28th September 2025 - Quedgeley Wanderers move up to second
Mark Simpson
Sharpness dropped their first points of the season at Wick, but remain, along with Quedgeley Wanderers and Filton Athletic as the only unbeaten sides so far. Chalford, who didn’t play this weekend are the only side without a win, Henbury & Rockleaze and Tewkesbury Town both opening their accounts.
Quedgeley Wanderers continued their impressive start to the season against Bishops Cleeve Development at Waterwells, although they struggled to find any rhythm early on. Riley Stokes fired just over in the 18th minute but possession was being lost too easily making Cleeve’s job of defending a lot easier. QW’s Fin Jenner provided a spark on the half hour with a driving run that created a good chance for him that unfortunately went begging. The second half saw more attacking energy and soon in Seb Keith went on a strong run and shot which Charlie Wilkes dealt with, then Sam Jackson had a good chance cleared off the line. The deadlock was finally broken in the 76th minute with Riley Stokes giving QW the lead. Things were all square on 83 minutes with a well struck Tom de Quincy Adams shot. The QW winner came in time added on with Billy Osabuohien scoring giving them a close 2-1 win.
Wick welcomed Sharpness to The Nest looking to put a dent in their 100% record. The away side started the stronger having plenty of the ball in Wick’s half without causing any real trouble. However, the Sharks eventually struck first when the ball fizzed across the six-yard box, saved by keeper Mason Hawkins but James Tainton was on hand to fire home. Ten minutes from half time Sharpness doubled their lead when a long punt forward cleared the home defence, Tainton brought the ball down brilliantly before beating Wick’s Toby Rennie and firing home for 2-0. Wick started to grow into the game after half time and some good work by Harrison Kyte forced a good save by Sharks keeper Peter Dykes. On 75 minutes Wick had a lifeline when Bayley Rudge delivered a beautiful cross for Cory Langdon to head home. Sharpness remained solid and looked to be heading home with all three points when, two minutes from time Deke Langdon delivered another great cross which forced a scramble in the box and Louis Short was on hand to smash home the equaliser and all square it ended, and The Sharks 100% record was indeed dented, 2-2.
At the Bellfield Frampton United and Tytherington Rocks contrived a pretty uneventful afternoon with few chances created by either team, although a looping header in the 16th minute from Frampton’s Theo Browne landed on top of the crossbar. Rocks Toby Waterman forced Tom Kaye into a good save on 35 minutes and five minutes later they had a great chance to open the scoring from the penalty spot but Kaye saved Waterman’s effort. Frampton’s best opportunity fell to Browne but Nelson in the Rocks goal bundled his shot away. In the closing minutes Rocks Jake Hynes had the final chance of the game but Kaye saved with his feet and 0-0 it ended.
At Elm Park Filton Athletic took on Ruardean Hill Rangers, and it was the home side that started more brightly and took the lead with an unfortunate own goal from a Matt Hoare cross. Filton had chances to add to their lead through Liam Dorman who headed wide Hoare’s cross and then Trey Merrett shot wide. But it was Ruardean who then had a massive chance to equalise when Fin Jones found himself in space after a mistake by Jack Cole, but Matt Berry pulled off a great save to keep Filton in front. Filton doubled their lead before the break when a Liam Dorman shot deflected off a defender to the feet of Kieran Cooper who slotted past Aaron Underwood. A patchy second half, Ruardean did have a chance to pull one back, but the ball punched away by Berry fell for a Ruardean chance which Cole cleared off the line. Ruardean briefly went down to ten with Fin Jones sin binned and they even had the ball in the net but were denied by a foul on Berry. The final chance went to Filton when good work down the left by Tom Fry found Yusuf Abdulrahman whose acrobatic effort went just over. Filton running out 2-0 winners to keep pressure on at the top.
Tewkesbury Town (Yellow) v Totterdown United (Red/Black), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Tewkesbury Town (Yellow) v Totterdown United (Red/Black), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Tewkesbury Town (Yellow) v Totterdown United (Red/Black), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Tewkesbury Town (Yellow) v Totterdown United (Red/Black), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Tewkesbury Town (Yellow) v Totterdown United (Red/Black) - Images courtesy Peter Langley
Tewkesbury Town (Yellow) v Totterdown United (Red/Black), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Tewkesbury Town (Yellow) v Totterdown United (Red/Black), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Tewkesbury Town (Yellow) v Totterdown United (Red/Black), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Tewkesbury Town (Yellow) v Totterdown United (Red/Black), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Tewkesbury Town (Yellow) v Totterdown United (Red/Black), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Tewkesbury Town (Yellow) v Totterdown United (Red/Black), Images courtesy Peter Langley
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On a warm autumnal afternoon at Arnall Drive Henbury & Rockleaze gained their first win of the season against a youthful Stoke Gifford SGS United side. Gifford started strongly and looked dangerous with plenty of pace in the side, but they failed to create any clear-cut chances with this early pressure, and the first big chance fell to H&R, Jordan Rogers turning the SGS back line only to see keeper Jack Sheppard turn the ball round the post. H&R weren’t to be denied however when Drew Sawdon scored with a diving header from the resultant corner. On 24 minutes H&R’s Sam Bailey drove just over after good footwork Tasman Rook and Tommy Collins. Two minutes later Bailey got through the defence again but was up-ended by Tauren Williams for a penalty which Rogers stepped up for but Sheppard made a good save and the follow up was dealt with by his defence. On 32 minutes Cam Tarr had a header well saved by Sheppard but the same player did score right on half time, driving past Sheppard from six yards after a scramble from another set piece. The second half started quite slowly, however, there was an almighty scramble in the 54th minute where Rogers, Collins and Sawdon all should have scored but good keeping and defending thwarted each effort. On 68 minutes an audacious 35-yard effort from Collins was well dealt with by Sheppard and on 75 minutes he turned another Tarr header onto the crossbar. H&R were assured of the points when substitute George James superbly flicked the ball over Sheppard from a tight angle in the last minute. Three points for H&R by 3-0, and although SGS didn’t create an awful lot they did play their part in a good County League game.
At Pomphrey Hill Bromley Heath United and Broadwell Amateurs fought a very tight affair especially in the first half. Neither side allowed the other to have any prolonged spells of possession, with play being broken up consistently the football wasn’t exactly pleasing on the eye. Broadwell for their part did force a lot of corners in the first period and along with a useful long-throw tactic put some dangerous looking balls into the Bromley box but they were well defended and Broadwell were restricted to a few half chances. In fact, it was Bromley who arguably had the better first half chances to score with Ollie Hammond and Jacob Millward forcing good saves from Jack Watkins. Luke Bessell was also unlucky when his shot hit the post. Broadwell came out for the second half determined to get something out of the game on a ground where they have struggled in previous seasons, and were unlucky not to take the lead when a shot from Ethan Dunscombe was just tipped over the bar by Will Ferguson. The half continued to be very tight but Broadwell just seemed to have the edge and were rewarded when substitute Rhys MacPherson broke through to slot home at the near post. Bromley tried everything to get an equaliser but it wasn’t to be and the final whistle came too soon for them and the three points went back to the Forest 1-0.
On the last Saturday in September, Tewkesbury Town got their first win of the season against Totterdown United at Northway. Whilst the scoreline shows 1-0 it could have been significantly more even by half time. Guilty of missing a couple of clear-cut chances in the opening fifteen minutes Alex Roder finally got his tally off the mark midway through the half, when a long ball forward by keeper Isaac Parry was not dealt with by the Totts defence and with the keeper Ashley Martin saving the initial effort Roder followed up for 1-0. The first half continued with Town having numerous chances to extend their advantage. Some sort of response by Totts in the second half never materialised and Town continued to dominate and should really have added to their tally. As time drew to a close Totterdown committed more men forward but Tewkesbury’s backline held firm and indeed Parry never had to make a save all game. An easier three points for Tewkesbury than the 1-0 scoreline suggests.
A game of few clear-cut chances at The Lawns where Cribbs Reserves took on Hanham Athletic with both teams cancelling each other out and the defences on top for long periods. It was, although, a competitive game with plenty of bite but neither keeper was really tested. A fierce drive from Tom Sayers for the visitors stung the palms of Jude Brown in the Cribbs goal, and then a Dan Monk free-kick for Cribbs was comfortably held by Dan Taylor. A goalless draw and hard to argue with the points being shared.
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