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Ron's Match Reports

31st March - Longlevens head for League Cup Final

Just four league games to report on this week, along with the second Semi-final of the Les James League Cup.

Tuffley Rovers have completed their fixture for the season this being an unusual event in football for a club to finish all their fixtures by the end of March.

Tuffley’s win over Chipping Sodbury means that they will finish third in the table and Chipping Sodbury Tow will now finish rock bottom.

The top two teams were not in league action today.

The Final of the Les James League Cup will be contested on Sunday 29th April between Cribbs Friends Life and Longlevens who today defeated Bristol Academy 3-1 at Sawmill End Gloucester. The game which was originally scheduled to be played at Filton was switched due to Bristol Academy’s facilities being unavailable. The Academy will be ruing a missed penalty that would have put them ahead for their downfall.

For the first 10 minutes of the game both sides were finding their feet with the Academy trying to get the ball on the ground whilst the home side preferred the longer ball game. Nathan Rose went close for the visitors on 11 minutes with a shot from the edge of the box that went just past the post. At the other end Lee Blackmore was just wide for Longlevens with their first attempt on goal. Craig Martins shot in the 19th minute just cleared the crossbar for the home side and then Dominic Stewart almost opened the scoring at the other end as his left foot shot squeezed over the bar. In the 25th minute Bristol Academy had a great chance to go in front when a cross into the box from McCormack was handled by Dave Merrick for a penalty. Malik Jammeh stepped up to take the penalty but failed to beat Lee Martin who stood his ground in the centre of the goal and Jammeh hit a weak shot straight at him. Longlevens Brad Martin then saw his goal-bound effort deflected for a corner and at the other end the Academy wasted yet another good chance to forge ahead. The deadlock was almost broken in the 41st minute as it took a very fine punched clearance from Academy keeper Matt Hyslop to clear their lines. The opening goal came a minute before the break when Ryan Dunn headed home from yet another in swinging corner from the right.


Action from Longlevens V Bristol Academy
Action from Longlevens V Bristol Academy
Image courtesy Peter Langley

Longlevens started the second half with a vengeance and went 2-0 up in the 47th minute as a ball threaded through to Craig Martin was really well controlled before slipping the ball through for Ryan Hughes to go clear of the visitors defense to drive the ball past Hyslop. The home side piled more pressure on and should have scored again but somehow the Academy defense scrambled the ball away. In the 53rd minute Nathan Rose had a clear chance to pull a goal back for the visitors after Malik Jemmeh had crossed to the edge of the box but Rose shot wide. A few minutes later another effort from Rose was really well saved by keeper Lee Martin. Mario Mateus who had come on as a substitute missed a golden opportunity to score for the Academy in the 61st minute lifting his shot high over the bar when right in front of goal. However Mateus made up for that miss in the 64th minute as he latched on to a defense splitting pass to round keeper Lee Martin and running the ball into an empty net. The home side sealed the game in the 78th minute when Ryan Dunn headed home a long free kick sent into the visitor’s box by Steve Jenkins.


Action from Longlevens V Bristol Academy
Action from Longlevens V Bristol Academy
Image courtesy Peter Langley

Rockleaze Rangers mini run came to an end when they were well beaten by four goals to two at home to D.R.G. Stapleton. The signs were there after just 10 minutes as visitor’s striker Ben Burrell missed a good opportunity to give them the lead. They did however open the scoring on 30 minutes when Ashley Hudd beat the offside trap to run clear and drive the ball home. Two minutes later they went 2-0 up as Ben Burrell scored after a dreadful error in defense by the home side. Two minutes into the second half Cory Simpson struck the corner of the bar and post, but it was the visitors who went further ahead in the 55th minute Ben Burrell netting his second when he headed home at the far post from a corner. Cory Simpson reduced the arrears in the 60th minute with an exquisite lob over the keeper. The visitors hit back almost immediately with a Liam Planter goal to make it 4-1 and then Cory Simpson got his second of the afternoon in the last minute of the game to make the final score 4-2 to D.R.G.

Taverners were the better side throughout there home game with Hanham Athletic but despite their domination they could only manage a single goal in 90 minutes. It came after 70 minutes as Freddie Latchford got onto a long ball knocked over the visitors defense to fire the ball home.


Action from Longlevens V Bristol Academy
Action from Longlevens V Bristol Academy
Image courtesy Peter Langley

A single goal was enough to settle to score between the two Reserve sides in the league. Bishops Cleeve got the only goal of the game after 30 minutes as Liam Scott hit a right foot volley into the Yate net. Harleigh Williams kept the home side goal in tack just before the break with a goal-line clearance. In the second half Nick Rhodes missed a good chance to put the home side two up and in the 75th minute Jordan Greenwood shot wide for the visitor’s a chance that could have given then a point.

Tuffley Rovers have finished their season and went out with a bang as they defeated basement club Chipping Sodbury Town 4-1 at Glevum Park. The visitors took the lead in this game after 26 minutes as Justin Bishop broke from the halfway line and saw his shot well saved by the home keeper but the rebound fell nicely for Bishop to net at the second attempt. Shane Bradley leveled the score on 31 minutes with a shot that crept inside the post as the visitors keeper dived over the ball. The home side went into the break with a 2-1 lead after Mark Ford netted with a looping shot on 44 minutes. Shane Bradley made it 3-1 in the 52nd minute after some good build up play from Mark Ford and Courtney Hamilton. The fourth goal was a little fortuitous and was scored by Kacey Johnstone a 40 yard drive that was completely misjudged by the visitors keeper letting the ball slip through his hands and into the net.


Action from Longlevens V Bristol Academy
Action from Longlevens V Bristol Academy
Image courtesy Peter Langley

24th March - Cribbs beat Berkeley to reach League Cup Final

With Cribbs Friends Life playing in the semi-final of the Les James Cup, this gave Henbury the opportunity to go top if they could they win at Thornbury Town. They came away with a 2 – 0 win and are now the new leaders.

At the bottom of the table a local derby clash between Yate Town Reserves and Chipping Sodbury Town ended with a slender 1 – 0 victory to the home side leaving Sodbury with an almost impossible task of getting out of the relegation zone.

Cribbs Friends Life reached the final of the Les James League Cup competition at the fourth attempt when they came away with a 2 – 0 victory at Berkeley Town. They had previously reached the semi-finals on three occasions in the past but had been defeated in all of them.

This was the first time Berkeley Town had reached the Semi-finals of the Les James League Cup and although they fielded a weakened side on the day they accredited themselves well. Cribbs opened the game strongly and were only denied a certain goal in the very first minute as Tony Beecham’s shot from just inside the box was superbly saved by the home keeper Ewan Prentice. The visitors continued to press and Nathan Lumbers cross from the left was hooked away over the bar by a Berkeley defender. Berkeley’s first attempt on goal came after 10 minutes from Tom Palmer who shot from the edge of the box and went just wide of the post. Cribbs took the lead in the 14th minute with a superb piece of football as Tony Beecham’s defense splitting pass found Simon Bone 30 yards out and as he entered the box he rounded Prentice before firing into an empty net. Tom Palmer was again just wide of the target for the home side in the 18th minute with a shot from the edge of the box and it was Palmer again in the 27th minute who this time got his shot between the posts but failed to beat Turner. Cribbs should have made it 2 – 0 in the 32nd minute when Beecham again split the home defense to find Simon Bone on the edge of the box but this time he shot wide of the target. In the 41st minute it was Beecham’s turn with a lob on goal that just dropped over the bar and a minute before half time Prentice brought off a brilliant save as he tipped the ball over the bar after Nick Lloyds header looked a goal all the way.


Action from Berkeley Town V Cribbs Friends Life
Action from Berkeley Town V Cribbs Friends Life
Image courtesy Peter Langley

The second half saw a lot of midfield play with neither side creating any chances on goal. Berkeley’s weakness up front was evident as they only managed one shot on target through out the half. In the 80th minute Cribbs made a double substitution bringing on Justin Cattle and Tom Burns with Beecham and Bone being replaced, this moved certainly worked for the visitors as in the 83rd minute Justin Cattle latched onto a defensive mistake and neatly lobbed the ball over Prentice to make it 2 – 0.

78 spectators turned up at Thornbury Town to see them lose their second successive home game going down 2 – 0 to Henbury. This win by the visitors lift them back to the top of the table a point clear of Cribbs Friends Life who have a game in hand. Two goals from Aaron Anglin who also missed a penalty was enough to take all three points.

Yate Town Reserves win the local derby over Chipping Sodbury Town by 1 – 0 and with games in hand look as though they could hall themselves out of the bottom two which their present form suggests. The only goal came after 10 minutes when Paul Dempsey put Ashley Hawkins clear to fire past the Sodbury keeper. Yate were well in control in the first half and there were chances missed by Paul Dempsey, Ashley Hawkins and Jack Parker that could have given them a comfortable half time lead. In the 70th minute Yate did have a chance to go 2 – 0 up when Parker was brought down in the box but Ibrahima Sarr struck the cross bar from the penalty spot.

Longlevens 3 – 1 defeat of Kingswood puts them in good stead for their up and coming Les James League Cup semi-final next Saturday against Bristol Academy. The home side took the lead after 15 minutes when good play by Ryan Hughes was finished off by Dave Merrick from 8 yards. Andy Trout had a great chance to put them 2 – 0 up but missed the target and at the other end Ryan Mudd also missed a great chance to put Kingswood level. The visitors however drew level in the 38th minute when Lenard Miller cut in from the left his shot was parried by Lee Martin but Adam Harber was on hand to drive the ball into the roof of the net. The home side re-took the lead in the 50th minute when Ryan Dunn broke down the left and crossed into the box where Lee Blackmore was waiting to head home. Longlevens then made it 3 – 1 in the 70th minute as Trout latched on to a mistake in the visitors defense and drove the ball home from 20 yards. Kingswood’s Tom Higgins who had come on as a substitute was unlucky when his shot stuck the cross bar in the 85th minute.


Action from Berkeley Town V Cribbs Friends Life
Action from Berkeley Town V Cribbs Friends Life
Image courtesy Peter Langley

Bristol Academy finished their home fixtures with a 4-2 victory over Taverners. They opened the scoring in the 13th minute when Malick Jammeh crossed from the left and Mario Mateus drove an unstoppable shot into the top corner. They went further ahead in the 27th minute when a good passing movement allowed Jake Jackson to finish from close in. Three minutes before the break they scored again this time Ben White’s free-kick was headed back across goal and finished off by Malick Jammeh. In the 67th minute Taverners pulled a goal back from a Rich Davies free-kick that was finished off by Tom Burridge. The home side then went 4 – 1 head as Malick Jammeh chipped the visitors keeper from the edge of the box. Taverners came back in the 75th minute when Matt Spring’s free-kick was headed home by Rory Gardiner.

Rockleaze Rangers entertained high-flying Tuffley Rovers knowing that a win was essential to keep them free of the relegation zone. They managed to do this with a 2-1 victory. Richard Bray hit an 18 yard bending shot into the top corner after 40 minutes to put the home side ahead. Three minutes later visitors keeper Perks pushed the ball round the post from a Shane Budding shot. In the second half Rovers drew level in the 50th minute when the home side gave away a penalty and Shane Bradley scored from the spot. Tuffley should have taken the lead in the 82nd minute as Warren Mann found himself with a one on one situation but drove his shot passed the upright. From the goal-kick Rockleaze broke to the other end and Shane Budding drove a fierce shot through a crowd of players for the winning goal.

A 2 – 2 draw between Kings Stanley and Ellwood was a fair result according to a Stanley Spokesman. For the first 15 minutes the home side were on top and opened the scoring when Andy Maryon’s cross from the right deceived the Ellwood defenders but Ben Newman was on hand to score from ten yards. In the 20th minute Newman was put clear and with a one on one situation should have scored but hit his shot wide of the target. Ellwood drew level in the 32nd minute with a cross to the far post which was headed home by Mike Nelson. Ellwood took the lead in the 70th minute with a break-away down the right that was squared back into the box for Matt Addis to finish off. Stanley made it 2-2 in the 75th minute when Ross Casey played in Ben Newman to score his second of the afternoon.

A local derby between Patchway Town and DRG Stapleton ended in a slender 1 – 0 victory for the visitors. In a game which the home side never really got going the winning goal came in the 70th minute when a cross into the box was met by Hannin Romadine who fired his shot into the top corner.


Action from Berkeley Town V Cribbs Friends Life
Action from Berkeley Town V Cribbs Friends Life
Image courtesy Peter Langley

Hanham Athletic 1 Bishops Cleeve Reserves 1 was the final score at Vicarage Road, with both goals coming in the first 45 minutes. Cleeve took the lead after 7 minutes with a good build up that Mike Sholly finished off. The Hanham goal came after 35 minutes when Jason Burt netted from the penalty spot. The visitors had a player sent off in the second half and finished the game with ten men.

17th March - Kings Stanley win in the rain

Cribbs 3-0 win over Rockleaze Rangers put then two points clear at the top of the table having leap-froged last weeks leaders Henbury who were not playing today. Tuffley Rovers suffered a second successive home defeat this time going down 3-1 at the hands of Yate Town Reserves. This puts Rovers 3 points behind the leaders, who have a game in hand.

We visited Kings Stanley this week to watch a mid-table fixture, Taverners being the visitors. At half-time heavy rain set in and continued throughout the whole of the second half. Just before the rain there were 70 spectators around the ground but only 7 spectators braved the second half from the side of the pitch, the rest took refuge in the Clubhouse. The rain which was very heavy started lying on the pitch as the half progressed but fair play to both sets of players and the match officials the game was completed.

The first 24 minutes of the game never produced any real scoring chances the first coming in the 25th minute a shot from Nick Humphries that was deflected away for a corner. A minute later Ben Newman went close for the home side with a shot that was just wide of the upright. The opening goal came on 38 minutes and what a terrific goal it was, a long ball up the middle found Newman who managed to gain a half a yard on central defender Paul Jennings and fired a tremendous shot from 20 yards past Ward into the roof of the Taverners net. The Taverners forwards struggled to break through the home defense and were limited to several long range efforts that either went wide or over the bar and several free kicks that amounted to nothing.

2 minutes into the second half the home keeper was really tested for the first time with a shot from just inside the box. In the 52nd minute Taverners gave away a free kick 35 yards out on the left of the box which was struck with venom by Luke Barstow straight at keeper Jeremy Ward who dived to keep the ball out but unfortunately was unable to hold on to it and Ben Carman was on hand to score from close range. Tom Burridge saw his powerful header well saved by Stanley’s custodian Pete Davies after 69 minutes and it was down to Davies again in the 81st minute to deny Burridge again as the two players met the ball at the same time the keeper grabbing it at the second attempt. Taverners were unlucky in the 85th minute as the ball ran loose towards goal but the wet pitch held it up and it was eventually cleared off the line. This was a welcome win for Stanley who have struggled with results at home most of the season.

Cribbs Friends Life leading goal-scorer Simon Bone completed a hat-trick to send his side to the top of the table. Bone opened the scoring after 20 minutes when the visitors failed to clear the ball just outside the 18 yard box and striker hit a 25 yard shot into the roof of the net. The home side had to wait until the 70th minute for Bones second which was equally impressive as he latched onto a long ball before driving home from the edge of the box. The third in the 80th minute was rather more fortuitous as his quick feet stabbed the ball home following a goalmouth scramble.

Tuffley Rovers seem to be throwing away their chance of winning the title with a second successive home defeat. Lowly Yate Town Reserves inflicted the disappointment this week going away with 3 well deserved points. Rovers took an early lead after 5 minutes when new signing CJ Thomas scored. That lead did not last for long as Scott Cousins netted an equalizing goal for Yate just 2 minutes later. Then a double from Tristan Ferguson in just 5 minutes in the second half gave the visitors a much needed win. The first came in the 52nd minute from the penalty spot after Ferguson was brought down in the box and then converted the ensuing penalty. Then in the 62nd minute Ferguson latched on to a long ball to drive home a low shot into the bottom corner.

Kingswood came from behind to gain a 2-1 home win over Ellwood. Gavin Dibden saw his shot on the turn after 25 minutes strike an Ellwood defender before hitting the upright and out of play. 1 minute before the break Ellwood took the lead as Adam Eldridge was adjudged to have handled in the box and Derek Roberts stepped up to dispatch the spot kick past Fox. Then right on half time Kingswood leveled Lenard Miller nipped past to defenders before crossing the ball for Simon Clark to fire a dipping shot into the visitors net. 2 minutes into the second half Lenard Miller hit the cross bar. The home side nudged in front in the 62nd minute as Simon Clark hit a 30 yard free kick past the visitor’s keeper. A few minutes later Kingswood almost got a third goal but Adam Harbers header struck the upright. This win eases the worry of finishing in a relegation position.

Thornbury Town’s inconsistency has been a problem for them this season. After a great result at Tuffley Rovers last week they succumbed to a 3-1 home defeat by Hanham Athletic. Hanham took the upper hand after 35 minutes and proceeded to score three goals in just 5 minutes. Jamie Shipman netted a brace, with Callum Gardiner notching the other. In very heavy conditions in the second half Thornbury did manage to pull a goal back through Steve Alexander but were unable to find the back of the net again.

Bishops Cleeve Reserves and Patchway Town were unable to muster a goal between then in 90 minutes of football. The nearest anyone came to scoring was the home side in the 25th minute when Paul Ireland should have scored but headed wide from 6 yards after Jamie Lock had sent over a great cross .

10th March - Kingswood win basement battle at Chipping Sodbury

All change at the top once again with Henbury on top after their draw at Bristol Academy. Tuffley Rovers drop to third after suffering a home defeat to Thornbury Town. Cribbs Friends Life move into second spot with a comfortable win at home to Kings Stanley.

At the other end of the table Chipping Sodbury Town drop into bottom place after losing at home to Kingswood whilst Yate Town move off the bottom with home win over D.R.G. Stapleton.

We visited the Ridings today to watch two teams that have been hovering around the foot of the table for sometime. Chipping Sodbury Town were desperate for a win and Kingswood needed to gain the points to help them move up the table. Unfortunately for the home side they went down 1-0 in a game that was definitely shaded by the visitors. It was Kingswood who showed the early promise of a goal in the early stages with a shot that went just over the bar and a second effort blocked in the six yard box. Sodbury’s first shot on goal came from Lee Gardiner his 20 yard strike being pushed over the bar by keeper Chris Fox. In the 26th minute Simon Clark’s shot just drifted over the bar for Kingswood and a minute later Adam Harber was clean through but shot straight at Mullins. A minute later Kingswood took the lead after a long ball up field was met by Lenard Miller who neatly slid the ball past Mullins. The home side were struggling to break through the Kingswood defense and it was the visitors who almost scored again in the 35th minute Adam Harber’s header went just over the bar. Sodbury had a great chance to level in the 37th minute when Dan Bendall was clear on goal but his shot was brilliantly smothered by Fox and away for a corner.


Action from Chipping Sodbury Town V Kingswood
Action from Chipping Sodbury Town V Kingswood

Jimmy Potts was just wide of the post 2 minutes into the second half and a minute later Kingswood’s Paul Eldridge came to the rescue when he headed off the line. Gavin Dibden then headed wide of the post for the visitors and a free kick from Simon Clark was headed over by Adam Harber Mullins then brought off a good save to deny Sam Deacon and midway through the half Adam Harber’s shot was cleared off the line by Sodbury. Sodbury struggled to create any real good chances and Mark Totterdale’s 20 yard effort went over the bar. In the last few minutes Ryan Mudd had a great chance to increase the lead for Kingswood but pulled his shot wide.

Henbury go back to the top of the table with a 3-3 draw at Bristol Academy. Henbury were 3-1 up at one stage but the home side pulled it back level in the very last minute. Eddie Howell’s header gave Henbury a 1-0 lead at the break, then in the 55th minute the home side drew level when Nathan Rose capitalized on a mistake by the Henbury keeper. Henbury retook the lead in the 62nd minute as Eddie Howell headed a long cross into the box back across goal for Gary Clark to coolly head home. Four minutes later the visitors took a 3-1 lead again it was Eddie Howell heading his second of the afternoon. The Henbury keeper again failed to take the ball cleanly in the 70th minute and Alex Fox was on hand to drive the ball home. The Academy salvaged a point in the very last minute when Mario Mateus was put clear to bring the score level.

Cribbs Friends Life won their home game with Kings Stanley quite comfortably in the end but have to endure a goalless first 45 minutes. A hat-trick from Nick Lloyd in the second half made up for that. His first came after 70 minutes from a header and the second was just three minutes later when put clear on goal to score from twelve yards. Simon Bone nipped around a defender in the 78th minute to add number three, and Nick Lloyd completed his hat-trick in the 82nd minute from a Nathan Lumber cross that went over the defense and Lloyd chipped the keeper from 20 yards.


Action from Chipping Sodbury Town V Kingswood
Action from Chipping Sodbury Town V Kingswood

Tuffley Rovers came a cropper with a 2-1 defeat at home to Thornbury Town and dropped them into third place in the table. Dean Gorman put through his own goal in the 22nd minute to give Thornbury the lead, then two minutes later the home side were trailing 2-0 from a Steve Alexander strike. Mark Ford pulled a goal back for the home side in the 44th minute but there was no further score and Thornbury will be delighted to have taken all three points.

Rockleaze Rangers helped to ease their worries at the wrong end of the table with an excellent 4-1 win at Longlevens. All five goals came in the second 45 minutes and the highlight was a Shane Budding hat-trick. He opened his account after 62 minutes but then the home side were reduced to ten men in the 68th minute when Andy Trout got himself sent off. Budding netted his second on 73 minutes with a lob from the edge of the box. Then the home side pulled a goal back in the 76th minute through Jake Ellmore who was making his debut for Longlevens. Cory Simpson put Rockleaze 3-1 in front in the 80th minute and Cory Simpson set up Shane Budding to complete his hat-trick in the 87th minute.

Yate Town Reserves move off the bottom of the table with 2-1 win at home to D.R.G. Stapleton. Yate took the lead in the very first minute with a cross from the right that was driven home by Jordan Greenwood. The visitors hit back in the 6th minute when Ashley Hudd drove home a low cross into the box by Pocock. The home side retook the lead in the 35th minute from a free kick on the edge of the box that was set up for Ibrahima Sarr to drive low shot into the bottom corner. D.R.G Stapleton were unlucky not to level after striking the upright on three separate occasions in the second half but the home side held on for the win.


Action from Chipping Sodbury Town V Kingswood
Action from Chipping Sodbury Town V Kingswood

Ellwood’s 1-0 defeat at home to Taverners will almost certainly have dented their chance of winning the title. It remained goalless in the first 45 minutes but a Craig Hughes goal on 70 minutes was enough for the visitors to take all three points.

Patchway Town went down 3-1 at home to Hanham Athletic after taking a 20th minute lead through Jordan Yeo. Callum Gardiner leveled the score for Hanham, but then Patchway were reduced to 10 players in the 28th minute as Keith William received his marching orders from the referee. Darren Burt gave the visitors the lead on 35 minutes and Craig Stone wrapped up the points for Hanham in the 75th minute.

Berkeley Town scored in the very first minute and time added on at the end to gain a 2-1 victory over Bishops Cleeve Reserves. James Mackie’s cross come shot after just 30 seconds gave Berkeley the lead and the game was fairly even until the 67th minute when Mike Sholly lobbed the home keeper from the edge of the box to level the score. Sam Strickland grabbed the winner in time added, turning home a low cross into the box by Mike Reece.


Action from Chipping Sodbury Town V Kingswood
Action from Chipping Sodbury Town V Kingswood

3rd March - Rockleaze and Ellwood in hard fought draw

No change at the top of the table as the top three all win, whilst fourth place Ellwood lose ground with a draw.

It was a tough game at the Coombe Dingle Complex where Rockleaze Rangers and Ellwood fought their way to a 1-1 draw. Both teams finished the game with 10 players as Savas Frangoullis was dismissed for the home side in the 77th minute for a really bad challenge on Ellwood’s Derek Roberts and three minutes later Ellwood’s Jamie Addis was also dismissed after picking up a second yellow card. The home side started brightly and forced a corner in the 2nd minute but it was cleared by Ellwood. At the other end Matt Addis broke clear on the right and sent over a great cross but Gary Wildin was just unable to reach it as it sped across goal. Cory Simpson brought the best out of Ellwood keeper Tim Yemm and from the resulting corner sent over by Richard Bray. Jack Rivers headed against the cross bar. Shane Budding robbed Ryan Pendry on the halfway line and cut into the centre before unleashing a shot from the edge of the box that went straight into Yemms arms. Within a minute Ellwood had a great chance to open the scoring after Gary Wildin got behind the home defence but Aaron Day made good ground to just put Wildin off as he shot. Another cross into the Rockleaze box was not cleared and with a clear shot on goal Gary Wildin could not believe his luck as a home defender some how managed to get a foot to the ball and deflect it out for a corner. Rockleaze had the ball in the net in the 26th minute as Aaron Day headed past Yemm but it was disallowed for an infringement. Yemm was in action again as he fended of a Cory Simpson shot in the 33rd minute, but a minute later Rockleaze went in front as Jack Rivers swiveled in the box to volley the ball past Yemm, The Ellwood keeper was certainly the busiest in the first 45 minutes as Cory Simpson again found space for a shot that the keeper parried away for a corner. Jamie Addis almost pulled the score level five minutes before the break but his point blank header was brilliantly saved by home keeper Nick Adams.


Action from Rockleaze Rangers V Ellwood
Action from Rockleaze Rangers V Ellwood

Two minutes into the second half Gary Wildin unmarked on the far post headed over the bar from 6 yards. The pitch had dried out and it was very difficult to control the ball at times and in the 69th minute a mistake in the home defense allowed Jamie Addis to net the equalising goal for Ellwood. Then came the two sending offs and in the last ten minutes of the game both sides were caught pushing forward to try and grab the winner. Shane Budding’s free kick went just over the bar for the home side and Matt Addis’s shot was cleared off the line for the visitor’s.

Tuffley Rovers remain top of the table after their 4-0 win over local rivals Longlevens The home side went ahead on 30 minutes when Shane Bradley netted from the penalty spot after Mark Wallington had been brought down in the box. Six minutes later they went 2-0 up after Warren Mann seized on a mistake by the visitors keeper to score into the roof of the net. Two minutes before the break the home side scored a third Shane Bradley turning in the box and driving the ball home through the legs of the keeper. Kacey Johnstone made it 4-0 after 67 minutes when he headed home a Warren Mann cross. In the 78th minute Tuffley gave a home debut to 16 year old Jordan Cooper who is a prolific goal-scorer in their youth team.

Cribbs Friends Life took the lead at Kingswood when Nick Lloyd turned in the box and hit an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net after 7 minutes. The home side hit back in the 22nd minute when Adam Harber’s curling shot struck the cross bar and was pushed away by the keeper but Ryan Mudd headed into the net to level. Kingswood went in front in the 35th minute as Gavin Dibbden’s lob dropped over the keeper and into the net. In the 42nd minute Kingswood keeper Chris Fox brought off the first of his two penalty saves of the afternoon as he brilliantly saved Nick Lloyds spot kick. Right on half time the visitors drew level from a goalmouth scramble with Simon Bone getting the final touch. In the 70th minute Fox again made a tremendous save this time from a Simon Bone penalty, but just two minutes later Cribbs grabbed a winner as substitute Tom Burns found the back of the net.


Action from Rockleaze Rangers V Ellwood
Action from Rockleaze Rangers V Ellwood

Henbury failed to break down the visitors Chipping Sodbury Town until the 50th minute when Jack Mills set up Eddie Howell to score. Within five minutes the home side went 2-0 in front from a 25 yard strike from Adam Rosser. Aaron Anglin completed the scoring on 65 minutes when he headed home a Kris Sage cross.

Yate Town Reserves closed the gap at the bottom of the table with a 2-1 win at Kings Stanley. Ibrahima Sarr gave the visitors the lead after 10 minutes, but a few minutes later Liam Gale missed a golden opportunity to level. Right on half time Yate broke away down the right and Sarr netted a second to give them a 2-0 half time lead. Tom May pulled a goal back on the hour when he netted a Ben Newman free kick. The home side pushed hard for the equalising goal but it was not to be.

Thornbury Town were beaten 2-0 at home by local rivals Patchway Town with both goals coming in the first 45 minutes. Thornbury were on the attack and lost possession and a long ball found Matt Davis who burst through the home defence to slot the ball home. The second goal came in the 39th minute from a break down the left and a shot that struck the upright before being scrambled about in the box before Brandon Benjamin finally stabbed the ball home. Thornbury had the better of the second half but failed to penetrate the visitor’s defence.


Action from Rockleaze Rangers V Ellwood
Action from Rockleaze Rangers V Ellwood

Bishops Cleeve Reserves took a three goal lead in their home game with Bristol Academy but were surprised by two late goals from the visitors. Ben Maguire opened for the home side from the penalty spot after 21 minutes; Jamie Lock had been brought down in the box. Nick Robinson’s goal-bound header was nicked over the line by Ben Rhodes in the 40th minute. Jamie Lock made it 3-0 in the 83rd minute from a free kick and it looked as though the home side were well on their way to a win, but the Academy struck with their first goal on 85 minutes from Alex Fox and made it 3-2, in the 89th minute, a powerful header from Jemal-Akeem Williams.

D.R.G Stapleton ran out 3-0 winners over Hanham Athletic. A double strike from Liam Planter the first on 45 minutes from a goalmouth scramble and a second on 65 minutes again it was scrambled home by Planter. Liam Powell netted the third right on time with a shot from the edge of the box.

Taverners gained a slender 1-0 victory over Berkeley Town with the only goal of the game coming in the 60th minute from a Freddie Latchford strike. Earlier in the first half Matt Spring missed a good chance after being put clear on goal, he shot wide. Berkeley’s Tom Patterson brought a good save out of home keeper Jeremy Ward and just before the break Matt Spring missed another good chance to give the home side the lead. It was Paul Jennings’s long ball up field that found Latchford to give the home side the three points


Action from Rockleaze Rangers V Ellwood
Action from Rockleaze Rangers V Ellwood