18th January 2026 - Tewkesbury Town end Sharpness unbeaten run
Mark Simpson
The top and bottom of the League has opened up into very interesting times. In the big clash of the day Tewkesbury Town inflicted Sharpness with their first reversal of the season and putting some pressure onto the leaders. At the bottom Hanham’s win at Ruardean Hill has drawn the Forest side right into the mix to stay up.
At Northway Rec. Tewkesbury Town hosted Sharpness in a top of the table clash where there were long unbeaten runs on the line. The home side started brightly going down the slope and were on the front foot for the first ten minutes making a couple of half chances but nothing more. Sharpness grew into the match with Kieran Bennett causing the back three problems and Mikey Bryant being a constant threat from set pieces. The pitch did not allow any flowing football but a fantastic midfield battle ensued that looked likely to be the key to winning the game. Town got the all-important opener with a lovely delivery from Lee Llewelyn finding Mike Oliver at the back post who directed his header back across the goal with a great finish. With the momentum of the opening goal Town pushed on and great link up play between Goodwin and Scott Jordan allowed Jordan to go through one-on-one and finish past Dykes for 2-0. Knowing there was going to be a reaction from the Sharks Town defended stubbornly for the opening ten minutes of the second half and although Sharpness had the ball in the net twice, both were over-ruled for offside. This was a warning to Tewkesbury that things were far from over and they regained control and duly got their third goal when a poor clearance from Dykes found Goodwin who slid Jordan in to shoot from distance, the ball squirming in under Dykes. Sharpness got a consolation in the last minute through Marley Thomas, but it’s a 3-1 win for Tewkesbury which keeps the title race alive.
At the Ruardean Rec. Hanham Athletic were the visitors against Ruardean Hill Rangers and it was Hanham who made the most purposeful start and an early free kick whipped into the box was met by Paul Coles who smashed the ball over. Hanham were in front on 19 minutes from a corner delivered to the back-post and met by Lewis Williams. On the half hour it should have been two after a poor pass by Charlie Mason let Coles through on goal but Underwood made a great save. Shortly after Mason put a free kick into the box for Fin Jones to head just wide. On 40 minutes a lively Hanham cross in from out wide was met by Williams for his and Hanham’s second. Hill came back into the game right near half time after a lovely corner by Clark saw keeper Taylor get under the ball allowing Mason to tap in at the far post, but a minute later Hanham restored their two-goal advantage after a ball floated into the box saw Twain Plummer take the ball down, and being given too much time, slotted past Underwood. Ten minutes into the second half an innocuous free kick from Nathan Hall skidded up off the surface and over Underwood’s shoulder for 4-1. On 75 minutes Hanham should arguably had a fifth but Liam Maggs somehow screwed wide from six yards. So, a comfortable win for Hanham which draws Ruardean Hill right into the relegation scrap.
Ruardean Hill Rangers (Yellow) v Hanham Athletic (Green/White), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Ruardean Hill Rangers (Yellow) v Hanham Athletic (Green/White), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Ruardean Hill Rangers (Yellow) v Hanham Athletic (Green/White), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Ruardean Hill Rangers (Yellow) v Hanham Athletic (Green/White), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Ruardean Hill Rangers (Yellow) v Hanham Athletic (Green/White) - Images courtesy Peter Langley
Ruardean Hill Rangers (Yellow) v Hanham Athletic (Green/White), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Ruardean Hill Rangers (Yellow) v Hanham Athletic (Green/White), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Ruardean Hill Rangers (Yellow) v Hanham Athletic (Green/White), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Ruardean Hill Rangers (Yellow) v Hanham Athletic (Green/White), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Ruardean Hill Rangers (Yellow) v Hanham Athletic (Green/White), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Ruardean Hill Rangers (Yellow) v Hanham Athletic (Green/White), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Ruardean Hill Rangers (Yellow) v Hanham Athletic (Green/White), Images courtesy Peter Langley
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At Waterwells Quedgeley Wanderers took on Totterdown United and largely controlled the early stages of the contest but clear-cut chances were hard to come by. QW’s Riley Stokes produced a fine through ball for Tom De Quincy Adams but his angled shot failed to trouble Kieron Bull in the Totts goal. Totterdown’s response was limited to a few long-range efforts sailing harmlessly wide. Quedgeley’s Stokes was again influential with some excellent flank play though his final effort lacked composure but the breakthrough soon followed when De Quincy Adams delivered a dangerous cross which was met by Fin Jenner’s head for 1-0. QW continued to apply pressure and a swift attack ended with Jenner’s ambitious effort flying over and shortly after Pledger picked out Stokes with a long diagonal ball but the attack ended with De Quincy Adams firing over from a promising position. Despite QW’s domination Totterdown equalised just before the break with Dale Ellis running through on goal and squeezing the ball past Kieran Derbyshire. Quedgeley soon regained the lead in the second half when Alfie Pledger found De Quincy Adams who slipped a clever pass to Fin Jenner who showed composure to slot home. The game became scrappier as the half progressed and Totterdown found an equaliser from a loose situation in the Quedgeley box with Dale Ellis again finding the back of the net. Quedgeley responded positively with Riley Stokes clipping a precise ball into the area for Billy Osabuohien to knock the ball into the path of Jerzy Marszalek to calmly finish past Bull putting QW 3-2 up. However, the lead was short lived when a Totterdown free kick was headed back across goal for Jack Millard to make it 3-3. Late on QW had a golden opportunity to claim all three points when Sean Lawson found himself through on goal but Bull produced an excellent save to deny him. A frustrating result for Quedgeley who dominated a good deal of the match but only to be undone by lapses in concentration and a valuable point gained for Totterdown.
Cribbs Reserves hosted Broadwell Amateurs at the Lawns with confidence from their victory last time out and started the game well taking a deserved twentieth minute lead when Alex Craig blasted home from 12 yards out. Cribbs were much the better side for the first half but were undone when they failed to clear their lines enabling Kris Burnard to equalise right on half time. The momentum swung and the visitors started the second half much better and took a 55th minute lead when Jamie Belfitt found the top corner from the edge of the box. Shortly after a free kick was blocked by the Cribbs defence and Kian Skidmore fired home the rebound to extend Broadwell’s lead on 61 minutes. Cribbs weren’t done and made the game interesting when Dan Monk noticed Jack Watkins off his line and found the net from 40 yards. A penalty for Broadwell on 77 minutes and a scrappy injury time goal made the final score a rather flattering 5-2 to Broadwell and perhaps a little harsh on the home side.
Frampton United hosted Henbury & Rockleaze the Bellfield and the first chance went to H&R with Harvey Moran played through but Tom Kaye saved his shot. Frampton’s Lewis Vye had a long-range effort but was high. Moran had another good effort but again Kaye saved. A Frampton corner followed but Billy Curtis’s header was saved by Harry Trett. The deadlock was finally broken in the last couple of minutes of the game with a H&R attack cleared out but the ball falling to Drew Sawdon who fired the ball in from close range and a 1-0 H&R win.
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