Ron's Match Reports
29th August - Henbury hold on to top spot
Henbury remain top after their latest win at Hanham Athletic but Cribbs Friends Life stay just two points behind with an excellent win at Ellwood.
Henbury recorded their fifth win of the season with another 2-1 win at Hanham Athletic the fourth time they have won by the same score-line this season. It was the home side that took the lead after 10 minutes Lee Simmons fired home from the edge of the box. Hanham hung on until the 44th minute when Billy Fletcher committed an infringement in the box and Henbury’s captain Eddie Howells net from the penalty spot. The winner came in the 55th minute when Ben Sandle netted from just inside the 18 yard box.
Another high scoring game at Ellwood and eight more goals to match the eight scored on Saturday. The spectators at Ellwood are certainly had their monies worth in the last two games. Cribbs Friends Life rushed into a 3-0 lead inside the first 15 minutes with a double strike from Matt Shaughnessy and one from Simon Bone. The home side hit back on 30 minutes when Jamie Addis netted from the penalty spot Justin Cattle made it 4-1 to the visitors early in the second half before mike Nelson pulled another goal back for Ellwood.. The visitors struck again with a second goal from Simon Bone to make ti 5-2 and then near the end Jamie Addis netted a second penalty to bring the final score to 5-3 to the visitors.
Longlevens best home crowd of the season 71 saw visitors Kings Stanley bounce back from their defeat at Ellwood on Saturday to take the 3 points with a 2-1 win. Stanley got off to a fine start when they took the lead inside the first minute when Ben Newman netted from the penalty spot. They went further ahead on 30 minutes when Paul Day knocked in an easy chance from close in following a corner. Nick Bradley pulled one back for the home side when the Stanley defense failed to clear a corner, and they were unable to find the back of the net again to level the score.
A lone goal from a Scott Wilson penalty in the 28th minute was enough to give Bristol Academy the 3 points in their home fixture with Yate Town Reserves. The Academy have gained 7 points from the first 3 home games in the league but have yet to pick up a point on their travels. This defeat also condemns Yate to one from bottom in the table.
Thornbury Town pulled off a much need 3-1 win at home to Kingswood. It was the visitors who took the lead on 15 minutes volleyed home at the far post by Adam Eldridge. Nathan Irwin leveled on 25 minutes with a left foot drive into the top corner on the net. Just 2 minute later Town were in front thanks to a Luke Garbacz strike. Steve Alexanders cross come shot deceived everyone in the 40th minute and crept into the net to put Town 3-1 up before the break. Both sides then failed to increase their goal tally in the next 45 minutes.
Berkeley Town pulled off a surprise result with a 3-1 home victory over Chipping Sodbury Town. Paul Gunning gave the visitors an early lead after just 5 minutes and Berkeley took another 39 minutes before Sam Strickland leveled. Two further goals in the 65th minute from Ryan Stevenson and a strike by Nathan Freeman ten minutes later sealed the 3 needed points for the home side.
Tuffley Rovers entertained bottom Club Rockleaze Rangers who had failed to gain a point in their four previous games and with Tuffley starting the season well it looked a tough ask for the basement Club. With neither side unable to break the deadlock in the ninety minutes Rockleaze will be the happier as they came away with their first point of the season.
The game between D.R.G. Stapleton and Bishops Cleeve Reserves also failed to produce any goals and for the first 45 minutes it was a case of both teams closing each other down and giving very little space to create any chances to score. The earlier part of the game it was the visitor’s keeper who had more to do but mostly fielding over hit balls forward from the home side. Towards the end of the first half the visitors pushed the home defense hard but to no avail. Several openings were created by the home side in the second half and Ben Burrell twice found space to shoot at the target. The first a tame shot that Dan greenhouse collected easily but the second was a rasping shot from the edge of the box that struck the upright so hard it rebounded out for a throw in. The home side had a good chance when Joe Galsworthy turned and fired over the bar from just inside the box and then saw a second shot deflected out for a corner several minutes later. Cleeve almost snatched a late winner from a header that cleared Ashley Bryan but the ball spun just wide of the post. As the game drew to a close it would have been an injustice if either side had scored so a point each was a fair result.
27th August - Chipping Sodbury fight back to beat Bristol Academy
A minutes silence was held at every County League fixture today in memory of Referee Chris Young who sadly passed away last week.
Henbury go top of the table with a convincing victory over Thornbury Town with a hundred percent record.
Chipping Sodbury Town gained their third win on the trot with a 3-2 victory at home to Bristol Academy. Sodbury went close after just three minutes when Lloyd Harding’s header just cleared the cross bar. But it was Bristol Academy who took the lead after 8 minutes when a short corner on the right was played into Mario Mateus who brilliantly rounded two Sodbury defenders before firing the ball across the keeper Ed Mullins into the far corner a superb piece of individual skill. The next real effort from the Academy was a speculative shot in the 31st minute from Scott Wilson that just cleared the cross bar. Sodbury leveled a minute later when a free-kick wide out on the left was pumped into the box the Academy defense was unable to deal with it and Lee Smart hammered the ball home from close range. Two minutes later the home side had a great chance to take the lead when Dan Bendal picked up a loose ball on the right, cut into the box but as he shot keeper Kane Manning’s foiled the attempt. Bristol Academy took the lead in the 44th minute with a superb piece of individual skill from Scott Wilson who rounded the defender and then hit a 20 yard unstoppable shot past Mullins.
Action from Chipping Sodbury Town V Bristol Academy
Sodbury changed their tactics for the second half and realized that they had given the visitors too much space in the first 45 minutes and needed to tighten up. Lee Smart saw his 25 yard effort go just past the upright in the 48th minute and at the other end Bristol Academy’s Ibrahama Diallo almost netted a third when his shot was only half smothered by Mullins as it struck the post and went out for a corner. Sodbury were back in the game in the 51st minute when Lee Smart sent a through ball to Lloyd Harding to fire past Manning’s to make it 2 - 2. Sodbury then took the lead in the 55th minute as Dan Bendal broke down the right sent in a low cross to the near post where Alex Fox turned it past Manning’s. The Academy had to change their keeper in the 64th minute when Manning’s brought off a tremendous save pushing the ball over the bar but was injured in the process and had to leave the field. There was no further score and with two away games played the Academy have failed to gain any points.
Action from Chipping Sodbury Town V Bristol Academy
Henbury bounced back from their 6 – 1 defeat in the cup in mid-week and moved into top spot with a 4 – 0 home thumping against a poor Thornbury Town side at Arnell Drive. Billy George opened the scoring with a shot from the edge of the box after 20 minutes. Ten Minutes later they were 2- 0 up when Eddie Howell netted from a corner. They had to wait until the 75th minute before increasing their lead with the best goal of the afternoon, a long ball from keeper was headed on by Eddie Howell and new signing Dan Griffiths struck a superb 30 yard drive into the net. With just five minutes left on the clock Eddie Howells netted his second and the final goal from just inside the box.
Action from Chipping Sodbury Town V Bristol Academy
Cribbs Friends Life kept up their unbeaten start to the season with a 2 – 0 home win over Berkeley Town. Both teams had their fair share of the play in a goalless first half but Cribbs eventually took the lead on the hour when Dominic Graffagnino hit a 30 yard shot into the top left hand corner giving the keeper no chance. At this point Cribbs took control of the game and only some excellent goalkeeping by the visitor’s keeper kept them at bay. Cribbs wrapped up the three points up in the 88th minute when Graffagnino sent a through ball to Justin Cattle to fire in the second goal.
For the second week running Kings Stanley was involved in a high scoring game but this time they were on the receiving end after taking a 3-1 lead early in the second half Ellwood hit back to win the game 5 – 3. Ben Newman opened the scoring for Stanley in the 25th minute when he bent his free-kick around the wall into the top corner. Liam Gale then made it 2 – 0 with a cross come shot that drifted into the net. Right on half time Derek Roberts netted a 25 yard screamer to bring Ellwood back into the game. It was Stanley who took the early initiative when Lee Pritchard gave them a 3 – 1 lead. Then came the fight back from Ellwood. Matt Addis made it 3 – 2 in the 65th minute and minutes later scored again to level the score 3 – 3. Then Ellwood’s keeper Tim Yemm brought off a brilliant save from a penalty to deny Stanley taking the lead again. The home side had a great opportunity to take the lead in the 80th minute when they were awarded a penalty and Jamie Addis made no mistake from the spot. Ellwood wrapped the game up in the 87th minute with a fifth and final goal from Lee Scotford.
Action from Bishops Cleeve Reserves V Hanham Athletic
Image courtesy Peter Langley
Rockleaze Rangers remain on the bottom of the table without a point after going down 3 – 0 at home to Patchway Town. Neither side managed to find the net in the first 45 minutes but five minutes into the second half a cross into the box was headed out to the penalty spot where Mark Palmer performed an over head kick to give Patchway the lead. In the 70th minute Palmer was on the score sheet again this time the Rockleaze defense failed to clear and Palmer struck a half volley into the net. Patchway rounded the scoring off in the 75th minute when Matt Davis latched onto a long through ball and as the keeper advanced he lifted the ball over him and just under the cross bar.
DRG Stapleton carried on their good form from Wednesday’s Cup victory over Henbury with a 3 – 0 win at Taverners. Matt Maynard gave them the lead after just 9 minutes and the score remained that way until the 51st minute when Jay Belton made it 2 – 0. Ben Burrell was unlucky for the visitors when his shot struck the cross bar on the hour. The final goal of the game came in the very last minute when Matt Maynard sent over a corner that curled past everybody into the far corner.
Action from Bishops Cleeve Reserves V Hanham Athletic
Image courtesy Peter Langley
In a very uneventful at Kingswood a single goal was enough to separate the two teams. This went to the visitors after 35 minutes when John Oughtred netted from the penalty spot.
Bishops Cleeve Reserves continued where they left off in the league last week and took all three points in a slender 1 – 0 victory Hanham Athletic. The only goal of the game came when Paul Ireland netted in the 72nd minute. Prior to that Cleeve’s keeper Dan Greenhouse had saved a penalty in the 50th minute and both teams finished up with ten a side when Pocock for Hanham was dismissed in the 76th minute for a second bookable offence and Dan Gittings for the home side was dismissed with a straight red in the 86th minute.
Action from Bishops Cleeve Reserves V Hanham Athletic
Image courtesy Peter Langley
25th August 2011 - Les James League Cup Sponsored by Braley Business Systems
We shall have new finalist this season as both teams who reached the final last season were knocked out in the first round.
The biggest shock of the round was the 6-1 defeat that last years winners Henbury suffered at the hands of D.R.G. Stapleton.
On Monday 22nd August Bristol Academy took on Rockleaze Rangers at the Wise Campus at Filton. The home side took the lead through Rhys Davis but Carl Hart levelled for the visitors. Scott Wilson restored the lead for Academy midway through the second half with a brilliant 30 yard strike. Rockleaze sent the game into penalties two minutes from the end when a low cross into the six yard box was turned into his own net by an Academy defender. The final outcome was that Bristol Academy progress to the next round winning 4-3 on penalties.
Tuesday 23rd August there were three more games played in the competition.
Bishops Cleeve Reserves entertained Kings Stanley at Kayte Lane but after taking the lead through Gavin Garthwaite were eventually undone by a brace of goals from Stanley’s Andy Maryon.
Thornbury Town took a 1-0 lead into the break in their home tie with Chipping Sodbury Town with a goal from Dean Morgan, but the visitors hit back after the break to take the tie with a double strike from Darren Andrews.
Two of the teams who have started the season well Tuffley Rovers and Cribbs Friends Life were pitted against each other in this first round tie. Tuffley Rovers were the home side but found themselves trailing 2-0 with goals from Simon Bone and Nick Lloyd, but although they reduced the arrears with a strike from Ryan Parker they were unable to find another to take the tie into penalties.
Wednesday 24th August saw the final 4 fixtures in the first round and the shock of the night was the 6-1 drubbing Henbury (who are the holders) took at D.R.G. Stapleton. The visitors struggled throughout the game as the home side looked much sharper on the ball and when Henbury were in possession they never gave them any space. Five of the goals were scored by two players Joe Galsworthy netting a hat-trick and Ben Burrell netting two. Ben Burrell opened the scoring after 6 minutes with Joe Galsworthy making it 2-0 on nineteen minutes. Burrell scored his second five minutes before the break as the home side left the field 3-0 to the good at half time. Joe Galsworthy made it 4-0 after 56 minutes, but Henbury hit back three minutes later with a good strike from Aaron Anglin. Two further goals from the home side in the last five minutes from Karim Randall and a superb overhead kick from Joe Galsworthy in the 89th minute just about summed up Henbury’s night.
Ellwood must be kicking themselves for not progressing to the next round after taking a 2-0 lead at home to Berkeley Town with a gaol from Jamie Addis on twenty minutes and then Berkeley conceded an own goal fifteen minutes later to put the home side in the driving seat. Some sloppy play in the last fifteen minutes of the game saw Berkeley first pull a goal back through Tom Palmer on seventy five minutes and then Sam Strickland levelled five minutes later. With just five minutes left Berkeley grabbed the winning goal from a Ryan Stevenson strike.
Taverners were held 1-1 by Kingswood after ninety minutes with Dave Legg giving the home side the lead and Adam Harber netting the equaliser. With the game going into penalties it was Taverners who ran out victors 4-3.
Hanham Athletic and Longlevens failed to find a way through their defences in the ninety minutes as the final result of 0-0 sent the game in to penalties to decide who would progress. The eventual winners were Longlevens winning 5-4 from the spot kicks.
20th August - Bishops Cleeve head home from Thornbury with all three points
Some very high scoring games this week with no less than 4 hattricks from three of the teams. A double hattrick for Kings Stanley as they ran riot in the second half at Berkeley Town. A hattrick in the local derby Chipping Sodbury Town and Yate Town Res and a hattrick of headers from Bishops Cleeve Reserves at Thornbury Town.
There were eight goals in the game at Thornbury Town and there could have been more if Bishops Cleeve had brought their shooting boots. This was a game where the visitors almost opened the scoring in the first minute as Alex Lippiatt threw himself full length to keep out Joe Moggs drive from the edge of the box and from the resulting corner they struck the crossbar. It was the home side who took the lead after 5 minutes when Ross Irwin sent over a corner from the left then moved into the edge of the box picking up the ball and curling a tremendous shot past the helpless Dan Greenhouse. Six minutes later Thornbury went 2-0 up with a cracking thirty yard drive from the right side of the box across goal into the far corner from Dan Thompson. A minute later Pat Sayce should have pulled a goal back for the visitors but pulled his shot wide of the upright. He made up for that miss just a minute later when he picked up the ball on the edge of the box and with sheer pace and determination drifted past three town defenders before lifting the ball over Lippiatt to make it 2-1. Steve Thompson then saw his goal-bound effort from 20 yards pushed wide of the post by Greenhouse. In the 39th minute Christian Irwin gave away a free kick 35 yards out on the right that was curled into the box and Central defender Paul Ireland got in front of Lippiatt to steer the ball past the keeper with a glancing header. Ireland almost netted again from a free-kick but the header hit the inside of the post and was cleared away for a corner. From the resulting corner Cleeve took the lead when Ireland again got to the ball before Lippiatt to flick the ball home. Just before the break Ben Maguire almost made it four for the visitors as his 30 yard free kick went just wide of the upright.
Action from Thornbury Town V Bishops Cleeve Reserves
In the first minute of the second half Thornbury were level as Christian Irwin sent the ball to the far post where Dean Morgan volleyed the ball home from a very tight angle. The visitors regained the lead just a couple of minutes later when Dan Gittings headed home from a Ben Maguire cross. Thornbury were pushing forward to try to find an equalising goal and were caught on several occasions very thin at the back but the visitors failed to make their chances count until the 82nd Minute when they won a corner on the right and that man Paul Ireland got in front of everyone to glance his header past Lippiatt to complete a very well taken hattrick. Thornbury’s very last effort on goal came right at the end when Dean Morgan curled a free kick over the wall but it was well saved by Greenhouse.
Action from Thornbury Town V Bishops Cleeve Reserves
Berkeley Town suffered a heavy defeat at home to Kings Stanley trailing 2-1 at the break Stanley ran riot in the second half netting six goals without reply. Theo Stubbs gave Stanley the lead after just 4 minutes with Liam Gale netting a second on 20 minutes. Ryan Stevenson pulled one back for the home side on 39 minutes and that was the score at the break. Gale then gave the visitors a 3-1 lead after 50 minutes and then Lee Pritchard increased that lead on 62 minutes. Pritchard then scored twice more on 70 and 72 minutes to complete his hattrick and in the 81st minute Liam Gale grabbed his third to round off his hattrick. With just 4 minutes to go Andy Maryon completed the scoring and a very miserable day for Berkeley Town.
Action from Thornbury Town V Bishops Cleeve Reserves
Chipping Sodbury Town pulled themselves off the bottom of the table with a 5-1 victory over local rivals Yate Town Reserves. After conceding eight goals in their first two games it came as a welcome relief to get of the mark in this way. It was the visitors who took the lead after just 4 minutes when Tristan Ferguson scored from the edge of the box. Within 2 minutes the home side were level when Lee Gardiner set up Lee Smart foe the first of his three goals. Smart netted a second on 18 minutes to put the home side in front again it was Gardiner who set the move up. Darren Andrews then chested the ball down before driving the ball home for the third after 28 minutes and a couple of minutes later Alex Fox set up Lee Smart to grab his third. Alex Fox rounded the scoring off in the second half to send Yate home with yet another heavy defeat.
Ellwood recorded their first win of the season with a 4-2 victory over Kingswood. Jamie Addis opened the scoring for the home side after 8 minutes and Mike Nelson made it 2-0 on 25 minutes when Matt Addis cut the ball back into the box. In the 43 minute Derek Roberts shot took a deflection on its way into the net to make it 3-0, but a minute later Adam Harber pulled one back for Kingswood. Jamie Addis made it 4-1 on 65 minutes with a well taken free kick. Adam Harder got a second for the visitors from the penalty spot in the 90th minute.
Action from Longlevens V Henbury
Image courtesy Peter Langley
D.R.G. Stapleton recorded their first win of the season over Rockleaze Rangers who have dropped to the bottom of the table having failed in their first 3 games to secure any points. The winning goal came after 18 minutes when Joe Galsworthy’s header fell nicely for Matt Maynard to drive an angled shot into the net. Rockleaze had the ball in the net but it was disallowed for offside. Ashley Bryan brought of a good save just before the break to keep the home side in front. Rockleaze had a great chance to level but Aaron Day shot over from 8 yards. The home side should have made it safe late on when Ben Burrell had a chance but the visitors keeper foiled the effort/
Bristol Academy took a 2 goal lead against visitors Cribbs Friends Life but the visitors hit back to salvage a point. Scott Wilson gave the Academy the lead on 14 minutes and it remained 1-0 until the 64th minute when Wilson nette his second to put the home side two up. Within a minute the visitors pulled a goal back through Nick Lloyd and five minutes later Lloyd netted a second to level the score.
Action from Longlevens V Henbury
Image courtesy Peter Langley
Longlevens went down 2-1 at home to Henbury who recorded their third 2-1 win in succession. Ben Sandle was awarded the goal on 14 minutes to give the visitors the lead but it was a fortunate goal as the ball struck the crossbar before rebounding of the home keeper into the net. The home side hit back and Andy Trout saw his shot miss handled by the Henbury keeper as the ball crept through his legs and into the net. There was nothing lucky about the winning goal when Billy George cut into the box from the right and unleashed a left foot shot that flew into the top corner after 75 minute.
Patchway went down 3-0 at home to new leaders Tuffley Rovers Marcus Foxwell gave Rovers the lead 3 minutes before the break and 6 minutes into the second half took a 2-0 lead through Mark Wallington. Liam Harding netted the third after 76 minutes as Rovers start the season with three wins.
Hanham picked up a point with a 1-1 draw at home to Taverners. The visitors had taken the lead on 10 minute when Richard Davis netted from 6 yards. The home side had to wait until the 70th minute to level when James Shipman scored from the edge of the box.
Action from Longlevens V Henbury
Image courtesy Peter Langley
13th August - Tuffley start with win at Hanham
The opening day of the season saw two hat-tricks and a thumping good 5-0 win for Cribbs Friends Life over Yate Town Reserves.
I decided to take in the game at Hanham Athletic who had finished bottom of the table last season but has had a big change around during the summer months. Their opponents for today’s opening game were Tuffley Rovers who are always a difficult team to beat.
Hanham lost the game 2-1 but on this performance they will have a much better season than last. Their performance today should have earned them at least a draw but a silly mistake by in the 67th minute by keeper Dan Fletcher cost them dearly. Hanham had started the much better side and took the lead in the 13th minute when Tolo Taylor headed home a Rob Burton cross. Tuffley gradually worked their way into the game and leveled the score in the 20th minute with a free kick from the left that was sent over to the far post to be headed back into the centre for Ryan Parker to scramble the ball home. This lifted the visitors and they almost took the lead when Marcus Foxwell struck the crossbar from a free-kick in the 34th minute A minute before the break James Cole curled over a cross come shot that struck the crossbar and upright where they meet but bounced back into play.
Action from Hanham Athletic V Tuffley Rovers
In the first minute of the second half Tuffley almost gave away an own goal as the ball was floated into the box and an attempted header back to the keeper went past the advancing Perks on its way into the net, but somehow Kacey Johnson managed to clear of the line. Both teams had half chances to score in the next few minutes but they went begging Then came that mistake by Dan Fletcher failing to take what looked like a straight forward cross into the box and it bounced off the keeper to Richard James who very rarely misses the opportunity when place so close to goal and made no mistake to put Tuffley in the lead. The home side did rally and should have leveled in the 81st minute when Shaun Morris just eight yards out with a clear shot on goal hit across goal and Perks was able to fend the ball away for a corner. The home side should have at least shared a point each with their opponents but ended up with nothing.
Action from Hanham Athletic V Tuffley Rovers
Cribbs Friends Life are the leaders with a 5-0 thumping of visitors Yate Town Reserves. The highlight of the afternoon was a hat-trick from Simon Bone and he also had a hand in one of the other goals. Jack Kinnerly opened the scoring for the home side with a 25 yard drive in the 19th minute and four minutes later went 2-0 in front when a corner from Matt Shaunessy was misjudged by the Yate keeper and Bone was their to tap home his first of the afternoon.
Bone grabbed a second on 50 minutes again from a corner that was poorly cleared by the Yate defense. Simon Bone completed his hat-trick in the 85th minute when we rounded several Yate defenders and drove the ball home from just inside the box. A few minutes later Bone set up Nick Lloyd to net number five and complete a miserable afternoon for the visitors.
Action from Hanham Athletic V Tuffley Rovers
Patchway Town turned the tables on D.R.G Stapleton after going down 5-2 in the week in the Preliminary round of the Les James League Cup they went back to Frenchay in today’s league fixture and came away with a 3-0 win. All three goals were netted by Matt Davis he headed home a cross in the 30th minute and made it 2-0 right on half time with another headed goal. He then chipped the keper in the 80th minute to complete his hat-trick.
Action from Bishops Cleeve Reserves v Ellwood
Image courtesy Peter Langley
The two new teams to the league did not fare so well.
Kingswood took the 3 point against Bristol Academy and opened the scoring in the 25th minute when Josh Stokes hit an un-stoppable shot from 25 yards that flew into the top corner. The Academy made it 1-1 in the 56th minute when Mario Mateus broke through the home defense to fire home a low shot into the bottom corner. The home side grabbed all the points in the 80th minute when substitute Jamie Evans broke clear of the visitor defense and gave the visitors keeper very little chance to save.
Longlevens the other new team to the league were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Taverners. Dave Merrick curled a brilliant 25 yard shot past the visitor’s keeper five minutes before the break. This looked to be enough to win the game but Taverners had other ideas and Ollie Portlock latched onto a long through ball to level in the 87th minute.
Bishops Cleeve Reserves fell behind after 7 minutes to Ellwood when Derek Roberts 25 yard effort flew past the home keeper. The home side made 1-1 in the 52nd minute James Lock netting from 20 yards out. The visitors restored their lead in the 80th minute when Roberts netted his second from a very well taken free-kick. Ben Maguire saved the day in the last minute of the game when he also netted a free-kick fro 20 yards.
Action from Bishops Cleeve Reserves v Ellwood
Image courtesy Peter Langley
Chipping Sodbury found visitors Kings Stanley on top form going down 4-2 at home. Liam Gale opened for Stanley after 38 minutes with a shot from the edge of the box. Two minutes into the second half Alex Fox miscued his shot and Lee Smart drove the ball home to level. A minute later Town were behind again when Ben Newman netted from 12 yards. Adam Mercer solo run from the edge of his own box and a final shot that beat the home keeper gave the visitors a 3-1 lead after 52 minutes. Lee Smart then netted a second for the home side to bring the score back to 3-2 before Liam Gale netted his second in the 87th minute to give Stanley a well deserved wi.
Thornbury Town gained a very narrow victory over visitors Rockleaze Rangers with a goal from Nathan Irwin in the 80th minute. Just 5 minute before the goal Thornbury missed a penalty after Dan Morgan had been felled in the box. Dan Thompson took the spot kick but Sam Burgess brought of a great save.
Berkeley Town felt that they should have at least gained a point from this game but ended with nothing when they went down 2-1 at home to Henbury. Noel O’Sullivan put the visitors ahead after 28 minutes from the penalty spot. Aaron Anglin put Henbury 2-0 up on the hour mark. Town hit back in the 71 minute with a goal from Jamie Bennett and then hit the upright and the crossbar but could not find the goal they needed to level the score.
Action from Bishops Cleeve Reserves v Ellwood
Image courtesy Peter Langley
10th August - DRG Surprise Patchway in Les James Cup - sponsered by Brayley Business Systems
A hattrick from Ben Burrel saw D.R.G. Stapleton through to the 1st round where they will entertain the holders Henbury on Wednesday 24th August at Frenchay.
This was a very good result for the home side as only two players remain in the squad from last season. There has been a complete change at the Club with a new manager and almost a whole new squad.
D.R.G. Stapleton earned their right to be in the next round with a performance of non stop running and attacking play throughout the game.
They took the lead in the 12th minute when a mistake by the Patchway defence allowed Ben Burrell in to open the scoring.
Within 3 minutes Patchway were on level terms when 25 yards shot from Luke Drew completely deceived keeper Ashley Bryan.
The home side were back in front on 17 minutes after forcing a corner on the right the cross was headed home by Ben Burrell striking the inside of the post on its way in.
In the 51st minute a terrible attempt to pass back to his keeper by a Patchway defender let Burrell in to pick up the loose ball but he was brought down with a clumsy tackle by the visitors keeper for a definite penalty. Centre back John Lock stepped up to take the spot kick hammering it low into the corner of the net with the keeper going the wrong way.
Patchway got their selves back into the game in the 77th minute when Jordan Yeo hit an unstoppable 25 yard free kick past the bemused Ashley Bryan.
The home side sealed the game with two late goals in the 85th and 87th minute the first was another mistake by the visitors allowing Burrell a clear shot on goal from just inside the box and his bullet shot hit the back of the net before anyone could move. This completed his hattrick and a good all-round performance by the player on the evening.
The final goal came just two minutes later when a cross from the left was knocked into the box where Joe Galsworthy was on hand to head past the keeper.
An excellent result in their opening game of the season for the home side, who will face the same opponents on Saturday in the first League encounter of the new season.
Ron's Match Reports
9th August - Henbury begin defence of Les James Cup - sponsered by Brayley Business Systems
The season got under way in the David Wilson Homes Gloucestershire County Football League with a preliminary round match in the Les James League Cup.
Henbury the holders were drawn at home to Yate Town Reserves and went through to the first round proper with a comfortable victory in the end.
The result of this game could have been much different if the young and speedy side from Yate had taken their chance in a first half that belonged to them.
The Henbury defence were at full stretch to try and contain the constant attacks from the visitors as they pushed forward and frequently got behind the defence only to miss several opportunities to score.
The constant pressure paid off in the 30th minute when the home keeper made an awful mess of clearing up field and drove the ball straight to the unmarked Jake Jackson lingering on the edge of the box and the Yate player just pushed the ball passed the keeper to give them the lead.
All the danger for Henbury was coming down their right side and they were finding it very difficult to contain the nippy Yate forwards. But even with all the pressure from the visitors they failed to find the back of the net again.
Just before the break Henbury who had rarely ventured into the Yate 18 yard box came up trumps when Adam Rosser was given the opportunity to level the score. There looked to be an infringement on the Yate keeper but the Referee who was well placed gave the goal.
The second half was a complete transformation as the holders lifted their game and it was Yate who now found themselves on the back foot.
In the 57th minute a cross into the box saw Noel O’Sullivan head the ball back across goal past the outstretch hands of the keeper.
Seven minutes later the home side took a 3-1 lead when a long free kick from way inside the home sides half looped over the Yate defence and skipper Eddie Howells lifted the ball over the keeper.
The home side were well on the way to defending the trophy they won at the end of last season and rubbed salt in the wound when they netted a fourth goal with just a couple on minutes left on the clock.
Ben Sandle broke down the right sent over a superb cross that was headed down for Gary Clark to drive into the roof of the net.