1st February 2026 - Totterdown United grab valuable win in basement clash
Mark Simpson
The top two both recorded 7-0 victories but at the bottom things turned around again, with Cribbs out of action due to the weather Ruardean Hill did themselves a power of good with an away win at Bishops Cleeve and Totterdown defeated Hanham in a six pointer to help their cause.
Despite the rain in the week the pitch at Norton Lane held up well and was in good condition for the game between Totterdown United and Hanham Athletic. The wind had settled and Hanham made the better start having some good possession and an early shot from distance was straight into Martin’s hands. Totterdown then started to impose themselves forcing David Taylor into a few smart saves and best of this period was around 35 minutes when Sylvester crashed an effort off the bar from just inside the box. This sparked Hanham back into life and they took charge pinning Totts back and sloppy passing didn’t help their cause until Lovell managed to break away with the ball, bursting through the middle with 3 on 2, he rolled it to Saunders who slotted past Taylor for 1-0. The goal settled Totts down and they started the second half brightly with Price having an effort saved and forcing a number of corners. Around the hour mark Hanham broke on Totterdown and some good wing play saw the ball fall to Hall who dispatched well for 1-1. Five minutes later the same thing happened on the opposite side, the ball being rolled to Maggs who made it 2-1 to the visitors. Totterdown made multiple changes to attempt to salvage something. They kept knocking on the door with a more direct style with balls into the box and corner after corner forcing Hanham into some desperate defending. Finally, in the 89th minute a ball into the box was flicked on and dropped to Gowing at the far post who controlled well and flashed a volley across the goal only to be stopped by handball – a red card – and Hemmings slotted home the pressure penalty for 2-2. With a few minutes still left Totterdown sensed another goal and they regained possession and played forward to Tobin who won a free kick which was played into Gowing at the back post who again controlled well and volleyed across goal forcing a fingertip save by Taylor only for the ball to fall to Hemmings to tap home for 3-2. Scenes of joy erupted at Norton Lane; a huge six pointer had been won.
At Hamfields Sharpness backed up last weeks win with a comfortable victory over Chalford. The home side opened the scoring early on when Tom Palmer’s corner was headed back across goal by Alfie Jones for Keiran Bennett to tap home. Jones went from provider to scorer for the second when a long throw from Payne was flicked on by Palmer for Jones to head into the bottom corner. Sharpness were now in full flow and the inevitable third involved some great interchange passing with the ball played out wide to Will Payne who curled in a cross for Bennett to guide his header into the top corner. They added a fourth when Jones was played in behind Chalford’s defence rounding Portlock and slotting home. Chalford did have a chance to pull one back but Pete Dykes was on hand to push the effort around the post. The Sharks made it five just before the break, Bennett racing onto a through ball crossing to Jones who tapped in for a first half hat-trick. The intensity dropped slightly in the second half but nevertheless Bennett completed his hat-trick lofting over Portlock. Sharks made it seven when a through ball by Jack Higgs found James Tainton who played a lovely one-two with Marley Thomas and finished well into the bottom corner. Chalford kept plugging away and almost got on the scoresheet but Priday blocked a goal bound effort and they then had a shot wide from a one-on-one. 7-0 keeping Sharpness well on top.
Stoke Gifford SGS United made the trip up the M5 to Northway to take on Tewkesbury Town currently with thirteen wins on the bounce, but coincidentally Gifford were the last team to beat Town in the league! Tewkesbury were almost in front very early on when Lorcan Sheehan’s shot took a deflection and looped over the bar. The midfield battle started and continued throughout with both sides having strength in the air. But it was Town piling on the pressure who got the breakthrough on fifteen minutes when a poor clearance by Jack Sheppard was headed back into the danger zone by Shea Danter and Scott Jordan cooly slotted home. Still pushing, Jamie Goodwin saw a dangerous effort cleared off the line while at the other end Joe Poole dealt comfortably with a few crosses and long balls from Gifford. The second goal came from another swift move, with Jordan making a clever header across goal for Goodwin to poke home. Just before the interval Poole ‘s rapid long ball released Nathan Newland-Gallaway down the left delivering a dangerous low cross which forced an own goal under pressure. The second half was much the same, with Newland-Gallaway again providing for Goodwin to produce a crisp finish. Set piece danger followed with Lee Llewelyn swinging in a corner for Danter to flick on and Jordan to bundle in for 5-0 and minutes later the sixth came, Llewelyn threading through a perfect ball for Goodwin, who held off two defenders to slot past Sheppard for his hat-trick. The scoring was completed when Joe Peachey played a low ball across the 18-yard box with Jordan getting his hat-trick for 7-0. Stoke Gifford battled for the ninety minutes but with the Leagues two top goal scorers in fine form there was little that could be done to stop them.
Bishops Cleeve Development (Green) v Ruardean Hill Rangers (Blue), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Bishops Cleeve Development (Green) v Ruardean Hill Rangers (Blue), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Bishops Cleeve Development (Green) v Ruardean Hill Rangers (Blue), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Bishops Cleeve Development (Green) v Ruardean Hill Rangers (Blue), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Bishops Cleeve Development (Green) v Ruardean Hill Rangers (Blue) - Images courtesy Peter Langley
Bishops Cleeve Development (Green) v Ruardean Hill Rangers (Blue), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Bishops Cleeve Development (Green) v Ruardean Hill Rangers (Blue), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Bishops Cleeve Development (Green) v Ruardean Hill Rangers (Blue), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Bishops Cleeve Development (Green) v Ruardean Hill Rangers (Blue), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Bishops Cleeve Development (Green) v Ruardean Hill Rangers (Blue), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Bishops Cleeve Development (Green) v Ruardean Hill Rangers (Blue), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Bishops Cleeve Development (Green) v Ruardean Hill Rangers (Blue), Images courtesy Peter Langley
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Filton Athletic played their first game of 2026 against Broadwell Amateurs at Elm Park and it probably wasn’t going to be Broadwell’s day when Kris Burnard got himself a first minute yellow. The first chance of the game went to Kieran Cooper who shot wide from Taylor Anderson’s cross and Broadwell’s Locke had a chance soon after but shot over from a corner. Filton broke the deadlock twenty minutes in when after good work down the right by Freddie Frazer he cut-back and found Anderson who fired into the roof of the net. There was nearly an instant reply from Broadwell when Jamie Belfitt beat two players and found Nathan Davies who was stopped by a great Tom Fry tackle. It was soon two-nil when a great through ball from Tovey found Trey Merrett who rounded Jack Watkins to slot home. Two minutes later it was three, Watkins spilled a Merrett free kick and Freddie Frazer was on hand to head home his debut goal. On the stroke of half time an acrobatic effort from Tovey was tipped on onto his own crossbar by Burnard – red card – and Merrett scored from the spot. Into the second half and Broadwell nearly scored an early goal when Jack Knight’s shot was deflected and Tom Bradley was on hand to push it away. Filton made a few changes and Merrett’s long-range shot flew over before he was replaced. Anderson nearly made it five but his effort went over and it did indeed become 5-0 when a wide free kick by Fraser Venables found Kyle Thomas unmarked to head home. A very good performance by Filton after five weeks without a game.
At The Bellfield Wick arrived with a bare eleven to take on Frampton United and the game, like the weather, was a very dour encounter with Wick defending for the majority of the game with Frampton unable to break them down. The only chances of any note for Frampton both fell to Lewis Vye who first cut inside the defence and his low shot was well saved by Wick keeper Luke Bond and then from a deep cross Vye slid in but his shot was high. Wick’s best effort came from a Mitchell Davies long range shot that moved a lot in the air which Tom Kaye did well to punch away and there it finished 0-0.
At Kayte Lane, Bishops Cleeve Development took on Ruardean Hill Rangers and Ruardean Hill came away with a surprise win by 2-1. With Ruardean battling relegation and Cleeves form lately it should of been routine. However it was the visitors that took the lead with an Ollie Mason free kick that went direct in without a touch. Ruardean added a second just before the half with a superb cross field pass that was collected by Charlie Mason and slotted home. The second half saw momentum swing on Cleeves favour when Charlie Mason was sent off. However chances were missed by New, Wells and Smith. It was however Monty New that continued his scoring form with a tap in from close range. Further chances for Cleeve to draw level were squandered, with Osinuga the guiltiest when striking over from close range. Relegation threatened Ruardean were able to hold on and gain a valuable three points.
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