26th April 2026 - Totterdown stun leaders Sharpness
Mark Simpson
Interesting, Sharpness with two consecutive home defeats have had their cushion at the top now under challenge again. At the bottom Hanham Athletic’s relegation has been confirmed whilst the other place is still under contention with Totterdown’s surprise win at Sharpness and Cribbs picking up a point at Chalford.
It was a hot and sunny day as Chalford hosted Cribbs Reserves in a match that ended goalless though not without effort from both sides. The conditions were testing and Chalford started brightly enjoying good spells of possession and probing the Cribbs defence but clear-cut opportunities were limited and Cribbs responded well growing into the game and threatening on the counter. Both goalkeepers were the stand-out performers of the day each called into action multiple times to keep their sides level. In the end a draw was probably a fair result with resilience in tough conditions.
Stoke Gifford SGS United got off to a flying start against Bromley Heath United opening the scoring in the first two minutes with Froilan Stella Lopez striking home an unstoppable shot from 20 yards. Bromley almost equalised straight away when a cross into the box was met by Ben O’Brien, but his powerful header flew over the bar. Both teams continued to create chances in an open game. Patryk Kosciolek saw two efforts narrowly past the uprights while at the other end Ollie Hanham was twice denied by good saves from Taylor Smith. The second half was more of the same, with both teams failing to take chances until the 88th minute when Gifford were left to rue their missed chances when Jack Waldron’s shot from inside the box found the net for 1-1. Bromley pressed for a winner and finished the stronger but Gifford held on for a valuable point after six defeats on the bounce.
Quedgeley Wanderers were on the front foot early on against Tytherington Rocks causing problems and setting the tone for a competitive opening spell, but it was Rocks who opened the scoring when a corner was swung to the back post and met by Connor Davey for 1-0. Quedgeley continued to threaten when Ollie Barnett’s through ball to Sam Jackson was just beyond his reach and Fin Jenner latched onto a through ball but was denied by the flag. QW equalised in the 18th minute when Jenner laid the ball off neatly to Riley Stokes who finished confidently. QW continued to press with a number of through balls testing the Rocks back line and Stokes had a shot pushed out for a corner midway through the half with both sides battling well in midfield as the tempo increased. QW took the lead on 37 minutes with Harry Reynolds finishing well from another Jenner assist. Just before half time another strong run from Stokes created yet another chance as he delivered a cross for Sam Jackson to tap in for 3-1. The second half began in a scrappy fashion with both sides struggling to find any rhythm. Tytherington had a free kick wasted early in the half while Charlie Wilkes came close for Quedgeley with a shot that clipped the bar. Both sides made several changes as QW looked to consolidate with Rocks pressing at times. Steve Sparrow produced a good save from a Rocks corner and late in the game a QW free kick was cleared as Quedgeley saw out the final minutes comfortably for a deserved 3-1 win.
After suffering a narrow defeat to title rivals Filton Athletic on Tuesday night Sharpness were looking to bounce back against a Totterdown United side who were looking for a win themselves in their battle to avoid relegation. The Sharks started the brighter of the two teams with plenty of possession but were limited to long range efforts from James Tainton and Tom Frankham which were comfortably saved. George Thomas had a good chance from a Ben Hemmings cross but his header was off target. It was the visitors who opened the scoring midway through the half when a mistake at the back allowed Ollie Lovell a chance at goal from which he made no mistake with his left foot. Ten minutes before half time it was 2-0 when a Totterdown counter resulted in a bit of good fortune when the ball fell to Aaron Price who took his chance well calmly finishing past the advancing Dykes, and Totterdown nearly made it three just before half time when Lovell’s deflected shot came back off the post. Sharpness came out with more purpose for the second half dominating possession and earning multiple corners but neither Bryant or Bennett could find the target with their headers. With twenty minutes left Bryant had a chance but saw his shot saved by Martin, and Hemmings follow up effort was well blocked. Sharpness finally got the goal they were searching for when a Mears cross was deflected in for an own-goal. The Sharks pushed for an equaliser and had plenty of opportunities, a Brad Gibbs header was well saved and Alfie Jones volley from eight yards was over with Priday’s headed chance also over. Things got worse for Sharpness when they had to play the last 10 minutes with 10 men, Bryant forced off injured and all subs used. Credit however, must go to Totterdown who defended excellently and were clinical when their chances arrived, holding out for a 2-1 win.
A glorious afternoon and a bumper crowd for the Wick versus Hanham Athletic local derby and Hanham facing a must win game in their fight against relegation. For the first 15 minutes both sides looked to work the ball and Wick fashioned the first chance which was half blocked and easily taken by Ashton Trott, but two minutes later Sam Archer’s shot flicked off a Hanham defender and looped over the diving Trott who had no chance, and 1-0 to Wick it was. On 21 minutes a bit of wizardry from Frank Taylor-Fox made space for him to shoot but he cleared the crossbar, and a few minutes later a long punt downfield by Trott allowed Hanham a chance which Mason Hawkins saved well with his feet. On 34 minutes a great shot by Jaye Rudge crashed against the Hanham crossbar and a minute later a goal bound shot by Bailey Rudge was brilliantly saved by Trott. In time added on Bailey Rudge’s shot was saved but not gathered by Trott and Wick pounced to find the net but the flag was up. Hanham, in need of a goal, began to push Wick back and restricted Wick to quick breaks, one of which saw Archer in a foot race with Trott, with Trott winning. Despite Hanham’s increasing pressure Wick’s backline held firm and on 78 minutes a Wick free kick found Freddie Mogg unmarked but he headed straight at Trott. A few minutes later a Wick free kick from Fin Sparks, 30 yards out, crashed off the bar. A few more Wick chances came, Tommy Lacey shooting just over and Louis Short’s shot just cleared the bar but keeping Hanham at bay, but with them unable to unlock the Wick defence, it finished 1-0 to Wick and Hanham’s fate was sealed.
At The Hawthorns in the sunshine the Forest derby between Broadwell Amateurs and Ruardean Hill Rangers was a well contested match with Broadwell on top early on, but however, they were undone when a long Aaron Underwood goal kick was left by Aidan Creighton for Jack Watkins but Alex Stephens gambled in behind and with Watkins in no man’s land, he knocked it over him for 1-0. The remainder of the half was passive with Hill looking for the ball over the top coupled with a few set piece chances whilst Broadwell created only chances from distance, with the exception of Jamie Belfitt when he spun in behind, drove toward goal but was stopped by a good recovery tackle. There seemed more intent from both sides for the second half and Ruardean’s best chance came from Steve Clarke with Watkins producing an outstanding save. Broadwell made some changes to inject some energy and it worked when Jordi Locke’s angled ball over the top left Dan Brain to deftly lob the ball over Underwood for 1-1. This certainly pushed Broadwell on and they continued to create, with the deciding goal from the Brain connection Liam floating the ball into the box and Dan with a sweeping first time volley making it 2-1 and Broadwell taking a Forest double.
On a wonderful sunny day at Arnall Drive, Bishops Cleeve Development took three points off Henbury & Rockleaze in what was a great advert for the Gloucestershire County League. The only goal of the game came after 5 minutes when Harry Trett rushed out of the H&R goal only to see his clearance ricochet off his own defender leaving Soloman Osinuga with an easy tap in. Cleeve were the better side up until the water break mid-way through the half with several half chances and playing some good football. Following the stoppage H&R came into the game a bit more and on 27 minutes Fabian Perreira’s effort was well saved by Fin Smith in the Cleeve goal and on 36 minutes H&R’s Harvey Sealey smashed against the crossbar, with many believing the ball had in fact crossed the line, but with the Referee unsighted he could not give a goal. On 43 minutes Trett saved well from Harry Davis ensuring H&R went in only one behind. The home side started the second half strongly with the returning Jack Mills pulling the strings in midfield and Smith saved well with his legs from Danny Burd’s fierce strike. On 52 minutes it was Trett’s turn to save well, this time from Jacob Rogers, and again on 65 minutes from Shiyak Sutherland. Ten minutes from time Trett kept H&R in it again, with a brilliant double save from first from Monty New and then from Will Pugh. H&R went up the other end and a brilliant Sealey cross fell to Matt Harrison who really should have scored but his header squirmed the wrong side of the post. Much puffing and panting from both sides ensued, but no further chances created, and Bishop Cleeve deservedly took the points on the balance of chances created in an entertaining game.
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