31^st October 2020 - Rockleaze Rangers edge out Hanham Athletic

Ron Holpin

Covid 19 and the weather saw four fixtures postponed today.

A really exciting game at Hillside Gardens where Rockleaze Rangers played host to Hanham Athletic. Both sides played some attractive football on the 4G surface the passing movements by both teams were outstanding at times. The home side probably shaded the possession during the game but when Hanham attacked they looked really dangerous. Rangers were unlucky not to have taken the lead on 7 minutes when Jordan Buckett’s header thumped against the crossbar following a corner. On 14 minutes Rangers opened the scoring after Miles Hatfield fed the ball to right full back Ile Jarrett to fire past Mason Hawkins from 14 yards. Rangers keeper Jordan Dunning then made two outstanding saves to deny Hanham getting on level terms the first a 25-yard drive from Ben Alexander which he tipped over the bar and then a minute later he turned the ball around the post. On 31 minutes Hatfield was again involved with the second goal for Rangers drifting past a number of Hanham defenders before slipping the ball to Jordan Dent to score. 5 minutes later Rangers under pressure gave away a penalty and Sam Brown hit a tremendous shot into the roof of the net to make it 2-1. The visitors almost levelled on 38 minutes but Connor Hartley’s header hit the post. Rangers should have made it 3-1 when a long ball was latched onto by Dent and with just Hawkins to beat, he pulled his shot wide. He made up for that miss in the 65^th minute when he rose above the Hanham defence to head the ball on to Miles Hatfield to run clear and dink the ball over Hawkins to make it 3-1. Rangers Jordan Dent had the ball in the back of the net again on 72 minutes but it was ruled out for offside.

Wick hit back after their defeat last week to win 2-1 at home to Henbury who have yet to find their first win this season. The home started well and both Jordan Scott and Paul Coles had early chances but Henbury keeper Lewis Jefferies kept them out. On 9 minutes Scott had a great chance to give Wick the lead but after meeting a Jordan Yeo cross headed wide of the target. A few minutes later a Mike Hardiman effort was headed over the bar by the Henbury defence. But surprisingly with all that early pressure from the home side they fell behind in the 17^th minute from a free kick that they failed to clear and Shaquille Hunter hit the ball through a crowd of players into the Wick net. The lead lasted just a minute when Mike Hardiman’s shot was turned into his own net by Sam Fitzpatrick to level the score. The second half belonged to the home side and they had numerous chances to take the lead but were unable to break down a very stubborn Henbury defence. Then in the 80th minute the home side eventually broke through that defence when Jefferies who had been the Henbury hero spilled a long range shot from Kyle Curtis and Jordan Scott was there to hit the rebound into the net.

Ruardean Hill Rangers (Blue) v Gala Wilton (Yellow/Black), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Ruardean Hill Rangers (Blue) v Gala Wilton (Yellow/Black), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Ruardean Hill Rangers (Blue) v Gala Wilton (Yellow/Black), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Ruardean Hill Rangers (Blue) v Gala Wilton (Yellow/Black), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Ruardean Hill Rangers (Blue) v Gala Wilton (Yellow/Black), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Ruardean Hill Rangers (Blue) v Gala Wilton (Yellow/Black), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Ruardean Hill Rangers (Blue) v Gala Wilton (Yellow/Black), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Ruardean Hill Rangers (Blue) v Gala Wilton (Yellow/Black), Images courtesy Peter Langley

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Ruardean Hill Rangers led their home game with Gala Wilton 2-0 but collapsed to eventually lose 6-2 to the Gloucester side. Rangers had a great chance on 2 minutes but Steve Clarkes cross into the box was missed by everyone and went out for a goal kick. Gala’s Ryan Dobbins could have given them the lead on 5 minutes but for Underwood’s brilliant save form his header. On 25 minutes Underwood was in action again this time saving well from Jay Dare. Rangers went ahead on 35 minutes finishing off by Stuart Cornwell-Boote following a great team build up for the goal. Then in the 42^nd minute after a good build up again the ball came back to Luke Brown to round keeper Lewis Skyers to make it 2-0. A couple on minutes later Steve Clarkes shot whistled past the post. Gala pulled a goal back just before the break when Ryan Dobbins headed in a great cross into the box. Then before the whistle blew for half time Underwood brilliantly saved from Gala’s Jack Holmes. 2 minutes into the second half the scores were level Ryan Dobbins grabbing his second of the afternoon. Then just 3 minutes later Dobbins was put clear to complete his hattrick and put his side 3-2 up. Gala’s Jay Dare should have made it 4-2 a couple of minutes later but failed to beat Underwood. Gala did score a fourth on 70 minutes when Martin Smith was put clear to fire past the Rangers keeper. A looping header for Dan McNally on 85 minutes made it 5-2 and a second from Martin Smith a minute later gave the visitors a resounding win.

Sharpness and Quedgeley Wanderers shared a point each with a 1-1 draw in difficult conditions at Hamfields. A 15^th minute corner by the home side was cleared to Paterson who hit a left footed shot at the Wanderers goal but keeper Nathan Charnock pushed it behind for another corner. The first half an hour was a balanced affair with Quedgeley breaking the deadlock on the half hour mark with a great cross field ball to Jimmy Thomas who rounded Dan Hobbs and smartly finished passed the back-tracking Sharpness defence. Sharpness had a goal marginally disallowed for offside from Strickland and found themselves trailing 1-0 at the break. The second half saw an instant reaction with Ryan Ponting floating a great ball for Sam Strickland to volley home. The game could have gone either way with Quedgeley having a Liam Thomas corner cleared off the line by Mitchell Malshanskyj and Sharpness having both Brad Gibbs and Brad Hewer blazing just wide from outside the box. Two great chance in the second half for the home side saw the Quedgeley goalkeeper saving twice from Alex Gayner with one being clawed off the line.

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)

29^th November 2020 - Restart Update

Ron Holpin

We are sorry but in view of the Government Tier system and travel restrictions in Tier 3 - 9 Clubs in this league are in Tier 3 and come under those restrictions. Therefore the Management Committee has decided that in the interest of all, Fixtures due to be played on Saturday 5^th December and Saturday 12^th December will be postponed and played at a later date. The Government are reviewing the situation on 16^th December and we will wait for their Guidance to determine if Fixtures can go ahead on Saturday 19^th December.

31^st October 2020 - Bromley Heath Boss wants more of the same

Simon Parkinson

CRAIG Britton is urging his revitalised Bromley Heath United players to produce more of the same at home against Hardwicke tomorrow (2pm).

Frustrated and concerned by a run of four straight defeats from the Marcliff Gloucestershire County League campaign’s commencement, Britton’s boys have suddenly clicked into gear and with some gusto and potency too.

Not only did Bromley Heath follow up a 4-0 home loss at the hands of Wick in the league with a 7-1 away mauling of Ruardean Hill Rangers in the Les James League Cup to ignite their fortunes three weeks back, but seven days later they were registering precious first points by powering past visiting Hanham Athletic 5-1.

Britton’s battlers had eyed more of the same away against Gala Wilton last weekend until Covid-19 concerns expressed within both camps led to an unfortunate postponement.

Both teams are happily back on the starting blocks tomorrow, with Britton hoping his charges can pick up where they left off when Hardwicke come to Pomphrey Hill for an intriguing joust.

"The last two games have been brilliant," chirped Britton. “The confidence you can get from results and performances like those is massive and now we’re hoping to build on that and kick on.

"It seems to be a habit of ours, starting seasons slowly as we did when we first joined the league last year before getting our act together better.

"Having a few key players missing through injury at the start of this season didn’t help, although I felt even in losing 4-0 against Wick that some green shoots were starting to show.

"We were never four goals worse than them and at only 1-0 down inside the first hour we were well in it until we gave away a silly penalty and fell apart a bit after that.”

The Bromley boss has welcomed two key performers in “talented” new teenage keeper Joel Manning and midfielder Tom Shopland back from the treatment room.

And he feels the signings of pacy former Oldland Abbotonians winger Antonio Nurse, who has two goals to his name in three appearances, from Bishop Sutton; rapid striker Kaylen Edwards from Stockwood, who netted two debut goals in the Ruardean Hill cup thrashing, and Tiago Mateus, another quick flank man who joined over pre-season before heading to Portugal for family reasons before scoring in both Ruardean Hill and Hanham successes, have "made a difference."

"Joel is a really promising and talented goalie at only 16 or 17 and it’s good that he’s back from a hamstring injury,” Britton said.

"We picked him and Kaylen up from St Brendan’s College through a contact there who just so happens to be my brother Jake!

"We as a team just need to carry on in the same vein now although Saturday against Hardwicke will be tough as while we’ve yet to face them since joining the County League, we know that all Gloucester-based clubs are well organised and physical and we need to be ready for that.

"As far as the season goes I just hope we can all complete it first and foremost and that we can finish in the top half, something I feel we’re well capable of doing with the squad we have now."