14th September 2024 - Chalford and Almondbury share points
Mark Simpson
The most anticipated match this week was the clash between Chalford and Almondsbury, both unbeaten, and both remaining unbeaten in the league along with Sharpness.
First to Highfield Way where Chalford played their first County League home match against 100% Almondsbury. Chalford were straight out of the blocks and a first minute Harry header was wide. Chalford kept up the pressure and in the fifth minute Sam Burgess made a good save and Andy Maryon’s follow up was cleared off the line. After 12 minutes Ryan Outram broke free of the Almonds defence and was brought down in the area and Ben Minnican sent Burgess the wrong way from the resulting spot kick for 1-0. Both sides then cancelled each other out but right on half time a strike by Luke Brunsdon was cleared off the Almonds line. A fairly even start to the second half, but it was the hosts who went closest when Brad Moore’s shot from outside the box was well saved by Burgess. On 72 minutes Chalford had a penalty appeal waved away and from the goal kick Almonds took the ball into Chalford’s half and Alex Hill hit a wonder strike with Portlock well beaten for 1-1. Two points dropped for Chalford who edged the game both teams remain unbeaten.
Totterdown United visited Stoke Gifford SGS United and it is not getting any easier for them. The pattern of the game was set in the first few minutes when it became clear that SGS would dominate but, Totterdown had a good structure and posed a threat on the break. Gifford had plenty of moments around the box but lacked the final ball and it was Totterdown’s Josh Hemmings with the first chance of the game saved by Oli Gargett. George Sanders also tested Gargett on the half hour. A few minutes on Gifford could have been in front with Jake Abraham denied by Ashley Martin but in the ensuing scramble the ball couldn’t be forced in. Just on half time Dejuan Tulloch drove forward from right back and shot from 20 yards, Martin parried and Abraham finished off for 1-0. Totterdown got themselves back into it and on 52 a breakaway led to Ollie Lovell squeezing a shot in from a narrow angle for 1-1. Following a mix-up where SGS thought they had an attacking set-piece Totterdowm thought quickly and released Jamie Godfrey who brought a smart stop from Gargett. That was Totterdown’s last chance as SGS dominated from thereon in, with Totterdown’s Mike Rimmer seeing red for a second yellow. Gifford were in front on 65 with a back post finish by Rudy Hill, and a few minutes later Max Cooper wrapped up proceedings from close range. Rudy Hill got his second on 80 and the impressive Evan Maidment’s free kick set up Harrison Murdoch-McCormack for a header and a 5-1 Stoke Gifford victory.
A surprisingly poor start for Henbury & Rockleaze continued at Wick on a glorious afternoon on an immaculate pitch. Wick started the better creating two great chances in the first five minutes the first cleared off the line and the second a fluffed shot from close range. H&R settled and on 14 Kai Wilson in Wick’s goal saved well. Wick opened the scoring with a great break down the right and a driven low cross was met by Adam Campbell to slot home, and a few minutes later an almost identical move ended up over the top. On 26 good work by Jordan Dunning in H&R’s goal prevented a second. H&R came back and a lunging deflection by a Wick defender preserved the lead and the ball ping-ponged about in front of the Wick goal from the resulting corner. Wick immediately attacked the visitors goal but Dunning was on form again. H&R dominated the late stages of the half but Wick held on. H&R continued pressing after the break and Wick were living dangerously and on 55 minutes H&R had a shot come crashing off the post. A minute later, however, they were level with Brandon Boontam’s header giving Wilson no chance. H&R continued to ask questions as Wick dug deep to stay in the game. But on 80, against the run of play, Wick retook the lead when Archie Parry found the net from the edge of the box low into the corner. H&R pressed to level matters but on the counter Parry sealed a 3-1 Wick victory with a great finish.
On a bright afternoon at Fairmile Gardens, Gala Wilton took on Ruardean Hill Rangers in a rather scrappy first half, but it was Hill who took the initiative and were in front on ten minutes when Oliver Mason’s shot beat the Gala keeper Oscar Bignell. It was two on 37 minutes when a Steve Clark free kick from the touchline somehow evaded the Gala defence, bounced through and found its way into the net. The second half followed a similar pattern to the first with Ruardean winning the 50/50 challenges and the aerial battles, and the next goal was going to be crucial. It eventually went to Hill ten minutes from time when Steve Clark scored directly from a corner for an afternoon Gala will want to forget. A deserved 3-0 win and the first of the season for Hill.
At Hamfields a local derby with Sharpness v Quedgeley Wanderers, and it was the Sharks on the front foot with a good chance on five when a through ball put Bennett in and his cross finding Will Tainton’s head but just wide. Bennett was causing Quedgeley problems and this time his run and cross found Gayner but his effort was saved by Nathan Charnock. Sharpness made the breakthrough minutes later when James Priday’s long throw found Tom Frankham in the area who crossed to Tainton who controlled and slotted into the bottom corner. It was almost two when Tainton’s corner was met by Gayner forcing Charnock into a good save. Ten minutes before half time Tom Palmer had two efforts in quick succession, the first, Brad Hewer’s cross was headed out to him and his 25 yarder was tipped over, and from the resulting corner his header hit the bar. Quedgeley’s threat in the first half was mainly to come from set-pieces but with five minutes to half time Lawson broke behind Sharpness and his cross found Furniss who shot over, and nearly on half time a corner found Furniss but Holder saved his effort on the line. And right at the death the lively Bennett nearly doubled the Sharks lead Tainton playing him in but his chipped shot struck the far post. Quedgeley started the second half better and were close when Barry played Jenner in but he shot straight at Holder. Sharpness were struggling to find any rhythm but were two up when a corner pinged around the box and Palmer eventually steered home. Quedgeley were the better side in the second half and came close when Barry picked the ball up in midfield and drove forward but his 25 yarder was pushed round by Holder. Quedgeley did break through midway through the half when a free kick was initially blocked by Sharpness but the second ball in found Spencer in acres of space and his shot took a slight deflection off Brad Gibbs into the corner of the net. Minutes later it was 2-2, Webb’s free kick found Rouse’s head for the equaliser from 6 yards. Ten minutes from time a bit of handbags led to Priday and Frankham from the Sharks and Quedgeley’s Spencer being dismissed. Nine-man Sharpness, however, almost took it, Gayner’s shot well saved by Charnock and 2-2 it ended.
At Pomphrey Hill Bromley Heath United took on Filton Athletic who showed exactly why they were unbeaten in the league with a quick confident star to the game and they were in the lead on five minutes with a well taken goal from Treydon Merrett who used his pace to evade the Bromley defenders and the advancing Ferguson. Bromley were shaken by this and they worked hard to gain possession creating a couple of half chances but Filton continued to have the better of the exchanges with Merrett using his pace to come close to getting a second. Midway through the half Bromley realised that they needed to raise their game and after a really good move were unlucky not to equalise when Ben Ackerman hit a post, but a few minutes later he turned a defender outside the box and this time his long-range effort sailed into the net for 1-1. Bromley continued to press and Aiden Noble’s shot was well saved by Matt Barry only to rebound for Noble to score for 2-1. Bromley were then awarded a penalty which was well saved by Barry. On 35 Bromley scored again when a gorgeous cross from Ackerman was forcefully headed home by Noble for his second. Although this had been a disastrous spell for Filton they picked up the mantle and were rewarded when a looping high ball come off the bar and fell for Kieran Cooper to head home from close range. The second half was no where near as exciting with both defences tightening up. Although possession was fairly even Bromley created more chances and were rewarded on 75 when Noble determinably won a 50/50 and quickly hit a pass to Ollie Hanham who scored the only goal of the half to give Bromley Heath a 4-2 win.
Today’s other match at Vicarage Road saw Hanham Athletic take on Frampton United with Frampton coming well out on top with a remarkable 7-2 win.
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