Match Reports
28th March 2009 - Slimbridge smash five past closest rivals
The top of the table clash between Slimbridge and Kings Stanley never lived up to expectations as the home side outplayed the visitors in all departments. This resounding 5 – 0 victory for Slimbridge means they go 4 points clear at the top, with the luxury of a game in hand. This gives Slimbridge a double over their closest rivals.
Slimbridge could have opened the scoring early on when Jamie Martin’s free-kick found Marvyn Roberts whose header went just over the bar. A mistake by Stanley’s John Peacock in the 10th minute allowed Craig Cole a free run on goal and his shot from the edge of the box deceived keeper Gavin Dean who dived too early with the ball finishing up in the back of the net. Three minutes later the home side were 2 – 0 up when a cross from the right from Ed Ward was met by Steve Badham whose fierce shot was saved by Dean but rolled straight to Craig Cole to tap in from close range. Stanley were struggling to make any headway against a strong Slimbridge defence, their moves always breaking down around the edge of the box. Just on the half hour mark Stanley produced their first shot at goal when Mike Beckingham’s fierce drive from the edge of the box went just wide of the target.
Action from Slimbridge V Kings Stanley
Image courtesy Nigel Meaney
Slimbridge started the second half with a goal in the 47th minute which involved a great pass from Roberts to Tom Cole and a superb flick on for Jamie Martin to hammer the ball past Dean. Stanley never really got going and were constantly having to defend as first Roberts had a shot deflected from a corner and then saw his header fly just wide of the upright. Slimbridge were reduced to ten men in the 77th minute when Steve Badham was sent off after being cautioned for a second time. Stanley's first and only shot on target came in the 80th minute from a free-kick which went straight into the arms of keeper Ryan Chandler. Even though they were down to ten men the home side always looked dangerous going forward and a break down the right and a fine cross into the box was driven home by Tom Cole in the 87th minute. In the very last minute of the game Lewis Wilton drove home from a Gary Ash cross to seal a great victory for the Swans.
DRG Stapleton’s roller coaster season continued with a disappointing 0 – 2 home defeat to Taverners at Frenchay Park Rd. A goal in either half was enough to seal victory for the Nailsworth outfit. Tom Hanley headed home in the 33th minute when the DRG defence failed to clear in the box and Hanley got his second in the 80th minute when he beat three defenders and drove a 25 yard shot into the roof of the net.
Action from Slimbridge V Kings Stanley
Image courtesy Nigel Meaney
Highridge United and Hanham Athletic shared a point a piece with both teams desperately needing a win to climb the table. The first 45 minutes produced a stalemate both teams unable to find the back of the net and it took until the 81st minute for the deadlock to be broken when Hanham’s Richard Grinter beat George Brimble with a low crisp drive into the corner of the net. Highridge salvaged a point in the very last minute of the game when Alan Williams powered home a header from a Gary Cripps free-kick.
Ellwood move into second place after snatching a 2 – 1 victory at Berkeley Town. The visitors took the lead in the 32nd minute through Matt Addis who scored after the Berkeley keeper was unable to hold a powerful drive. Two minutes after the break the home side were level when Paul Brookes headed home from a corner. Ellwood grabbed the winner when leading scorer Daryl Addis tapped in from close range following a corner.
Basement club Chipping Sodbury Town slipped to another home defeat this time at the hands of Henbury. No goals in the first half but the Leagues leading scorer Shane Hobbs netted in the 53rd minute. Henbury secured their win with a Peter Holbrook goal after 75 minutes.
B & W Avonside’s 3 – 1 victory over Axa was the second time they had beaten them at home, the previous game being in the Les James League Cup. The home side opened the scoring through Kris Rueben on 15 minutes with Kris Sage netting a second on the half hour. The home side took a 3 – 0 lead in the 80th minute with Steve Mason getting on the score sheet. Axa’s reply came in the dying minutes from Ryan McKillop.
Action from Slimbridge V Kings Stanley
Image courtesy Nigel Meaney
Two goals in the first half from Thornbury Town condemned Yate Town Reserves to their third successive defeat. James Derosa opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a neat lob over the keeper and two minutes later Steve Rice netting a second to give Thornbury three valuable points.
In the north of the County, Bishops Cleeve Reserves gained a narrow 1 – 0 victory at Tuffley Rovers. The only goal coming in the 30th minute from Lorcan Sheehan.
25th March 2009 - Western Counties Inter League Match - Gloucestershire 2 Somerset 1
Some Photos of the game courtesy of Pete Langley. Gloucesteshire are in Yellow.
Gloucestershire Team
Referees and Captains
Action from Gloucestershire V Somerset
Action from Gloucestershire V Somerset
Action from Gloucestershire V Somerset
Action from Gloucestershire V Somerset
Action from Gloucestershire V Somerset
Action from Gloucestershire V Somerset
Action from Gloucestershire V Somerset
Action from Gloucestershire V Somerset
21stMarch 2009 - Berkeley return to winning ways
Berkeley Town whom had lost their previous three games and conceded twelve goals and only netted one in reply bounced back with a 2-1 victory over Bishops Cleeve Reserves.
Berkeley showed their intentions as early as the 2nd minute when a shot from Paul Brooks struck the visitors crossbar, but within a minute the visitors could have taken the lead but Jamie Hammonds shot was hit straight at Stevenson. The same player was just wide of the target with a fine shot from the edge of the box. Berkeley’s Mike Bryant was through on goal but a challenge from keeper Danny Greenhouse averted the danger. On 20 minutes Brooks had the ball in the net for Berkeley but it was ruled out for offside. Berkeley took the lead in the 38th minute with a superb strike from Peter Holder curling his left foot drive into the net from 25 yards.
Action from Berkeley Town V Bishops Cleeeve Reserves
Image courtesy Nigel Meaney
3 minutes into the second half the home side were 2-0 up as Holder hammered the ball into the bottom corner from 14 yards with the Bishops Cleeve defence appealing for offside to which they had a very good case. Towns Ben Gillison should have made it three with a clear run on goal his shot was smothered by keeper Greenhouse. Jamie Hammond who always looked dangerous for the visitors when on the ball should have scored but shot straight at Stevenson. If anyone was going to score for Bishops Cleeve it was going to be Hammond and sure enough he fired past Stevenson in the 63rd minute to give the visitors some hope. Both Lloyd Arkell and James Pickup came close to netting a second but Arkell’s effort went just wide while Pickups header was unable to beat Stevenson.
Slimbridge scraped home with a 2-0 defeat over bottom club Chipping Sodbury Town but were well below their usual form on the day. Town had the first real chance after 2 minutes when Harris lobbed keeper Ryan Chandler only to see the ball drop onto the top of the net. The home side took the lead in the 21st minute when James Cole’s free kick on the right eluded the Sodbury defence and their keeper to nestle in the back of the net. Sodbury should have levelled in the 65th minute when Lee Pendry, clear on goal pulled his shot wide of the target. Slimbridge who had plenty of possession hung on to their slender lead until the 90th minute when Gary Ash’s shot was blocked by the Sodbury keeper only to rebound straight to Craig Cole to tap home.
Action from Berkeley Town V Bishops Cleeeve Reserves
Image courtesy Nigel Meaney
In a game of few chances Kings Stanley stay within three points of the leaders with a game in hand with a slender 1-0 victory at home to Taverners. Stanley’s Gavin Dean kept Stanley in the game in the second half with a couple of very good saves. The winner for the home side came in the 80th minute when Martin McDermott turned in a cross from Matt Casey.
Henbury shrugged off their defeat at Tuffley Rovers in the week with a 3-0 win at home to Yate Town Reserves. Leading goalscorer Shane Hobbs finding the back of the net on two occasions. His first came on 20 minutes with a shot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner and the second on 70 minutes when he took advantage of a long punt up field by goalkeeper Mark Winkler to chip the ball over the keeper. With 10 minutes to go a brilliant three man move ended with Aaron Wilson driving the ball home.
Holder fires home his second for Berkeley
Image courtesy Nigel Meaney
There were no fewer than eight goals at Tuffley Rovers as the home side ran out 5-3 winners over B & W Avonside. A Rob Cook hattrick was the highlight for the home side opening his account after 18 minutes. Lee Wallington then made it 2-0 on 31 minutes. A six goal bonanza in the second half starting on 51 minutes when Rodney Coke pulled one back for the visitors. Rob Cook then netted his second to make it 3-1 before Coke netted his second to bring the score to 3-2. Cook then completed his hattrick on 64 minutes, six minutes later Avonside’s Kye Simpson made 4-3 and Tuffley’s Chris Lee netted the final goal in the 78th minute.
Patchway Town pulled off a good 2-0 win over Highridge United with a double strike from John Adams. He opened the scoring in the 12 minute with a lucky goal that rebounded off of him as the Highridge defender tried to clear and then netted a second on the hour mark with a 30 yard drive.
Axa were 2-0 winners over D.R.G. Stapleton. Neil Turner netted the first from a Nathan Lumbar cross after 30 minutes, with Andy Watts 65th minute goal sealing the points.
Ellwood keep up their challenge for the title with a slender 1-0 victory at Hanham Athletic. The only goal of the game came in the 76th minute from a Daryl Addis penalty.
14thMarch 2009 - Slimbridge maintain title challenge
Slimbridge continue their push for the championship with a 2 – 0 victory at Yate Town Reserves. The first attempt on goal came from the visitors Jamie Martin with a shot that was parried by Growcott and cleared away for a corner. The home sides first goal attempt came from Lee Gardiner, who’s shot from the edge of the box went just wide of the upright. After 32 minutes Gary Ash should have put Slimbridge ahead but with a clear shot on goal hammered the ball straight at Growcott. Yate could have scored from a corner but both Cattle and Brown failed to connect with the bobbling ball and the Slimbridge defence cleared. In the 34th minute a Marvin Roberts shot from the edge of the box hit the post and was cleared away by Yate defender Luke Coles for a corner. At the other end James Inch made a good block from a Justin Cattle shot that looked goal bound. Then a free-kick by Yate’s Justin Pritchard was brilliantly saved by Chandler diving and pushing the ball over the top for a corner.
Action from Yate Town Reserves V Slimbridge
Image courtesy Nigel Meaney
Slimbridge were lucky to take the lead in the 47th minute when a low cross from the right by Jamie Martin was accidently bundled into his own net by Yate defender Luke Coles. In the 55th minute Yate keeper Growcott fouled Gary Ash in the box with Edward Ward netting from the resulting penalty. Although Yate had plenty of possession, they failed to break down the Slimbridge defence and two brilliant saves one after another by Chandler, from Lacey and Cattle kept the home side at bay.
Bishops Cleeve Reserves netted a last minute winner in their 3 – 2 win over Hanham Athletic. Justin Pickup opened the scoring for the home side and went further ahead when a Hanham defender put through his own goal. The visitors hit back to level the score with goals from Justin Cartledge and Mark Pocock before Robert Allen stole the points with a strike in the 90th minute.
Action from Yate Town Reserves V Slimbridge
Image courtesy Nigel Meaney
DRG Stapleton move off the bottom of the table for the first time this season with a 3 – 2 home win over Tuffley Rovers. In the 44th minute a Ricky Bishop free-kick was slotted home by Clinton Wilson to give the home side the lead. The home side went 2 – 0 up in the 59th minute when Clinton Wilson won a 50/50 challenge with the Tuffley keeper and the ball running loose too substitute Conrad Mignott to fire home from 25 yards. Tuffley hit back with two goals in two minutes from Chris Lee. The first after 67 minutes when he turned in a cross from the right then two minutes later Lee was put clear to slot past the home keeper. Tuffley almost took the lead when Mark Wallington’s 40 yard drive rattled the DRG post. But it was DRG who snatched the winner in the 85th minute, when the Tuffley defence failed to clear their lines and Conrad Mignott poked the ball over the keeper into the net.
Kings Stanley keep up their challenge for the title with a 3 – 0 win at Chipping Sodbury Town. Stanley went ahead in the 30th minute from the penalty spot after Sodbury’s Lloyd Harding prevented a goal-scoring chance and received his marching orders Tony Francis netting from the spot. Ten man Sodbury held out until the 55th minute when Matt Casey made it 2 – 0 to the visitors. Ten minutes later Mike Beckingham netted the third for Stanley to keep up the pressure on Slimbridge.
Highridge United slip up 1 – 0 at home to Thornbury Town in a game of very few chances. The only real goal-scoring chance for the home side came, when Mickey Adams strike was well saved by Towns keeper. The only goal of the game came in the 80th minute from a Steve Alexander strike.
Three first half goals from Axa was enough to see off the visitors Taverners. The opening goal came from Andy Sledge when he headed home a cross from the right in the 20th minute. Ten minutes later Axa were 2 – 0 up when a through ball to Sledge who’s shot was well saved by the Taverners keeper but the rebound fell to Nathan Lumbar to drive home. In the 35th minute Danny Thorpe headed home from a Andy Watts corner. In the second half play was fairly even but Axa should have made it 4 – 0 but Danny Thorpe missed from the penalty spot.
Action from Yate Town Reserves V Slimbridge
Image courtesy Nigel Meaney
B & W Avonside bounced back from recent poor form with a 5 – 1 home win over Berkeley Town. In the 21st minute Steve Mason rounded the keeper after a mix up in the Berkeley defence. Berkeley should have levelled when they were awarded a penalty in 25th minute but Adam Palmer missed from 12 yards. In the 30th minute the home side went 2 – 0 up thanks to a Kris Rueben penalty. Berkeley reduced the arrears in the 58th minute when B & W’s Mark Linton gave away a penalty and this time Peter Lavis stepped up to score. Mark Linton then made amends when he gave the home side a 3 – 1 lead in the 70th minute. Three minutes later substitute Kyle Simpson made it 4 – 1 and ten minutes from the end an Aaron Day free-kick from 25 yards flew into the top corner to wrap up the points.
After going down to Yate Town Res in the week, Ellwood hit back with a 2 – 0 win at Home to Patchway Town. Ellwood who were the better side through-out the game opened the scoring on 15 minutes through Darryl Addis. Ten minutes later Byron Ranford netted the second. The home side then had Derek Roberts sent off for retaliation but never looked in any danger.
11thMarch 2009 - Highridge win after half time rocket
What a contrast to the night before’s game. This game between Highridge United and Chipping Sodbury Town never really got off the ground. There was no pattern of play from either side, both teams just lumped balls backwards and forwards and neither keeper having anything to do except for a goal kick now and again. Then out of the blue, Chipping Sodbury forced a corner on the left in the 40th minute and Danny Cook’s glancing header flew past Brimble in the Highridge goal. At half time you did not dare venture near the home dressing room as the home side management team ripped into the players with expletives I am unable to repeat in this report. It was almost as good as the Peter Read dressing down that was shown on TV a few years back, only there were no beeps.
The second half saw a slight improvement in the home sides display but they failed to break down a very resilient Sodbury defence, until the 80th minute when a fantastic 30 yard left foot drive from Nick Pratton gave the Sodbury keeper no chance as it literally flew into the back of the net. This certainly lifted the home side and within a minute they were in the lead as Chris Johnson hit a left footed drive across the visitor’s keeper and into the far corner of the net. Sodbury must have felt dejected at this point as they had led for such a long time. Highridge were certainly flattered by the score line as Mickey Adams turned in the third goal right on 90 minutes.
10thMarch 2009 - Yate stay on track
A very interesting and well contested game between Yate Town Reserves and Ellwood on Tuesday night saw the home side triumph 5-2, but it was a much closer game than the end result suggests. Ellwood looked much the more comfortable side when in possession, but it was Yate who took their chances well. The home side opened the scoring after 5 minutes with a Kyle Thomas goal from just inside the box and went 2-0 up when Yates leading goalscorer Justin Cattle netted a second on 20 minutes. Ellwood came more into the game and for the final 15 minutes of the first half looked the side who might score. Daryl Addis was unlucky on 34 minutes when he saw his shot roll just past the far post, then a couple of minutes later a shot from the edge of the box struck the cross bar and dropped nicely for Daryl Addis to bundle the ball home. Yate were hanging on at this stage but the visitors never managed to break through again.
The first 15 minutes of the second half belonged to the home side as they raced into a 5-1 lead. Yate’s Ross Watson made it 3-1 on 50 minutes and 3 minutes later substitute Carl Lakey netted the fourth. Gary Simmons got the fifth on the hour mark and there looked no way back for Ellwood at this stage, but they kept battling on and got some reward in the 84th minute when Derek Roberts unleashed a 25 yard shot that flew into the top corner of the net with the home keeper Growcott left stranded.
This result for Yate puts them in with an outside chance of winning the league title.
7thMarch 2009 - Yate win derby clash at Sodbury
Slimbridge who were without a fixture today remain top of the table after second place Kings Stanley went down at home to Axa.
The game between local rivals Chipping Sodbury Town and Yate Town Reserves ended in a 4 – 1 win for Yate to complete the double. Yate opened the scoring after 10 minutes when Justin Pritchard split the Sodbury defence with a superb pass to Gary Owers who neatly flicked the ball around Sodbury’s keeper John Kerley to slip the ball into an empty net. Pritchard then found himself clear on goal but he over hit his shot and the ball flew over the top. Sodbury’s first effort came from Andy Miles, whose shot just cleared the bar. Sodbury drew level on 20 minutes when a break down the right by Dan Cook saw his cross neatly headed home by Paul Harris. Sodbury had a great chance to take the lead from a free-kick but Dan Cook’s effort on goal went straight to Growcott in the Yate Goal. Yate’s Gary Powell then saw his 30 yard free-kick neatly flicked over the bar by Kerley.
Yate took the lead in the 55th minute with a cracking 25 yard shot from Justin Pritchard. At the other end Growcott brought off a great save to deny Shaun Halford. Ex Sodbury player Danny Coombes netted number three for the visitors on 70 minutes and then five minutes later Yate went further ahead when Gary Powell’s in swinging corner was headed home by Luke Coles. Yate should have made it five when Jack Smythe broke free down the left and crossed into the box where Charlie Lacey’s shot was well saved by Kerley.
It was a case of ‘after the lord mayors show’ for Kings Stanley after winning through to the final of the Les James League Cup on Thursday night. They went down 3 – 4 at home to Axa who completed the double over Stanley. Stanley opened the scoring after 15 minutes when Steve Potter’s run down the right was crossed into the box for Matt Casey to turn the ball into the net. With in 2 minutes Axa were level, after some poor defending by Stanley, Danny Thorpe netting from a corner. Worse was to come in the 45 minute when Andy Watts put the visitors ahead. Axa increased their lead in the 50th minute when Andy Sledge scored from a breakaway. Stanley hit back on the hour when John Embling’s cracking shot flew past the Axa keeper from the edge of the box. On 80 minutes Stanley were level when Steve Potter drove a tremendous shot into the bottom corner. But it wasn’t Stanley’s day when they were caught on the break and Nathan Lumbar netted the winner for Axa in the dying minutes.
A double by striker Shane Hobbs see Henbury keep up their challenge for honours in the title race. Henbury were much the better side and Hobbs netted his first in the 31st minute when he beat the off-side trap and lobbed the ball over the keeper. His second strike came in the 75th minute when he found space out on the right, cut into the box and drove his shot across the keeper into the far corner.
Hanham Athletic’s form seemed to have taken a turn for the better in recent weeks. This week pulling off a 4 – 2 home victory over B & W Avonside. The visitors should have taken the lead in the 9th minute from the penalty spot but keeper Strawford brought off a great save. Rich Grinter put Hanham ahead in the 10th minute when a pass from Thomas split the B & W defence and found Grinter to slot the ball home. Rodney Coke levelled for B & W in the 25th minute after some good open play. Five minutes later the home side were in front again after a strike by Ryan Philips. Five minutes into the second half the visitors drew level from a Chris Williams strike. Hanham went 3 – 2 up in the 70th minute Rich Grinter netting his second. Mark Pocock wrapped the points up for the home side when he netted on 82 minutes.
DRG Stapleton grabbed their second win of the season with a 4 – 0 victory at Berkeley Town. A hat-trick from Clinton Wilson in the 9th the 70th and a penalty in the 75th minute. In between came a strike from Zayne Simpson. They still remain at the bottom of the table but have closed the gap to just one point.
Ellwood bounce back from their two previous defeats to win 3 – 0 at Thornbury Town. Two goals from striker Daryl Addis in the first half and one from Gary Wildin in the second half keeps the pressure on at the top of the table. A spokeman for Thornbury Town said that the visitors were much the better team through-out the game and have completed a double over Thornbury.
Patchway Town’s form has improved since their heavy defeat a couple of weeks ago, with a good 3 – 0 result at home to Bishops Cleeve Reserves. They opened the scoring on 18 minutes when Mark Palmers free-kick was headed home by Matt Tottle. Four minutes later they were 2 – 0 up when Adam Searle got to the by-line and crossed the ball for Marlon Francis to tap in from close range. They made sure of the three points in the 65th minute when a corner from Mark Woods found Ashley Brown unmarked to head home.
A six goal thriller at Taverners against Tuffley Rovers with both teams sharing the spoils. A corner in the 17th minute was headed home by Rob Cook to give Tuffley the lead. Taverners drew level a minute before the break when Staurt Lawrence headed home from a cross. There were four late goals, the first coming from Taverners Kris Pritlove with a volley from the edge of the box in the 73rd minute. Pete Thomas headed Tuffley level again six minutes later before Taverners went ahead again when Lawrence was brought down in the box and Russell Chamberlain netted from the spot. Tuffley hit back again in the 84th minute when Stuart Griffith shot from the edge of the box and skimmed into the bottom corner.