5th October 2024 - Hanham Athletic held by Totterdown United
Mark Simpson
New leaders – SGS take over the top on goal difference from Almondsbury who return to winning ways, albeit goal scoring appears to be a problem. Last weeks leaders Sharpness fell to Chalford. Totterdown United kept up their improvement with an away point at Hanham Athletic.
We start at the Hallett Construction Pavilion where Hanham Athletic took on Totterdown Unitedv. and it was the visitors who took an early lead when a great through ball was expertly finished by Ollie Lovell. Once again Totterdown set their defensive formation that is becoming hard to breakdown. Sam Archer had a great chance to equalise on 35 minutes but failed to get a shot away when free in front of goal. Hanham went very close just before the break but Brandon Barnes’ volley from Karim Rendall’s excellent cross was just over the bar. Hanham eventually equalised five minutes from time when Josh Gibbs found himself free in the box and finished brilliantly for a 1-1 draw.
At Pen Park, Filton Athletic looked to keep their 100% home record against Broadwell Amateurs but had to settle for an entertaining draw. Filton had a great start when after some good play down the left Said Hassan squared for Trey Merrett to finish nicely past Jack Watkins. It was not long after when confusion in the Filton defence led to a shot from Nathan Davies which was well saved by Barry Phillips before Jordan Locke then shot over. On 10 minutes a good challenge and through ball from Tom Fry nearly led to a second Filton goal but Fraser Venables dragged his shot wide. Filton were on top at this stage, and Chris Hillyer curled a free kick just wide. On 23 minutes an interesting point, the Referee had given a penalty to Filton and dismissed Broadwell’s Locke for handball, but, after consulting Broadwell’s linesman they deemed Hillyer’s shot was over the goal line, the goal given and the red card overturned. Good V.A.R! And not long after Rio Burson-Stephens fired a free kick past Phillips to bring Broadwell back in it. Filton had a few good chances before half time with a Fry header over, and Cooper shooting wide. Early in the second half a Filton corner ended with Fry shooting straight at Watkins. After a great save by Phillips from Broadwell’s Davies, Burston-Stephens followed in for his second and 2-2. Jack Cole shot wide for Filton before Phillips was on hand to save from Dunscombe and Knight on 81, before Venables shot was well saved by Watkins and Jack Cole’s follow up header was just over and there it ended 2-2.
At a bright Arnall Drive, Henbury & Rockleaze took on Gala Wilton, and with H&R still looking for a league win they took the lead as early as the third minute when Jordan Dent met a Sam Bailey cross and beat Oscar Bignell with a stooping header. A few minutes on it was almost two when Calum Winter’s fierce shot was well blocked by Kieran Mace in the six-yard box. It wasn’t all one-way traffic as on twelve minutes Harry O’Connor skimmed the H&R crossbar. On 16 minutes Dent had another chance, his well-directed effort well saved by Bignell. On 35 minutes Jordan Dunning made a brilliant one-handed save from an Ethan Vaughan 22-yard free kick. Just before the break Drew Sawdon got a header in from a corner but Bignell was up to the task again. Dunning then tipped over a cross-shot from Vaughan. The second half started at a slower pace until ten minutes in when Sawdon thought he’d scored from a back post volley until the linesman intervened. H&R were not perturbed and on 58 minutes a great cross from Nick Jones was met by Dent with a powerful header straight at Bignell, but Winter was there to smash the rebound home. On 66 minutes Dan Webb went through but was thwarted by Bignell. The game became really stretched with numerous corners and free kicks for both sides but neither keeper was called upon to make any difficult saves and 2-0 to H&R it ended.
At Tewkesbury Road, Cheltenham Civil Service took on Frampton United, in front of a good size crowd, and the game started in a feisty fashion with the Referee handing out a number of yellow cards to Service. Frampton were having some joy down the right side and took the lead from a cross and excellent volley finish by Manolo Espada. A few minutes later it was two, a free kick on the right was met by Dom Brown. Things blew up on twenty minutes with Evren Turksen picking up his second yellow and lots of protest from the dugout saw Service’s coach also receiving a red. Near the end of the half Micolaj Rewczuk made a great run into the Frampton box and was up-ended for a penalty which he duly converted. The second half saw Frampton with more of the ball due to numerical advantage but chances were few and far between and 2-1 to Frampton it ended.
Cheltenham Civil Service (Red/White) v Frampton United (Blue/White), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Cheltenham Civil Service (Red/White) v Frampton United (Blue/White), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Cheltenham Civil Service (Red/White) v Frampton United (Blue/White), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Cheltenham Civil Service (Red/White) v Frampton United (Blue/White), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Cheltenham Civil Service (Red/White) v Frampton United (Blue/White) - Images courtesy Peter Langley
Cheltenham Civil Service (Red/White) v Frampton United (Blue/White), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Cheltenham Civil Service (Red/White) v Frampton United (Blue/White), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Cheltenham Civil Service (Red/White) v Frampton United (Blue/White), Images courtesy Peter Langley
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At Pomphrey Hill in a mid-table clash Bromley Heath United took on Ruardean Hill Rangers with the visitors on top in the early stages and they took the lead ten minutes in when hesitation in the home box was gratefully accepted by Alex Stephens who ran on to slot the ball past Ollie Amos. A few moments later Stephens out-paced the defence and was one-on-one with Amos who foiled him this time. Halfway through the half, from a good through ball Stephens easily beat the last defender and slotted past Amos for 2-0. Mistakes by both defences saw further chances but none taken before the break. Hill started the second half in the same vein and were unlucky not to add to the score straight away, but hit the bar and the ball was scrambled away. However, the third was not long coming Fellows heading home from a corner. Heath had a few chances towards the end but failed to make them count and Hill took a deserved three points back to the Forest with a 3-0 victory.
At Hamwells, Sharpness’ unbeaten start to the season came to and end in a close fought encounter with Chalford. Will Tainton had an opportunity to open the scoring for the Sharks midway through the half when Bennet found him, in space, in the box but his effort was well saved by Portlock. On the half hour a dangerous ball into the Sharks box by Minnican was well defended by Gough who steered the ball to prevent Maryon from scoring. Just before the break Alex Gaynor was played in by James Tainton but fired the ball at Portlock. Both teams continued to cancel each other out in the second half and on 65 the two Tainton brothers linked up well, with James setting up Will but once again, Portlock denied Will’s shot. The deadlock was broken fifteen minutes from time by Chalford, when Roberts cross found George Parker in space and he made no mistake slotting his shot past Holder. A tight game with both teams being well matched but Chalford found that moment of quality to take the three points with a 1-0 win.
A sunny but windy afternoon saw Stoke Gifford SGS United take on struggling Quedgeley Wanderers, but saw Quedgeley create the first chance on ten minutes with a Diwash Kerung effort going wide of the post. SGS started to impose their authority with Rudy Hill, Arron Sweete, and Jake Abraham all with good efforts saved by Nathan Charnock. And, on forty minutes Hill rose to head home a corner for 1-0. Minutes later Hill turned provider for Arian Askari to head home, and on the stroke of half time, Askari unleashed an unstoppable 20 yard shot for 3-0. Quedgeley pressed at the start of the second half with Abiodun Odewale going close. But, on 65 minutes SGS put the game to bed when Hill delivered a pin point cross for Joe Taylor to fire home from close range. SGS controlled the remainder of the half for a comfortable 4-0 win.
At Wick Playing Fields, hosts Wick took on Almondsbury in a battle of two of the form teams. A large crowd voiced their approval as battle commenced! Both teams were testing each other out early on, and it was Frank Taylor-Fox who ghosted into the box to get on the end of a cross to half volley against the post, the rebound was netted but the linesman’s flag subdued celebrations. Within minutes Jay Rudge unleashed a piledriver which Sam Burgess dealt with comfortably. Almondsbury created the next chance but was wastefully headed over. Both teams had decent possession without creating anything until Bayley Rudge blasted over the bar and the trees behind – so-long ball it was nice knowing you! Wick were playing some nice football but it was Almonds who scored first with Omari Alwari on the edge of the box rifling past a stranded Kai Wilson. Within minutes Taylor-Fox had a great chance after dribbling past two opponents he fired just over. With half time approaching Almonds had the ball in the net again but were denied by a linesman’s flag. Both teams started the second half playing good football with early chances. Wick made a number of changes for a more attacking formation and Almonds the same for tiring legs. Chances kept coming – most for Wick the best of these Louis Robson’s low drive saved by Burgess. Five minutes of added time were played out and a well drilled Almondsbury held out for a narrow 1-0 win. More Here
