8th March 2026 - Hanham Athletic revival starts?
Mark Simpson
Are Hanham Athletic at the start of a resurgence with yesterdays convincing win over Frampton United, although they do remain bottom of the League. Tewkesbury Town took over top spot from Sharpness, although the Sharks have four games in hand. At the bottom Tytherington Rocks slipped into the bottom two although, again, they have games in hand. Sharpness made it to the County Cup Final but Bromley Heath United missed out in the other semi-final.
At Vicarage Road Hanham Athletic took on Frampton United and after an even start Hanham gained a fifth minute corner which was cleared and Frampton broke with pace and were one-on-one with Theo Browne putting Frampton ahead. Despite conceding Hanham continued pressing and from a 10th minute corner the ball dropped to Morgan Stryjewski who finished well into the bottom corner. Stryjewski continued to cause Frampton problems but the visitors always posed a threat on the break. Browne worked another opportunity but Lewis Dibble blocked. On 25 minutes Harley Boyce made a great run from defence and laid off to Stryjewski who had his shot saved by Tom Kaye but Paul Coles was able to poke in the rebound from 6 yards to put Hanham 2-1 cup. Just before half time Stryjewski created another chance but shot over. Events after the break were fairly mundane with little being created by either side until five minutes from the end when a Hanham corner was cleared, the ball sent back into the box, Liam Maggs header was cleared off the line, and Stryjewski fired in from two yards to give Hanham a valuable three points from a 3-1 win.
At the Ruardean Recreation ground Ruardean Hill Rangers took on title chasing Filton Athletic and a quick start from Hill making all the early running and on ten minutes a great move saw the ball worked to Steve Clark whose shot hit the post, the ball was recycled in but Fin Jones was taken out for a penalty kick which Clark tucked away. Although Ruardean were dominating the game, Filton managed to equalise when from a mistake at the back Freddie Fraser slotted home. Filton started to stretch Hill and Trey Merrett cut in from the right and unleashed a shot which Underwood did well to push away. On 41 minutes Filton got themselves into the lead from a long ball forward with Merrett lobbing a stranded Underwood. This coming after Fin Jones had the ball in the net for Hill but was ruled offside. Filton went down to ten at the of the second half with a sin-binning and on 55 minutes a well worked move from Hill saw Alex Stephens shoot just wide from the edge of the penalty area, and twenty minutes from time another great move from Hill had the ball squared to Clark who flashed a shot just wide. On 80 minutes Filton’s Kyle Thomas saw red and although Hill continued to push, Filton held out for a valuable three points with a 2-1 win.
Quedgeley Wanderers took home all three points from their trip to the Lawns to play Cribbs Reserves thanks to a perfect hat-trick from Billy Osabuohien. His first came on 26 minutes when he headed home a right wing cross. Then on 70 minutes he pounced on a loose ball to run through and prod home with his right foot past the on-rushing Jude Brown in the Cribbs goal. The striker then completed his treble on 80 minutes with a low left footed drive into the bottom right-hand corner. Cribbs passed the ball around well at times but lacked the killer instinct in the final third, their best chance coming from James Carolan’s header which was saved by Steve Sparrow. A 3-0 QW win keeping them sixth in the League table.
A light drizzle set the scene at Highfield Way as Chalford welcomed Totterdown United, with the home side producing a strong performance to secure a well earned 2-1 victory. Chalford started brightly and on seven minutes a deep free kick from Newell found Maryon whose header didn’t trouble Ashley Martin too much. Chalford’s breakthrough arrived in the 15th minute when Maryon produced a clever back-heel to release Marshfield who struck superbly to give Chalford the lead. Totterdown looked to respond and gained two quick corners which were defended well by Chalford. At the other end slick passing led to a Chalford corner with Mills rising highest only to see his header dramatically cleared off the line. The home side continued to threaten with Jack Lewis making an excellent run but couldn’t find the finishing touch and as the half wore on Chalford remained the more dangerous side with Keylock unleashing a powerful strike that was well saved by Martin. Chalford nearly doubled their lead just before the break when Maryon struck a thunderous effort that rattled the crossbar. The hosts began the second half with intent and Newell tried to test Martin but his fairly weak effort that was easily saved and Harris did well down the flank delivering an excellent ball in that Freeman mis-kicked at the back post. Chalford continued to create chances and on the hour a superb delivery from Newell found Maryon who perhaps should have done better with the opportunity. Totterdown only briefly threatened before Townsend produced some great work for Chalford before Newell’s clever back heel clipped the outside of the back post. Chalford’s persistence finally paid off in the 67th minute with Newell involved again doing well to find Moore out wide who drove forward and finished well for 2-0. Chalford looked fairly comfortable for much of the remaining time although Totterdown had a series of set pieces they never really troubled the home side. Lewis came close to getting Chalford’s third but Martin made a fine save and Totts did pull a goal back in the 86th minute with a deep free kick finding Owen Naylor who headed home to make it 2-1 setting up a nervy finish for Chalford who managed to hang for victory.
Wick welcomed a rather out of form Henbury & Rockleaze to The Nest and the Owls almost broke the deadlock in the first minute when a ball in behind was misjudged by Henry Payne which put Bayley Rudge through, but Harry Trett made a good save. H&R responded well playing some good football and on five minutes they had the lead, with an in-swinging corner was met by Drew Sawdon for 1-0. That gave H&R plenty of confidence and although dominating the ball never really threatened Aaron Yeeles in the Wick goal. On 25 minutes Wick finally got going and began to create a few small chances and were rewarded on 36 minutes when Cory Langdon beat his marker and fired into the corner of the net. Much like the first half, only five minutes in, and H&R took the lead again with Harvey Moran beating the offside trap firing into the net from twelve yards and capping it off with an Erling Haaland style cross legged celebration. Wick were struggling to get anything going and made some changes on the hour which seemed to do the trick and the tide began to turn, and 15 minutes from time George Lloyd had the ball in the net but was judged offside, however ten minutes later the equaliser came when a delicious ball whipped in by Rudge found defender Fin Sparks who headed home and Wick now had their tails up and on 89 minutes Tommy Lacey delivered another great ball which Langdon finished with an exquisite header over the on-rushing Trett. H&R pushed for an equaliser but the home defence stood firm and there it ended 3-2 to Wick.
Broadwell Amateurs welcomed Stoke Gifford SGS United to the Hawthorns and the home side were on fire early on with a screamer from Jordi Locke in the first 15 seconds into the top corner. Broadwell came close to making it two with a Dan Brain free kick from the edge of the area just wide of the goal with Taylor Smith rooted, and another chance with Belfitt slipped through crashing one off the crossbar. Gifford started to wake up seeing more of the ball but without really troubling Jack Watkins. Broadwell’s second came from a long throw into Burnard who brought it down, turned his man and fired it low across the goal, the ball squeezing through Smith’s hands. Gifford’s afternoon got worse with a red card just before half time. However, they came out brightly at the start of the second half and it didn’t look like they were a man short but just couldn’t find an opening to get themselves back into the game. Broadwell’s third goal came late on from a high press and a Gifford pass cut out by Brain, and with a 2 v 1 squared the ball for Jamie Belfitt to finish low into the corner and a 3-0 Broadwell win.
Tytherington Rocks played Tewkesbury Town at Hardwicke Playing Fields with Rocks coming off a long break the game was an exciting if rather scrappy affair. Jamie Goodwin capitalised on a defensive error to give Tewkesbury the lead on 30 minutes. With Tytherington pressing and for an equaliser and Town squandering chances the game was settled with a Scott Jordan penalty on 75 minutes. With the Tewkesbury defence holding solid to aecure a 2-0 win that puts Tewkesbury top of the league table with Tytherington slipping into the bottom two with games in hand.
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