17^th October 2020 - Patchway Town take the points at AEK Boco

Ron Holpin

AEK Boco remain top of the table after their first league defeat of the season going down 3-0 at home to Patchway Town. This was Patchway’s first match for 3 weeks as their two home games against Little Stoke had to be postponed due to Covid 19 in the Little Stoke camp. Patchway have started really well this season after finding themselves on the bottom of the table last season when thing were brought to a halt in March. Town took the lead on 22 minutes when Phil Vice scored from the penalty spot after the ball had been handled in the box. Boco should have levelled on 31 minutes but Alfie Clarke missed from the penalty spot. Patchway made it 2-0 on 51 minutes Phil Vice scoring a second that took a deflection on its way in. Then on 80 minutes they sealed the 3 points when Jacob Cox set up Fin Thompson to net number three.

Bromley Heath United made sure of their first league win of the season with a 5-1 drubbing over Hanham Athletic. They got off the mark early on from a free kick hit to the far post where Nathan Rose was waiting to head back across goal for Tiago Mateus to tap home. Next on target was Jay Malpas but his effort was well saved. Jack Withey chipped the ball over the keeper for a 2-0 lead in the 23^rd minute and 2 minutes later Withey set up Antonio Nurse to make it three. Withey was involved with the fourth goal in the 27^th minute sending the ball over for Nathan Rose to finish off. Hanham pulled a goal back on the half hour when Sam brown slotted home from the penalty spot. With just 2 minutes left on the clock Luke Bessell made it 5-1 and right on time Hanham hit the crossbar.

Shirehampton hosted Little Stoke who had not played for the last two weeks due to Covid 19 in their camp. You would never have known that they had been out of action for two weeks as the tore into the home side right from the off and kept the pressure on for the first 25 minutes. In that period, they took the lead on 17 minutes from a corner from the left that found its way to Liam Barrett to smash a low shot into the Shirehampton net. Gradually the home side started to get into the game and on 40 minutes they levelled the score with a good goal from Joe Harvey. After the break the home side looked the better side and an awful mistake in the Little Stoke defence left Ciaran Greening clear to hammer the ball past the Stoke keeper. Within 3 minutes the that lead had gone as Stoke forced a corner on the left that was pumped into a crowded box and Jaiden Holver found the back of the net. Both sides worked hard for the winner but in the end a 2-2 draw was a probably a fair result.

Frampton United took on local rivals Quedgeley Wanderers and picked up 3 points with a 2-1 win. The home side went ahead on 10 minutes when Ryan Vincent turned in a Charley Hobbs cross. On 20 minutes Quedgeley were level when a back pass from Liam O’Neill was misjudged by the home keeper Peter Davis and the ball rolled past him into the net. United restored their lead on 38 minutes when Ryan Vincent headed in his second from a Ryan Ford cross. In the 85^th minute Wanderers keeper Nathan Charnock pulled off a great save to deny Matt Cook. And in the 88th minute a great chance to level the score was wasted by Quedgeley.

A tough game for both sides Rockleaze Rangers v Wick. With Rangers back on their home ground for the first time this season this was always going to be a close game. Wicks keeper Ash Wintle was first in action when he turned a Liam Henderson shot around the post on 12 minutes. The only other chance of note in the first 45 minutes came from Wick’s Jordan Yeo who powered his effort on goal but it was tipped over the bar by keeper Jordan Dunning on 37 minutes. On 58 minutes Joe Thomas was clear on the Rangers goal he tried dinking the ball past Dunning but it finished up in the keeper’s arms. Wick opened the scoring on 75 minutes a long ball to the far post from Kyle Curtis found Jordan Scott to head past the keeper. Wick sealed the points in the 85^th minute with a cracking 25-yard free kick from Jordan Yeo that hit the top corner of the net.

Just the one goal was enough to settle this game between Sharpness and Hardwicke. The first real effort on goal fell to Hardwicke’s Steve Bick but his shot was cleared. Then Bradley Beavan had a shot on goal but that went just wide. The Sharpness keeper was next in action punching clear from a Hardwicke free kick. The first 20 minutes looked to be going the visitor’s way and clearances from Hobbs and Paterson for the home side kept to score at 0-0. Hardwicke’s Steve Bick got the ball in the Sharpness net on 27 minutes but it was ruled out for offside. On 44 minutes a great ball from James Priday to Marley Thomas who slipped the ball to Brad Gibbs, Gibbs was brought down and Marley Thomas sent the keeper the wrong way from the penalty spot. In the 52^nd minute Marley Thomas found Alex Gayner but he failed to beat the keeper. On 72 minutes a throw in found Sam Mendes but he blazed his shot over the bar. On 76 minutes James Priddy challenge on Jordan Dowdswell resulted in him getting sent off so the home side were down to ten men. On 79 minutes Hardwicke got the ball in the back of the net but the referee deemed there was a foul by Hardwicke and a free kick was awarded to Sharpness. The visitors kept pushing and Pat Vernall went close with a header in the 86^th minute and a great save from Dan Hobbs in the last minute gave the home side that slender 1-0 win.

Broadwell Amateurs were hosts to Gala Wilton today and although the game ended goalless there were chances in the game for both sides. Broadwell’s Greg Lewis had an early chance but his effort cleared the bar. Then Dan Gayner shot wide for the visitors. On 30 minutes Gala’s keeper Dan Brabham saved well to deny Kristian Burnard. Harry Williams then headed over from a Chris Powell cross for the home side and at the other end, James Bowers shot was brilliantly blocked by Ben Schiller. Gala thought they had won the game when Dan Gayner found the back of the Broadwell net but the referee ruled the goal out for handball.

Ruardean Hill Rangers v >Henbury also finished goalless but there were chances in the game from both sides but neither side were able to get that elusive goal. Steve Clarke shot wide for the home side on 5 minutes when in a good position to score. Then on 20 minutes Henbury’s Joe Cox missed their first real chance by shooting wide. Henbury’s Adam Rosser was just wide from 30 yards on 35 minutes and at the other end Steve Clarke shot just over the bar. On 40 minutes Luke Brown was clear on goal but his shot was well saved by the Henbury keeper Jefferies. Henbury had a great chance to steal all three points on 57 minutes but Tom Butt drove the ball into the side netting when he should have scored.

24^th July 2020 - Respect and Fair Play 2020/21

Peter Langley

Following a successful last season in reducing dissent through the temporary dismissals (sin bins) on the field of play, the League are revising the criteria for season 2020-2021.

Last season with all matches being brought to a halt suddenly with the spread of Covid 19, the League is putting the outstanding Respect money along with this seasons money to give all clubs the chance to share £1500. (£500 on offer per 10 matches).

To achieve a share all players and club officials should think, Play Fair and Respect Decisions.

This season Red and Yellow Cards are being recorded along with any other offences that are reported by Match Officials.

The Points criteria: -

Clubs will be marked over 3 sets of 10 matches throughout the season.

Peter Langley (Chairman)

19^th October 2020 - Thomas back in business at AEK Boco

Simon Parkinson

SPENCER Thomas is back in senior football business – and he’s relishing the moment sat at the head of the Marcliff Gloucestershire County League table with AEK-BOCO.

The 46-year-old former Hanham Athletic, Oldland Abbotonians and Longwell Green Sports manager left the adult soccer scene in favour eventually of overseeing junior and youth sections run by BOCO’s burgeoning Hanham-based Greenbank Road club over the past four years.

Of his elevation to the senior hot seat this summer, Thomas explained: "I’d been running the ‘kids’ sides here from under-12s through to under-16s and that emerging group ended up winning league and cup doubles in the Avon Youth League three years on the spin.

"They were a very good footballing team and a lot of those lads went on to play academy football with local pro clubs. Some were awarded scholarships and others went on to colleges such as Bath, Hartpury and SGS.

"I was informed John Winter and Gary Lancaster, who are both BOCO through and through over so many years, were stepping down (as manager and assistant) and while I’m not sure if they asked anyone other than me to fill the breach, I could tell they wanted a fresh input and for me it’s a great opportunity to push them towards where they want to be, which is a league above.

"Whether or not it happens this year remains to be seen. We have a very young side who have won their first four games and played some fantastic football.

"But we cannot be resting on our laurels; there are big and experienced teams in this league and that makes for some tough trips, not least into the Gloucester region."

Thomas is far from operating alone at the Greenbank Road helm: he has pulled in another former Hanham boss, John Barker, and Harman Boyce, as his helpers.

"John had spells coaching with Bristol City Academy and he always puts on very good training sessions," Thomas explained.

"Harman was with me at youth level and he’s a perfect go-between when it comes to me and the players while his management skills are also very good.

"John (Winter) is always there still with his knowledge, experience and love of the club, almost like a director of football these days, and I know I can go to him for advice anytime."

Thomas enthused: "For me it’s just great to be back involved and to see how well our club and first team are supported.

"We had 238 spectators in to see us beat Little Stoke 3-1 in our first home game, so we have the backing and we have the facilities aside from the floodlights needing to go in.

"The club is a hive of activity with all the juniors and youth playing an instrumental part and that is great for the community; it gives so many people a purpose and a lot of people put in a lot of time and effort to make it all happen.

"Despite all that we have no divine right to be successful; we have to keep working hard to make the dreams possible."

Whilst BOCO next take on tomorrow Patchway Town visitors also enjoying a splendid start with two wins and a draw from three unbeaten outings, Bromley Heath United lock horns with their own guests, Hanham Athletic, for a Bristol derby affair at Pomphrey Hill where both teams seek first wins.

There’s an attractive top-four tussle on show at the Hillside Gardens 3G facility in Hambrook where two teams targeting title success, Rockleaze Rangers and Wick, go head to head.

At the other end of the standings Henbury strive for a first point or more at Ruardean Hill Rangers and Little Stoke do likewise when they travel to face Shirehampton.