-goal off the head of a Gifford defender. Gifford restored their lead almost immediately when Pat Kosciolek rounded off a well worked move from inside the box. Gifford had numerous chances to extend their lead but it was Chalford who came closest to scoring with Fin O’Kelly’s free kick hitting a post and the follow up shot well saved by Taylor Smith. Chalford were denied an equaliser at the start of the second half with a goal ruled out for offside but on sixty minutes the scores were level with Ben Pring heading home an in-swinging corner. Taylor Smith in the Gifford goal pulled off a few key saves to keep his side in the game before Gifford edged their noses back in front on 80 minutes when Lopez calmly dispatched a penalty. Chalford pressed forward and were themselves awarded a penalty six minutes into stoppage time with Cam Kerr keeping his nerve to score from the shot and earn a share of the points at 3-3.

12^th February 2026 - Promotion and Relegation

Nigel Meaney

The following club has applied for promotion to Step 6 of the National League System for Season 2026/7

• Sharpness

The bottom two clubs will be relegated and replaced by the two successful applicants as determined by the Gloucestershire FA (GFA) rules for promotion in the local football pyramid as described in the GFA Handbook Here, on pages 47-49, Regulations of the Association Section 7 - Local Structure (South/North). The background to this process is described in an article on the GFA website Here

Clubs applying to join the league for next season are as follows

Bristol Premier Combination

• DRG Frenchay
• Hallen Reserves
• Iron Acton

Bristol and Suburban League

• Almondsbury Reserves
• Southmead CS Athletic
• Warmley Redbridge
• Wessex Wanderers

Gloucestershire Northern Senior League

• Dursley Town
• English Bicknor
• Longlevens Reserves
• Whaddon United

Hellenic League

• University of Bristol

8^th February 2026 - Spoils shared all round on weather affected day

Mark Simpson

I suppose a long winning run had to come to an end at sometime and so Tewkesbury Town’s sequence ended at the hands of Totterdown United who gained a valuable point in their quest to avoid relegation. Ruardean Hill also gained a valuable point away to Stoke Gifford for a similar cause.

Despite plenty of rain throughout the week which caused multiple postponements, the pitch at Norton Lane managed to hold through the monsoon so that Totterdown United could play Tewkesbury Town. The game started fairly evenly with neither team forcing the play but it was Tewkesbury who got a hold on the game after around ten minutes where they had multiple corners one of which was cleared and dropped to Jordan who crashed his shot off the bar before Martin gratefully gathered. At around 20 minutes the ball was played through into the Totts penalty area and a tangle of legs saw a penalty awarded and Jordan slotted home to give the visitors the lead. Totterdown struggled to build much with Saunders isolated up front and waves of Tewkesbury pressure finally broke Totterdown, with a sliced clearance seeing Jordan stroll through to make it 2-0. Tewkesbury had a chance to make it three from a corner but Martin made an excellent point blank save to deny them. Totts were standing up to the pressure well, but were making zero threat until the final five minutes of the half when some great wing play by Price saw him slip Lovell in who flashed across the box only for Maker to just miss.

Totterdown swapped things about a bit for the second half and started ta cause Tewkesbury a few problems. Jordan had a few half chances from good through balls which he failed to capitalise on and Tewkesbury were having great trouble dealing with Tobin’s surging runs. On the hour Totts moved the ball well from right to left and Wiltshire moved up and whipped in a teasing cross which saw Poole come to claim only for Tobin to leap in and head home. Totterdown’s tails were up and they could smell blood, and in the 75^th minute Tewkesbury were struggling to clear the ball which worked its way to Hemmings at centre back, he drove forward and from the edge of the box rocketed the ball into the back of the net for 2-2. With the game flipped on its head Totts made multiple runs and saw some great opportunities but weren’t able to make the final telling pass. Tewkesbury broke a few times but did not trouble Martin, and the game finished 2-2. Tewkesbury probably should have wrapped the game up in the first half but Totterdown deservedly got a point from their second half performance and they have been improving for a while with hope to look up the table rather than down.

On a very wet afternoon Stoke Gifford SGS Unitedtook on Ruardean Hill Rangers at the SGS college with neither team able to get a foothold in the game early on with the blustery conditions not helping the cause. Gifford slightly edged the opening twenty minutes with Zac Morgan and Patryk Kosciolek going close but never really threatened Aaron Underwood in the Ruardean goal, and at the other end a shot from Harry Clark just cleared the Gifford bar. On the half hour Gifford took the lead, Dave Talbot’s free kick into the box was poked home from close range by Morgan and minutes later Gifford thought they had extended their lead, but the goal was ruled out for offside. As the break approached Gifford failed to deal with a long clearance up field and a speculative effort from 30 yards by Bobby Walding flew over the keeper’s head and into the net for 1-1. Clear chances in the second half were few and far between with Matt Hamer coming close for Gifford and a well struck shot from Max Telling narrowly missing the Gifford upright. So, 1-1 it finished and the spoils shared.