Ron's Match Reports
26th March - Ten man AXA hang on to see off Thornbury
All the top four teams recorded victories today with Chipping Sodbury Town and Yate town trading places on goal difference.
Axa gained a narrow 2-1 victory over Thornbury Town even though they were reduced to ten men in the 65th minute when Matt Shaughnessy was dismissed after a scuffle with Towns Sammy Lippiatt. The home side should have opened the scoring on 2 minutes a long diagonal ball caught the visitors defence out and allowed Adam Bates a free run on goal but his effort to curl the ball around Alex Lippiatt did not quite work out as the keeper just managed to get legs in the way to steer it clear. Thornbury’s Danny Thompson saw his shot fly just past the post in the 15th minute. Axa took the lead in the 25th minute when a corner from the right was punched clear by the visitors keeper but was pumped back across goal to Adam Bates to pick his spot and drive the ball home. The home side had another great chance to increase their lead in the 33rd minute when Nick Lloyd was put clear on goal and tried to chip Lippiatt but the keeper just managed to finger tip the ball away. A Danny Thompson shot from 20 yards had the Axa keeper Matt Turner flinging himself across goal to push the ball away.
Action from AXA v Thornbury Town
Matt Shaughnessy then saw Lippiatt making a very good save to deny a second for Axa early in the second half. Then at the other end Nathan Lumber cleared Danny Thompson’s effort off the line. The home side then lost the services of Shaunghessy but Town never really took advantage even though they had much more of the possession. A rare break by the home side in this second half in the 73 minute produced a second goal as Danny Thorpe sent over a cross from the left and Tom Burns got on the end of it to head home. A few minutes’ later Nathan Sage head another Axa goal bound effort off the line. With just 5 minutes left Thornbury were given a chance to reduce the arrears when Danny Thorpe fouled Tom Webb in the box and Chris Parry netted from the spot. Axa look a very well organised outfit and just do enough to get the all important 3 points.
A Paul Lucas hat-trick and two goals from Liam Barrett saw Chipping Sodbury Town thrash visitors D.R.G. Stapleton 6-0 the other goal coming from Alex Fox. Liam Barrett opened the scoring after just 3 minutes as he curled the ball from a free kick around the wall into the net. Tom Godsall’s cross from the right was met by Alex Fox to score at the near post on 12 minutes and then in the 30th minute Fox sent Barrett clear to chip the ball over the keeper. In the 36th minute Paul Lucas rounded three defenders to net the first of his three goals. In the 48th minute Barrett then set up Lucas to net his second and seven minutes later Lucas completed his hat-trick to make it a thoroughly miserable day for the visitors.
Brimscombe & Thrupp remain the leaders after a hard fought 2-0 win over Ellwood. The opening minutes of the game saw the home side push the visitors defence to the limit and Beckingham should have netted early on. At the other end Ellwood’s Kerry Hale missed a good chance firing over the bar. A good move in the 35th minute set up leading goal-scorer Mike Beckingham to give the home side the lead. A second goal from Beckingham in the 50th minute from the penalty spot gave them a two goal cushion but Ellwood all though next to bottom in the table gave a good account of themselves and if Derek Roberts had scored a very good chance it might well have been a different story.
Action from AXA v Thornbury Town
Yate Town Reserves pulled off a 1-0 victory over Kingswood but the performance overall was one that is least talked about. The only goal of the game came in the 30 minute from Ryan Jefferies.
Rockleaze Rangers continue their much improved form with a 2-2 draw at Taverners. They went 2-0 down in the first half as Mike Thornton gave the home side the lead on 30 minutes from the penalty spot Tom Burridge headed a second eight minutes later from a Tom Hanley corner. Nathan Bryer missed an easy chance to pull goal back and Craig Mills missed to good chances for the home side. Rockleaze changed things around in the second half and pulled a goal back in the 75th minute when Bryer was brought down in the box by Paul Jennings and then took the penalty and scored. Three minutes later the visitors were level as long throw was flicked across goal and Nathan Bryer slid the ball home. Aaron Day must have thought his 30 yard pile driver was on its way in by home keeper Duane Portlock saved well. Bryer had a shot cleared of the line by Fran King and right at the end Craig Hughes had a good chance for Taverners
Bishops Cleeve Reserve went down 2-1 at home to Tuffley Rovers who finished the game with ten men. Joe Mogg had given the home side the lead in the 60th minute but two goals in the space of two minutes won the game for Rovers. Richard James netted the first on 72 minutes and Mark Wallington got the winner two minutes later.
Berkeley Town’s run continues as they defeated Henbury 2-1 at Station Road. Aaron Anglin had put the visitors ahead but two goals in the 70th and 76th minutes from Karl Nash and Ryan Stevenson gave the home side the 3 points.
Action from AXA v Thornbury Town
Hanham Athletic remain on the foot of the table after losing 3-1 at home to Patchway Town. It was goalless first 45 minutes but Patchway went into a 3-0 lead with a goal from Keith Williams on 46 minutes a second from Jordan Yeo in the 70th minute and the third in the 80th minute from Matt Davis. Shane Allison netted a consolation for the home side in the 85th minute.
19th March - Thornbury and Henbury are up for the cup
Two new teams will contest the Les James League Cup Final this season, as holders Taverners are defeated at Thornbury Town and League leaders Brimscombe & Thrupp go down at Henbury.
Thornbury Town reached the final of the Les James Cup with a battling performance and a narrow 1-0 victory over Taverners. The home side looked the better side in the first half and almost opened the scoring after two minutes when Dan Thompson’s shot saw keeper Duane Portlock push the ball out for a corner. Thornbury took the lead on 11 minutes when a long ball out to James Derosa on the left wing saw the player make good ground to the edge of the Taverners box before cutting back inside and sending over a great cross into the box where Steve Thompson coolly lobbed the ball over the keeper. Ricky Lippiatt should have got on the score sheet after 20 minutes as a free-kick into the box cleared the Taverners defence and Lippiatt stole in behind but then headed wide of the target. Taverners were finding it difficult to break through the Thornbury defence and resorted to knocking long balls without success. They made it difficult for themselves in the 33rd minute when Phil Hall was sent off after a scuffle with Thornbury defender Ricki Lippiatt. In the 37th minute Thornbury keeper Alex Lippiatt pulled off a great save to deny Tom Burridge’s header going in. In the 41st minute Thornbury had a great chance to increase their lead as the ball went backwards and forwards in the box only to see a desperate clearance from the Taverners defence. Two minutes before the break the visitors were unlucky not to be on level terms when Jamie Bish’s well hit shot cleared the Thornbury defence but struck the cross bar and was cleared.
Action from Thornbury Town v Taverners
Steve Alexander had a great chance to make it 2-0 to the home side just thirty seconds into the second half but his effort flew over the bar. Taverners came close to levelling in the 48th minute when Dave Woodfield hit a tremendous shot from 25 yards that looked as though it was going in the bottom corner but somehow Alex Lippiatt dived to push the ball out for a corner. A brilliant run by Tom Hanley almost brought a goal for the visitors but again Lippaitt saved with his legs. Steve Alexander had a great chance to seal the game for the home side in the 77th minute when a great through ball from James Derosa saw the striker run clear but pulled his shot wide of the target. With just two minutes to go Dave Woodfield set up Craig Mills for a shot on goal which could have levelled the score but it was hit straight at the keeper.
Henbury began this Les James Cup semi final as if their lives depended on it and took the game to the opposition from the start. Neutral observers would have been left wondering which team were Championship contenders. The condition of the pitch was not the best and obviously favoured Henbury as the home side. After 3 minutes a free kick from the right swung in by Henbury’s Kris Sage was cleared for a corner & the resultant kick was cleared. 2 minutes later a through ball split Brimscombe and Thrupp defence & allowed Aaron Anglin to run from a suspiciously offside position to beat Brimscombe ‘keeper Adam Thomas. Henbury had a further chance on 10 minutes but the knees of ‘keeper Thomas saved the day. However, such was the home side’s dominance that another goal was imminent. It duly arrived on 20 minutes when a left wing corner was cleared only to result in a further attempt. On this occasion Vinny Coote stole in at back post to put the ball past Thomas. Henbury continued to dominate & tricky play from Billy George continually had Brimscombe defending desperately.
Action from Thornbury Town v Taverners
The fortunes of Brimscombe did not improve with second half. After 48 minutes a repeated corner from the right caused further desperate defending to clear. Their situation was not helped on 50 minutes when referee Martin Tudor awarded a penalty for handball. Home skipper Eddie Howells however, contrived to hit his kick straight at ‘keeper Thomas. Brimscombe attempted a comeback in 53rd. Minute, but a free kick from just outside the area by skipper Gary Probert –playing in strange number 9 shirt – went well over the cross bar. On 66 minutes a free kick by Henbury from the right was cleared off the line, but this reprieve was short lived. After 70 minutes a shot from the right cannoned off the underside of the bar and Anglin was on hand to steer home from close range for his second and Henbury’s third. However, Brimscombe were handed a lifeline on 85 minutes when they were awarded a penalty for an unnecessary challenge by a Henbury defender. Mike Beckingham clinically dispatched his shot past home ‘keeper Phil O’Connell – who did his hardest job of the day when he picked the ball out of the net. On the day, the stronger home defence prevailed, but the visitors were unable to exhibit any creativity in front of goal.
With Chipping Sodbury Town, Brimscombe & Thrupp and Yate Town Reserves not involved in League action this week, it gave Axa a chance to close the gap on the leaders.
They did this with a 3-1 win at out of form Kingswood that moved them into second place, level on points with Brimscombe & Thrupp but having played three games more. Dominic Graffagnino opened the scoring after 35 minutes and they increased their lead when Ollie Clark netted a second just before the break. Kingswood gave themselves a life line when Ryan Mudd pulled a goal back in the 75th minute but then 3 minutes later Adam Bates netted a third to seal the points.
Action from Thornbury Town v Taverners
Five goals at Kings Stanley with the home side going down 2-3 with a late goal from visitors Berkeley Town. The home side were fortunate to take the lead after 7 minutes when Pete Lavis trying to head the ball clear headed into his own net. Then there were three quick goals in the following three minutes. Berkeley levelled on 12 minutes, a free-kick direct at goal was spilled by the keeper Gavin Dean and Tom Palmer following up drove the ball home. Only two minutes elapsed when the visitors took the lead, after being awarded a penalty for hand ball but keeper Dean brought off a great save from the spot kick but could not prevent Karl Nash from chipping the ball over him from the rebound. Within a minute Stanley were level a deep cross to the left found Theo Stubbs who cut in weaved his way past three defenders before unleashing a shot that flew across the keeper into the far corner. The second half action was evenly fought with both sides failing to create many chances. The home side were undone in the 87th minute when a long ball up field from the visitors, caught the home defence napping and James Mackie nipping through to score the winner.
Tuffley Rovers gained their second win of the week with a 3-0 home success over Ellwood. The opening goal came right on half time with a strike from Mark Ford. It remained 1-0 until the 79th minute when Mark Wallington netted a second for Rovers and two minutes later Richard James netted from the penalty spot for a comfortable victory.
Basement club Rockleaze Rangers thought that they had victory in sight over DRG Stapleton but were thwarted by a late penalty in time added. Early in the game the visitors Tristan Ferguson missed an easy chance to put them ahead and then in the 11th minute the home team’s striker Nathan Bryer shot wide with just the keeper to beat. Savas Frangoullis struck the cross bar in the 70th minute for the home side. Rockleaze took the lead in the 78th minute through Joe Sheppard an 18 yard drive into the bottom corner after Matt Smith had set him up. The killer blow came in time added after a goal mouth scramble the visitors were awarded a penalty which Mike Saddler duly converted.
Action from Thornbury Town v Taverners
12th March - Brimscombe edge out Yate to go top
Brimscombe & Thrupp’s narrow win at Yate Town Reserves see them move to the top of the table with last weeks leaders Chipping Sodbury Town dropping to second after their surprise defeat at Berkeley Town. Axa move into third place with a home win over Taverners and Yate Town Reserves drop to fourth.
The game at Lodge Road between Yate Town Reserves who were third in the table and Brimscombe & Thrupp lying second at the start of the match was a very tight affair in which one goal was probably going to seal victory for who ever scored first. The visitors started really well and should have opened the scoring on 11 minutes as the ball was floated over from the right and Ben Jones standing six yards out blasted the ball over the bar. Gary Probert worked an opening down the left and got behind the home defence and then saw is cross fly across the six yard box with nobody there to knock it home. Brimscombe were handed another good chance to open the scoring when Alex Lambert handled right on the edge of the box, but the free kick came to nothing. The visitors were looking much more likely to break the deadlock and a free kick after 24 minutes from Mike Beckingham was just wide of the post. Yate’s first real chance came in the 36th minute as Jack Kinnerly weaved his way passed a couple of defenders before releasing the ball for Dominic Holver to unleash a shot from the edge of the box but it was well covered by keeper Thomas. Kinnerly again created space down the left with the final cross falling for Alex Lambert but he failed to take advantage and the effort went over the bar. On 37 minutes Gary Probert broke through the home defence struck the ball really well and on target but the home keeper Lubos Ancin made an excellent save to deny the striker. A few minutes later Yate failed again to contain Probert as he broke clear but then failed to find the target. In the 42nd minute Probert set up Martin McDermott who’s shot from the edge of the box struck the crossbar before going over. Lambert had a good chance to put the home side in front right on half time but his header from Jack Kinnerly’s cross went over the bar.
Action from Yate Town Reserves v Brimscombe & Thrupp
The first 15 minutes of the second half belonged to the home side as they pressed the visitors defence hard. Holver was right through on goal but Thomas read the situation well and nipped the ball off the striker’s foot. Central defender Tarik Whitcliffe saw his shot from the edge of the box go wide as Yate continued to press. The first real attack from the visitors 19 minutes into the second half brought the only goal of the game when Tim Baker made a mess of clearing the ball it fell nicely to Ben Jones who ran clear sent in a great shot that was well saved by the keeper but Jones was fortunate and the ball came straight back for him to knock it into an empty net. Yate were reduced to 10 men in the 82nd minute when Holver was dismissed for inappropriate remarks.
Berkeley Town pulled of a great 2-1 win at home to league leaders Chipping Sodbury Town. The home side took the lead as early as the 3rd minute when Tom Palmer headed home. A second on 32 minutes, a shot by Karl Nash from just inside the box saw them go into the break with that comfortable 2-0 lead. Sodbury were always in the game and was enjoying plenty of possession but were unable to create any chances that is until the 53rd minute when Liam Barrett’s shot from the edge of the box beat Prentice. The home side might have several more goals but missed easy chance either side of half time.
Axa continue to challenge for the title with a 2-0 win at home to Taverners. They opened the scoring on 33 minutes when a ball over the visitors defence saw Nick Lloyd nick the ball as he passed between two defenders to slot home. Lloyd was also involved in the second goal on 65 minutes when he sent over a 40 yard diagonal cross that dropped behind the Taverners defence for Matt Shaughnessy to drive the ball into the corner of the net.
Action from Yate Town Reserves v Brimscombe & Thrupp
D.R.G Stapleton continued where they left off last week gaining 3 more points with a 2-1 win at home to Thornbury Town. The first half was fairly tight and produced no goals. Then in the 47th minute Thornbury took the lead from the penalty spot as Chris Parry converting the kick. A Darren Werrett header on the far post after 57 minutes put the home side level and then Tristan Ferguson headed the winner on 78 minutes.
Ellwood’s season started well but the last couple of months have seen a dramatic drop down the table. After grabbing all three points last week with a 1-0 win they slipped up at home by the same score line to Henbury. Fairly even first half with the home side hitting the post but no goals they were undone in the 55th minute when Adam Rosser turned in a free kick floated into the box.
Kingswood are really struggling to find any consistency this season and were beaten 3-1 at home to a much improved Patchway Town side. They fell behind after 35 minutes to a Matt Davis strike and went further behind on 40 minute when a dreadful back pass from Jon Lang allowed Mark Palmer to pounce. Gavin Dibden gave the home side some hope in the 43rd minute when he ran clear to place the ball past the visitor’s keeper. The writing was on the wall after 52 minutes when Luke Drew netted a third for Patchway Town to give them a second consecutive win.
Action from Yate Town Reserves v Brimscombe & Thrupp
Bishops Cleeve Reserves went down 2-1 for the second consecutive week this time they were at home to Kings Stanley. Two goals in three minutes just before the break stunned the home side. Matt Davis gave Stanley the lead with far post header on 40 minutes and a shot from Theo Stubbs from the edge of the box three minutes later sent the visitors in at half time 2-0 up. The home side managed a late goal two minute from the end Richard Barnes turning the ball in after Joe Moggs header had come back off the crossbar.
5th March - Henbury see off Hanham
Chipping Sodbury Town remain top with a slender win over Bishops Cleeve Reserves whilst Brimscombe & Thrupp hammer five past Kingswood to remain in second. Yate Town Reserves playing their first game after a few weeks off due to the weather move up to third with a win at Tuffley Rovers. Axa were not in action today.
The match at Henbury against Hanham Athletic ended in a 2-0 victory for the home side.
Henbury were much the better side for the first 45 minutes creating quite a few chances but only managed to find the back of the net on two occasions. Eddie Howells hit the crossbar with a header on 9 minutes the rebound being driven wide. Then Vinnie Coote should have scored with a headed chance a couple of minutes later. Aaron Anglin was guilty of missing an easy chance when he fired over the bar with just Dan Fletcher to beat. The home side took a deserved lead in the 20th minute as Hanham were caught out with a long ball over the top and appealed for offside but Aaron Anglin timed his run well to forge clear and steer the ball past Fletcher. Hanham’s first effort on goal was a good shot from Paul Francis that was deflected away for a corner midway through the first half. The home side should have made it two when Ben Sandle ran clear, only to pull his shot wide of the post. A minute later Sandle was clear on goal again but this time Fletcher pulled off a good save. The visitors were riding their luck when a corner from the right was sliced towards goal by a defender but was just cleared off the line. Hanham’s best chance came in the 31st minute as Chris Miller rounded Paul O’Connell but his shot was not hard enough and it was eventually cleared off the line for a corner. In the 38th minute Henbury scored again this time it was Eddie Howells hooking the ball into the net from an Adam Rosser free kick. Just on half time Twayne Plummer’s fierce drive was well saved by O’Connell.
Action from Henbury v Hanham Athletic
The second half saw the visitors have much more possession than in the first 45 minutes and a Darren Burt free kick from 25 yards was really well saved by O’Connell. A long ball out of defence found Paul Francis and his pass set up Plummer with a good chance to pull a goal back but he fired over the bar. A few minutes later it was Plummer who found space for a shot, but again it went over the bar In the 82 ndminute Darren Burt was on target with a free kick this time O’Connell was at full stretch to save. In the 87 th minute Liam McCaughey was through on goal but just as he was about to shoot the ball was nudged away.
Brimscombe & Thrupp gave Kingswood a lesson on finishing as they hammered five into the Kingswood net. The home side were in front after 8 minutes as a cross from Mike Beckingham was flicked on by Gary Probert for Jon Davis to coast in to score. In the 15th minute they went 2-0 up after Beckingham was brought down in the box and duly dispatched the penalty. Chris Underwood netted the third just a minute before the break after a goalmouth scramble. Two minutes into the second half Kingswood pulled a goal back with a tremendous shot from James Crossfield that flew into the top corner with the keeper left stranded. The visitors then had two player red carded and this left them struggling to contain a rampant home side. In the 80th minute Beckingham’s shot came back off the post for Chris Underwood to net his second. Mike Beckingham then found himself clear on goal to net number five.
Thornbury Town slip up at home for the second week running going down 1-0 to Patchway Town. Patchway performances of late have been much improved and they took the three points with a goal from Aaron Anderson in the 55th minute.
Action from Henbury v Hanham Athletic
Ellwood moved up a place from second from bottom with an excellent 1-0 win at high riding Kings Stanley. The home side never really got going in this game with the visitors having long spells in which they could have easily scored more goals but for the resilience of Stanley’s keeper Gavin Dean who pulled off some very good saves. The only goal of the game came in the 32nd minute when Mike Nelson stole in front of the keeper to head home. Stanley made several changes in the second half but could not find the back of the net.
Bottom Club Rockleaze Rangers fell behind to a goal from Berkeley Town’s Tom Palmer after 11 minutes, but hit back in the 35th minute when Richard Bray set up Neil Simons to level. Brendan Curran who was make his debut made up for an earlier miss when he gave the home side the lead as he turned on a throw in and drove a 35 yard screamer into the visitors net. Rockleaze might have found themselves with a bigger score line as Nathan Bryer hit the bar then struck his shot against the post late in the game.
Chipping Sodbury Town remain top of the table with a 1-0 win at home to Bishops Cleeve Reserves. Sodbury had several good chances in the first 10 minutes to sew the game up but they were squandered. It looked very much as though the visitors were going to be happy to take a point until five minutes from the end when Danny Coombes netted, to grab all three points.
Yate Town Reserves first game for some time due to recent bad weather and it turned out to be a winner at Tuffley Rovers. They had to do it with ten men for most of the game after Jermaine Wright had given them the lead on 16 minutes, soon after he was sent off. Jack Kinnerly made it 2-0 to the visitors right on half time. Scott Jones then pulled a goal back for Rovers in the 65th minute but a Tim Baker’s penalty eight minutes from the end gave the visitors the points.
Action from Henbury v Hanham Athletic
Five goals at Taverners with the odd one going to the visitors D.R.G. Stapleton. Ferguson should have put the visitors in the lead early on but headed straight at Portlock, and then Luke Clark almost scored a spectacular goal with a scissors kick that was just wide. It was Clarke who opened the scoring after 32 minutes when he turned to fire into the bottom corner. Taverners hit back two minutes before the break when Tom Burridge headed home on the far post from a Tom Hanley cross. The home side then took the lead in the 75th minute with a free kick sent over from the right for Tom Burridge to repay the compliment and head back at the far post for Tom Hanley to score. The home side were undone with two late goals the equalising goal coming from Mike Saddler a cross that beat Portlock as he slipped trying to get to the ball. The winner came in time added a brilliant shot from Luke Clark that went like a missile into the roof of the net.