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Ron's Match Reports

25th September 2010 - Yate grab points at Thornbury

Thornbury Town v Yate Town Reserves on paper seamed a good game to go and watch today with both teams having won their last two games. Unfortunately the game never really sprang into life both sides were able to keep control with good defending. There was plenty of good passing throughout in their approach work but very little activity in the crucial areas. The nearest thing to a goal in the first 45 for Yate Town was a Justin Cattle effort that the striker just failing to get on the end of from an Alex Lambert cross. For Thornbury Town Steve Thompson saw his shot cleared off the line by Luke Brimson just before the break.


Action from Thornbury Town v Yate Town Reserves
Action from Thornbury Town v Yate Town Reserves

Thornbury’s Steve Alexander failed to beat Keeper Damien Freeman a minute into the second half with a clear shot at goal. Then a few minutes later Stuart Kelly and Alexander could have scored for the home side but their interchange of passes was poor allowing the Yate defence time to recover. Steve Thompson had a great chance to give Thornbury the lead but headed wide with just the keeper to beat. The only goal of the game came in the 60th minute with a good break out of defence by the visitors a good pass found Justin Cattle on the right he chip the ball to the far post where Luke Brimson drove his shot goalwards, Alex Lippiatt saved well but then saw the ball fall back at the feet of Brimson to bundled the ball into the net. Thornbury pushed forward but could not find that telling ball that was needed to grab an equalising goal. Yate might have made it 2-0 near the end when a cross came into Alex Lambert who was unmarked in front of goal but he completely missed his kick. There was just one last ditch effort from the home side when James Derosa had a clear shooting chance but pulled the ball wide of the target.

Kings Stanley move into third place in the table with a 4-2 victory over local rivals Brimscombe & Thrupp. 130 spectators watched a very entertaining game with the home side taking the lead after 15 minutes when Matt Casey volleyed home. Five minutes later they went 2-0 up with a brilliant individual effort from Ben Newman. The visitors were back in the game on 50 minutes when Pete Smith netted, but Stanley hit back on the hour mark when the visitor’s keeper slipped and Luke Barstow was there to fire the ball home. Chris Underwood made it exciting in the 75th minute when he scored a second for Brimscombe, but in the very last minute Stanley’s Joel Clutterbuck struck a fourth with a long distance shot.

Hanham Athletic pulled of the shock of the day with a resounding 5-1 victory at Taverners. Taverners had taken the lead after 10 minutes when Tom Hanley set up Phil Hall to strike a left footed drive into the roof of the net. Ben Purdy levelled for the visitors on 40 minutes after a mistake by the home side defence. Shane Budding made it 2-1 to the visitors with a 20 yard run and shot that squirmed its way past the home keeper on 55 minutes. Ten minutes later Nathan Bryer netted a third after the ball had rebounded of the keeper. Taverners had a great chance to pull a goal back in the 75th minute when Tom Burridge was pushed over in the box, but the visitor’s keeper saved well from Mike Thornton’s spot kick. Darren Burt headed a fourth for Hanham from a corner in the 80 minute and Jack Rivers completed the scoring in the very last minute.


Action from Thornbury Town v Yate Town Reserves
Action from Thornbury Town v Yate Town Reserves

Axa keep up the pressure on the leaders with a 2-1 victory at Berkeley Town. Jamie Mackie had opened the scoring for the home side after 10 minutes and it looked as though they would leave the field at the break with that lead until Noel O’Sullivan popped up to level right on 45 minutes. The visitors went home with the 3 points after Ryan Bath struck the winner on the hour mark.

Rockleaze Rangers remain firmly rooted to the bottom of the table with just the 1 point after going down 4-0 at home to Kingswood. The visitors opened the scoring after 19 minutes with the first of Dan Griffiths two goals. Gavin Dibden made it 2-0 after 37 minutes going into the break with that two goal cushion. Two further strikes in the second half a second from Dan Griffiths on 60 minutes and then Ryan Mudd made it 4-0 in the 85th minute.

Henbury lost out to a solitary strike from Warren Mann after 65 minutes to see visitors Tuffley Rovers walk away with the 3 points. The goal was really well taken as Mann went on a mazy run passing three home defenders before striking the ball across the home keeper into the far corner. Earlier in the game Gary Clarke had a great chance for the home side but struck his shot over the bar and later in the game, Henbury had a couple of efforts cleared off the line.


Action from Thornbury Town v Yate Town Reserves
Action from Thornbury Town v Yate Town Reserves

Very unusual to have two goalless games in the league but it certainly happened today. D.R.G. Stapleton and Ellwood could not find the net in 90 minutes of football and in the second game Patchway Town pulled of a great result when they held Chipping Sodbury Town 0-0. The only real chance in this game came in the 55th minute when Danny Coombes hit the upright and it spun out for a goal kick.

18th September 2010 - Patchway send Rockleaze Rock Bottom

The Patchway Town Management team will be please with their 4-1 success over fellow strugglers Rockleaze Rangers. Both clubs were level on 1 point each at the start of this game and a win for either club would see them move up the table.

Rockleaze created a good chance very early on but Phil Sergeants shot from the edge of the box whistled over the bar. A good build up by the home side in the 10th minute created the chance for them to take the lead when Brad Harris slipped the ball to Ashley Lloyd on the edge of the box he drifted past Carlo Micciche before striking a left foot shot past the helpless Sam Burgess. Luke Drew was inches wide with a shot that could have given the home side a 2-0 lead in the 28th minute. At the other end Ian Burnell made space for a shot from the edge of the box that was just wide of the upright. A couple of minutes before the break Rockleaze forced several corner in succession and it was from the second corner that was poorly cleared and fell to Sergeant who expertly placed the ball into the home box where Patchway defender Tom Knight handled to concede a penalty. Phil Sergeant netted from the spot to give the visitors a deserved equaliser. Rangers almost took the lead a minute later as a ball over the Patchway defence was picked up by Matt Exton who found himself free to run at goal and from ten yards out fired a low shot at the target only to see Town’s keeper James Kaminski pull of a great save.


Action from Patchway Town v Rockleaze Rangers
Action from Patchway Town v Rockleaze Rangers

Patchway who had only previously scored 1 goal so far this season got a break in the 52 minute when Mark Palmer was brought down in the box by Rangers Frank Connelly. The referee cautioned the player for the foul but he was not content with the caution he then proceeded to release verbal abuse and received a second yellow and then a red card. This was the turning point in the game as Mark Palmer then put Patchway ahead from the spot kick. Rockleaze did rally and a James Domone shot from 25 yards rattled the crossbar. At the other end Burgess saved well from Dean Patterson diving to push the ball up in the air before rising to punch the ball away. The visitors thought they had levelled the score on 73 minute when they had the ball in the net but it was ruled out for an infringement. The home side took a 3-1 lead in the 77th minute when a cross from the right to the far post was met by Luke Drew who’s diving header hit the inside of the post on its way in. Town made 4-1 right at the end when mark Palmer headed home a Patterson cross at the far post.

Brimscombe & Trupp could have gone top if they could manage a win against visitors Chipping Sodbury Town. The game finished all square at 1-1. The first half produced some entertaining football with goalkeepers Adam Thomas for the home side and Chris Simsek for the visitors in top form and keeping the score goalless at the break. The home side took the lead on 56 minutes when a precise pass from Craig Cole saw Mike Beckingham volley the ball past the visitor’s keeper. Sodbury hit back and 3 minutes later levelled the score with a superb free kick from Liam Barrett. The home side might have snatched a win near the end but Ben Jones missed the opportunity.

Hanham Athletic came back from a 2 goal deficit to snatch a point at home to D.R.G. Stapleton. Tristan Ferguson had given the visitors the lead 2 minutes before half time and then 5 minutes into the second half Darren Werrett netted a second. The home side hit back on the hour mark with a Nathan Bryer penalty, Richard Sperring receiving a red card at the same time. Hanham grabbed a point with 15 minutes left when Shane Budding slid the ball home from a good cross into the box.


Action from Patchway Town v Rockleaze Rangers
Action from Patchway Town v Rockleaze Rangers

Tuffley failed to score for the second week running as they went down 2-0 at home to Kings Stanley. Stanley took the lead in the very first minute as Sam Prior hammered the ball home after it had been dragged back from the bye-line. Stanley sealed the point in the 89th minute after the Tuffley keeper’s clearance was picked up by Mark Aldridge who fired the ball home from 30 yards.

In the Les James League Cup Rd 2 there were wins for Thornbury Town Henbury and Taverners the holders.

In a very poor game at Arnell Drive as Henbury sneaked through to the Semi-final with a 1-0 victory over Ellwood. The only goal of the game came in the 3rd minute from a break down the left the ball arriving at the feet of Billy George whose angled shot crept past the keeper.

Last season winners Taverners went through with a 3-2 victory over Kingswood. It was Kingswood who took a fortunate lead in the 35th minute as the home keeper saved well from a shot on goal but the rebound struck Mike Thornton and finished up in the back of the net. Tom Hanley levelled in the 50th minute netting from close in from a cross from the right. 6 minutes later the home side had the lead Phil Hall also netting from close in. Dave Woodfield headed a third for Taverners in the 80th minute but a goal 2 minutes later a 25 yard free kick from Gavin Dibden ran the holder close.


Action from Patchway Town v Rockleaze Rangers
Action from Patchway Town v Rockleaze Rangers

Axa and Thornbury Town were level at the break 1-1 with Steve Watts heading home after 9 minutes from a Lewis Morgan cross. Thornbury levelled just 2 minutes before the break through Luke Garbacz. With 79 minute played and the score still at 1-1 what happened in the next 10 minutes saw Thornbury progress to the Semi-final. In the 80th minute Christian Irwin made it 2-1 then with just 2 minutes left Steve Alexander netted a third for Town. Thornbury had not finished and Luke Garbacz netted his second to make the final score 4-1 to Thornbury Town.

11th September 2010 - Chipping Sodbury take their chances

Chipping Sodbury Towns 4 – 0 success over Tuffley Rovers seems a comfortable score-line and they looked home and dry after going 3 goals up in thirty minutes and netting a 4th five minutes into the second half.

But the second half belonged to the visitors and could well have gone home with a point from this game.

Sodbury looked the better side in the first few minutes and their attacking policy paid off in the 7th minute when Shaun Halford broke down the left sent over a great cross into the box where Luke Meacham made ground to head past keeper Perks. Another goal scoring opportunity for Sodbury was foiled by Perks but in doing so the keeper was injured but he carried on. However, it was clear that he was struggling as a ball into the box ran loose to Meacham who fired the ball in from 6 yards with the keeper struggling to get across goal. After 22 minutes Perks had to leave the field unable to carry on and was replaced by Adie Bennett. Meacham, who had scored the first two goals, was then involved with the third as his cross from the right was fired home by Mike England from just inside the box. The visitors who were having plenty of possession failed to break down the home defence and were limited to just three shots, two from the edge of the box and one excellent strike from a Rob Cummingham free-kick which Simsek managed to flick over the bar.


Action from Chipping Sodbury Town V Tuffley Rovers
Action from Chipping Sodbury Town V Tuffley Rovers

Five minutes into the second half Sodbury went 4 nil up with a fortunate goal after Meacham’s shot was blocked by Bennett the ball fell nicely to Darren Andrews to net from close in. The visitors gradually clawed their way back and pushed the home side hard and four brilliant saves by keeper Simsek kept them in the game, the first one a superb diving save to deny Richard James from point blank range. James then missed a golden opportunity as he missed a cross from Dave Rich when only 6 yards out. In the 74th minute Simsek brought off another good save to deny Mark Wallington. In the 75th minute Sodbury were down to 10 men when Shaun Halford was dismissed for a second bookable offence. In the next 6 minutes it was all Tuffley and the hero of the day with out any doubt was Chris Simsek as he made 3 tremendous saves one after another from Pat Boyd, Warren Mann and Ben Clutterbuck and in the closing minutes Tuffley also struck the upright but it was just not their day.

The biggest crowd of the day 107 saw Thornbury Town last years Champions take their first three points with a slender 1-0 win over Berkeley Town. The only goal of the game coming after 30 minutes when Dan Thompson picked up the ball 25 yards out pushed forward and hammered the ball home from the edge of the box. Thornbury also had two efforts from James Derosa hit the upright. The visitors were always in the game but failed to create many chances, but a half chance in the first half was headed wide from a corner and another effort in the second half went just wide of the post.

Bishops Cleeve Reserves held this morning’s leaders Axa to a 1-1 draw, both goals coming in the first 16 minutes of the game. The home side opened the scoring after 8 minutes when Bob Allen headed home at the near post from a corner. The visitors levelled 8 minutes later when a short corner was eventually pumped into the box and Fred Hopkins headed home on the near post.


Action from Chipping Sodbury Town V Tuffley Rovers
Action from Chipping Sodbury Town V Tuffley Rovers

Rockleaze remain next to bottom after going down 1-5 at home to Brimscombe and Thrupp. The home side might well have taken the lead after 27 minutes when Mikey Golding had a one on one situation with the visitor’s keeper Thomas who saved well at the striker’s feet. The visitors opened the scoring after 36 minutes when a cross from the right broke through a crowd of players and Matt Blythe was there to tap home. A minute later they were 2-0 up when Mike Beckingham burst through the home defence to drive the ball home. In the 49th minute Kris Murray broke down the right and his cross come shot found the far corner of the net. The visitors took a 4-0 lead in the 62nd minute, Mike Beckingham netting his second from the penalty spot. Rockleaze netted a consolation after Thomas had saved a good shot from Golding, Lee Barnes tapping the ball home from the re-bound. The visitors had not finished and in the 82nd minute Mike Beckingham completed a hat-trick for the second week running when he netted from the penalty spot a second time.

Taverners and Kingswood shared the points with a 1-1 score-line. Taverners took the lead after 15 minutes when a corner was deflected by a Kingswood defender for Craig Mills to see the ball home. The visitors drew level in the 42nd minute with Gavin Dibden strike.

Kings Stanley’s first home game of the season saw them suffer their first defeat when they went down 0 – 2 to Henbury. Two goals from Vinnie Coote’s one after 8 minutes and a header early in the second half saw the visitors home and dry.


Action from Chipping Sodbury Town V Tuffley Rovers
Action from Chipping Sodbury Town V Tuffley Rovers

Yate Town Reserves go top of the league with a 2-1 win at DRG Stapleton. Lewis Hughes gave Yate the lead on 44 minutes with Domic Holver making it 2-0 in the 69th minute. DRG netted a consolation goal in the 89th minute with a Tristan Ferguson strike.

GFA Challenge Trophy 1st Round

Ellwood go through to the second round of the challenge trophy with a 3-0 victory over Patchway Town. After 40 minutes Julian Addis was brought down in the box by a Patchway defender and Mike Nelson netted from the penalty spot. Then two goals in the second half by Lee Scotford in the 65th and 80th minutes respectively sealed the game.

4th September 2010 - Hanham see off Berkeley Town

Hanham Athletic move off the bottom of the table with their first win of the season a 2-1 success over high riding Berkeley Town. The home side had signed several new players, and were much the better side in the first half. Town’s keeper Ewan Prentice had to be at his very best on 13 minutes as Shane Buddings curling free kick almost caught him out, the keeper just managing to push the ball over the bar as he back pedalled. In the 19th minute it was Prentice again keeping the ball out with his legs as Buddings cross was well struck by Dan Burnham. Hanham took a deserved lead on 32 minutes as Ben Purdy's pass to Savas Frangoulis saw him break into the box and cross through a crowd of players for Nathan Bryer to knock home on the far post. Berkeley’s first real effort on goal came in the 41st minute with a shot from James Mackie that had no real pace and was easy for Dan Fletcher in the home goal.


Action from Hanham Athletic V Berkeley Town
Action from Hanham Athletic V Berkeley Town

From the start of the second half the visitors looked livelier and a corner from the left was fisted away by Fletcher and minutes later the keeper was just quick enough of his line to deny Sam Strickland a chance on goal. Dan Degay might have made it 2-0 to Hanham on 56 minutes as he broke down the right and struck a powerful shot that rattled against the upright and was cleared. Hanham got a break in the 61st minute when they were awarded a penalty for a foul in the box and it was Nathan Bryer who sent Prentice the wrong way to net his second of the afternoon. The visitors had a great chance on 53 minutes as Strickland sent in a tremendous shot that had Fletcher at full stretch to palm the ball away. Berkeley were back in the game on 69 minutes as a free kick on the right was knocked to the far post and was headed back across goal where Sam Strickland headed home from six yards. In the 85th minute Berkeley almost levelled as Tom Palmers neat flick from Strickland’s cross just cleared the bar.

A poor day for Patchway Town as they went down 7-0 at Yate Town Reserves. They kept the home side at bay for the first 30 minutes but Joe Martin gave the home side the lead on 32 minutes with a lob over the keeper. Jordan Yeo made it 2-0 on 40 minutes with a 20 yard volley and new signing Jack Kinnerly netting number three on 47 minutes. Dominic Holver made it four on 52 minutes after a mistake in the Patchway defence. Then came two penalties Neikell Plummer netting the first on 55 minutes and Joe Martin grabbing his second from the spot on 64 minutes. Deon Noakes rounded the scoring off in the 75th minute.

Leaders Axa were defeated 3-0 at home to Kings Stanley with Chris Haynes turning in Adam Smiths cross on 32 minutes. Daniel Stephens made it 2-0 on 50 minute when he headed in from a corner. A minute later a long ball found Ben Newman who had come on as a sub at half time round the keeper and drive the ball into an empty net.


Action from Hanham Athletic V Berkeley Town
Action from Hanham Athletic V Berkeley Town

Ellwood and Bishops Cleeve Reserves remained goalless until the 75th minute when an own goal by a visitors defender saw Ellwood rubbing their hands as they take another 3 points.

Mike Beckingham netted a hattrick to give Brimscombe & Thrupp a narrow 3-2 victory over last seasons Champions Thornbury Town. Brimscombe took the lead on 20 minutes as Gary Probert drove the ball goalwards and Mike Beckingham was there with the slightest of touches to see the ball home. Thornbury drew level when a cross into the box was mishandled by the home keeper and James Derosa volleyed the ball home. The visitors went ahead in the 50th minute with a well taken goal from Steve Alexander. The home side kept plugging away and were rewarded in the 82nd minute when a cross from Craig Cole was turned in by Mike Beckingham. With just 2 minutes left that man Beckingham popped up again this time netting from a Ben Jones pass.

Rockleaze Rangers will be pleased that they picked up their first point of the season with a 2-2 draw at Tuffley Rovers. They might even be a shade disappointed at the result as they took the lead twice during the game. Ian Burnell gave them the lead after 25 minutes, but Ben Clutterbuck levelled from the spot after Warren Mann had been brought down in the box. Mike Golding restored the lead for the visitors on 50 minutes when the home defence were caught out pushing forward and he lashed the ball into the roof of the net. Rovers equalising goal came on 64 minutes as Ford headed a long cross to the far post back across goal and Clutterbuck hammered home his second of the afternoon.


Action from Hanham Athletic V Berkeley Town
Action from Hanham Athletic V Berkeley Town

It was a 1-1 draw at Arnell Drive between Henbury and Chipping Sodbury Town. Town took the lead after just 5 minutes when Kris Sage handled in the box and Alex Fox netted the spot kick. Henbury levelled the score on 78 minutes also from the penalty spot Gary Clark netting after Billy George had been brought down.