MARCLIFF Gloucestershire County Football League

Ron's Match Reports

28^th September 2013 - Kings Stanley leave it late to salvage point

There were three hat-tricks today a rare occasion. Chris Fower of Frampton United hit a second after netting three last Saturday, whilst Lee Allen got three for leaders Gala Wilton and Dave Merrick of Longlevens got the third.

Gala Wilton stay top with a convincing 5-0 win over Bristol Telephones – Longlevens remain in second after their 6-3 win over Hanham Athletic.

At the bottom of the table five of the bottom six picked up points with only Berkeley Town failing to gain any. Thornbury Town gained their first point at Henbury.

Kings Stanley v Bishops Cleeve Reserves produced 6 goals in a 3-3 draw, but it might have been a much different score-line if Kings Stanley had taken their early chances. The home side created three scoring chances in the first seven minutes of this game the first of which came after 4 minutes when Jake Davies got clear of the home defence but with just Greenhouse to beat he pulled his shot wide. Liam Gale then got to the bye-line down the left and his low cross into the six yard box was missed by everyone, Nathan Buckland was clear on goal a minute later but shot straight at the keeper. Against the run of play Cleeve took the lead in a rare venture into the Stanley box Elliot Kennedy lobbed the ball over the home keeper Gale. In the 17^th minutes Jake Davies hit the upright from a free kick 20 yards out. Stanley levelled on 27 minutes when Nathan Buckland controlled the ball well on the edge of the box to guide the ball past Greenhouse. Stanley took the lead on 39 minutes after Grennhouse’s goal kick went straight to Jake Davies and he fired his shot goalwards, Greenhouse parried but Buckland following up, got the ball into the net.

Second half the visitors improved and looked to get forward much more and Gale had to be at his best to prevent Kennedy’s shot going in. Cleeve got a second goal on 64 minutes when Neil Goodwin powered his header past Gale following a corner from the right. Cleeve went 3-2 up on 66 minutes with a brilliant piece of skill from Tim Arnold who picked the ball just inside the home teams half powered forward into the box and drove a low shot past Gale. Cleeve had the chance to make it four in the 88^th minute as sub Josh Carroll stole the ball on the edge of the box and then saw his shot cannon off the upright. Chris Parson had another great chance for Cleeve that would have given them the three points on 90 minutes. Stanley got out of jail in time added when their own substitute Brad Moore scored to give them a point.

Gala Wilton thumped five into the Bristol Telephones net without reply. The opening goal came on 3 minutes when Brett James was impeded in the box and Lee Allen netted from the spot. Allen should have scored again on 27 minutes but fired wide of the target. A second goal from the home side came in the 37^th minute with a cross shot from Brett James into the far corner. Right on half time the home side went 3-0 up from a long ball pumped up field by home keeper Ollie Hall and Lee Allen picking the ball up to run at the visitors defence before driving the ball home. The visitors improved after the break and Hall had to be at his best to keep them out. Telephones were awarded a penalty in the 60^th minute after Greg Artus handled, but Hall saved Luke Palmers spot kick to keep a clean sheet. The visitors were reduced to 10 men soon after as keeper Chris Blammon was dismissed for a second bookable offence, Mike Grist taking over in goal. Lee Allen’s shot from the edge of the box in the 82 minute put the home side 4-0 up. Two minutes later Telephones were reduced to 9 men when Luke Palmer was shown a straight red. Mike Grist then saved a penalty to deny the home side fifth goal but that came in the very last minute from Luke Halliday chipping the keeper.

Longlevens bounced back from their defeat last week with 6-3 home victory over Hanham Athletic. The home side went into the break with 5-0 lead with a hat-trick from Dave Merrick and one each from Elliot Sausman and Craig Martin. Hanham hit back in the second half and pulled the score back to 5-3 with a penalty from Shaun Morris on 65 minutes. Craig Stone then scored again for the visitors and a header from Adam Grinter on 72 minutes rocked the boat. The home side knuckled down and made the game safe in the 80^th minute with a header from Dave Rich.

Thornbury Town are relieved after gaining their first point of the season at Henbury. No goals in the first 45 minutes and then Henbury went ahead ten minutes in to the second half from a headed goal from Joe Love following a Ben Sandle corner. Thornbury equalised in the 80^th minute from a long ball up field that caught the home defence out and Danny Thompson chipped the ball over the home keeper.

Bristol Academy recorded their third point of the season with a 1-1 draw at Kingswood. Adam Eldridge gave Kingswood the lead on 35 minutes with 30 yard screamer, but the same player then gave away a penalty in the 70^th minute to allow Marcus Thatcher to level from the spot.

A tough encounter at Southmead CS Athletic where local rivals Patchway Town made the home side work really hard for the 1-0 win to secure the three points. The winner came in the 70^th minute as Rob Sivers sent Danny Glancy clear down the right and he hammered the ball past the visitor’s keeper. The home side introduced James Batt into the game from their under 18s side and he almost got a second but for a superb save by the Patchway keeper.

Chris Fower set up Dan Huxstep to open the scoring at Frampton United where Ellwood were the visitors. Fower then netted a second for the home side on 21 minutes after being set up by Steve Jackson. Two late second half goals from Fower a header on 80 minutes and a 25 yard drive on 86 minutes capped a good afternoon for both Chris Fower and Frampton United.

Chipping Sodbury Town v Yate Town Reserves is certainly a local derby with the Clubs only situates about a couple of miles apart. There were two early goals the first going to the home side scored by Alec Cummings after 6 minutes. The lead did not last long as James Kenway netted the equaliser from the penalty spot. Danny Coombes gave Sodbury a 2-1 lead on 43 minutes and then Yate hit back with a second penalty on 65 minutes after Luke Maby handled in the box. This time Tom Smallman netted from the spot.

Rockleaze Rangers gained their second win of the season with a 3-2 victory over Berkeley Town Three goals came for the home side in the space of 4 minutes in the first half. The opener scored by Oshane West came on 25 minutes with a second straight from the kick-off from West again. A third on 29 minutes from Sam Andrews put the home side into a comfortable 3-0 lead. Rich Reece scrambled a goal for Berkeley in the 35^th minutes and they scored a consolation goal in the 90^th minute a stab in by Paul Brooks.

21^th September 2013 - Keepers on top as Rockleaze and Hanham draw

Gala Wilton are the new leaders after their 1-0 win at Bishops Cleeve Reserves. Longlevens slip to second place on goal difference after suffering their first defeat of the season going down 1-0 at Patchway Town

Henbury move into third with a 4-3 victory at Bristol Telephones.

At the other end Thornbury Town are still bottom without a win after a 2-1 home defeat by Kingswood.

The game between Rockleaze Rangers and Hanham Athletic ended all square at 0-0 mainly sue to some excellent goalkeeping by both goalkeepers and some poor finishing by both sides. Rangers were the better side in the first half and put together some very good passing movements on their way to goal, but that is where it ended on the edge of the box as the visitors defence were in no mood to give anything away. The first real effort on goal came from the home side on 14 minutes when Hanham keeper Fletcher pushed Ed Freeman’s goal bound shot over the bar. Iggy Garcia was put clear down the right from a superb Freeman pass on 20 minutes and he sent a low cross into the box where Adil Alime blasted the ball over the bar with a clear sight on goal. Freeman had a great chance to give the home side the lead on 24 minutes but he chipped his free kick from the edge of the box over the bar. Hanham’s first real effort on 35 minutes fell to James Shipman who gained a yard on his marker but then pulled his shot wide of the target. Two minutes before the break Fletcher pulled off a great save to stop Adil Alime 25 yard drive from going in.

12 minutes into the second half Freeman had a clear sight of the Hanham goal but skied his shot over the bar. Hanham looked a different side in the second half and pushed up more giving themselves better opportunities and 20 minutes into the half only two excellent saves by home keeper Sam Burgess denied them a goal. At the other end Dan Fletcher kept his side in the game when he pulled of a save to deny Nathan Bryer and then watched the rebound fall to James Willott whose shot went agonisingly wide of the far post. In the 71^st minute Shane Budding split the visitors defence with a pass that sent Nathan Bryer to the by-line but his cross into the box was stabbed away by a Hanham defender. Rockleaze regained their momentum that had served them so well in the first half and only a double save from keeper Fletcher saved the day for the visitors. First he punched the ball away from Sam Andrews shot and then parried the rebound fired goal-wards by Shane Budding. The miss of the afternoon came in the 87^th minute as Budding bore down on the Hanham goal and then pulled his shot wide of the far post.

A seven goal bonanza at Bristol Telephones with visitors Henbury coming away with the points and a 4-3 result. Henbury went ahead after 15 minutes from a great overlapping run from left fullback Craig Davis firing Henbury into the lead from the edge of the box. Five minutes later the score was level as Henbury failed to clear their lines and Jack Fillingham stabbed the ball home. Aaron Anglin restored the lead for the visitors on 50 minutes latching onto a long ball rounding the defender before slotting the ball home. The home side drew level five minutes later when Ben Griffiths scrambled the ball over the line. Aaron Anglin put the visitors back in front on 70 minutes with a scrappy goal, but Telephones levelled once again five minutes later picking up a loose ball punched away by Henbury’s keeper and Danhi Golding made no mistake. Henbury grabbed all three points in the 85^th minute when Aaron Anglin broke into the box and was brought down giving them the chance from the penalty spot. Craig Davis stepped up to take the spot kick and netted his second of the afternoon and the winner.

A goal on 30 minutes for Patchway Town was enough to seal Longlevens first defeat of the season. John Pugsley’s goal-bound effort was sliced into his own net by Dave Rich. Longlevens best effort came in the 60^th minute from Ryan Dunn whose mazy run took him passed several defenders before unleashing a shot that struck the corner of the goal post and bar and fell straight into the arms of home keeper James Kaminski. Longlevens piled on the pressure for the last ten minutes but the home side hung on for the win.

Berkeley Town lost their way again this week as they crashed to a 5-1 home defeat to Frampton United. Frampton went ahead on 25 minutes as Chris Fower latched onto a long ball over the home defence to put them 1-0 up. Dan Huxstep increase the visitors lead two minutes later heading home from a corner. Sam Strickland pulled a gaol back for the home side in the 77^th minute, but when home keeper Miles Palmer brought down James Power in the box on 83 minutes the visitors took a 3-1 lead as Chris Fower netted his second of the afternoon from the spot. Two late goals by the visitors rounded off a good afternoons work. Chris Fower completed his hat-trick on 87 minutes and two minutes later Jamie Power netted the fifth.

Thornbury Town have had their worst start to a season since they joined the league. They fell to their ninth defeat of the season going down 2-1 to visitors Kingswood. There were no goals in the first 45 minutes although the home side did strike the bar and the upright but nothing seams to go in at the moment. Lee Williams gave Kingswood the lead followed by a second from Gavin Dibden The home side did eventually get on the score sheet when Toby Bennett netted from the penalty spot late on.

Ellwood ran out comfortable winners in their home game with Chipping Sodbury Town, but at 3-2 midway through the second half it could well have been a different story. Daryl Addis gave the home side the lead after 5 minutes and Mike Nelson made it 2-0 on the half hour with a headed goal. Sodbury went 3-0 down on 50 minutes after Tom Creeds shot was only parried by the visitor’s keeper and Derek Roberts followed up to score. Ten minutes later Sodbury pulled a goal back from a Kyle Ford strike and then Jason Bradford made it 3-2 on 70 minutes. Then two goals in the space of a minute a John Bowdler header on 85 minutes and a second on 86 minutes from Lee Scotford spelt the end for the visitors.

Gala Wilton have overtaken their closest rivals Longlevens to move to the top of the table on goal difference. The one goal difference came at Bishops Cleeve Reserves where it took a last minute penalty from Lee Allen after Brett James had rounded several defenders to break into the box before being felled. The first half belonged to the visitors and they missed a hatful of chances. Cleeve had a fifteen minute spell in the second half and could well have taken the lead, but they failed to find the back of the net.

Kings Stanley’s visit to Yate Town Reserves was worth while as they emerged with a 3-0 score-line and 3 points to help their move up the table. Ben Newman gave them the lead on 38 minutes but then had to wait a further 30 minutes before Nathan Buckland made it 2-0. A Steve Robertson goal three minutes from the end rounded it off.

14^th September 2013 - Telephones snatch late win at Kingswood

Longlevens win 2-1 at home to Bristol Academy to remain top. Gala Wilton continue to chase the leaders with 4-1 win over Yate Town Reserves. At the bottom Berkeley Town move off the bottom with a 2-1 win at Chipping Sodbury Town leaving Thornbury Town at the foot of the table without a point so far this season.

Kingswood v Bristol Telephones the first meeting of the two clubs ended in a 2-1 win for the visitors but this result could have been a home win after they had taken the lead in the 55^th minute. The first half failed to produce any goals but it did produce many chances for both teams. Gavin Dibden hit the target after 1 minute but it was saved by Chris Blammon then Ryan Mudd got behind the visitors defence only to see his cross into the box missed by everyone. At the other end Lewis Rudge had Chris Fox at full stretch to keep the ball out. Then minutes later Kingswood were clearing off their line after Fox had parried a header from Ben Griffiths. Fox was now the busier of the two keepers as he did well to push Jack Fillinghams shot around the post. Lee Williams then saw his cross skim across the visitors six yard box with nobody able to get on the end of it. Jim Crossfield broke into the telephones box and then had his shot blocked and out for a corner. Two minutes before the break Paul Bleaken’s shot struck the upright for the home side.

Telephones almost took the lead in the 47^th minute as Chris Misir got on to a good cross into the box but directed his header wide. Kingswood did take the lead in the 55^th minute from a long ball out of defence by Adam Eldridge that caught the visitors defence out and Ed Pitt was unmarked out on the right as he collected the ball cut inside and drove the ball across Blammon into the far corner. It looked as though the home side were going to hang on to their slender lead but then Telephones struck twice inside 4 minutes to grab the points. The first was a great drive from Ben Griffiths from just inside the box on 88 minutes and the second came two minutes into time added on a cross from the left was knocked in by Martin Blacker.

Berkeley Town moved off the bottom of the table with a 2-1 victory at Chipping Sodbury Town. Sodbury got off to a poor start as Berkeley took the lead after 16 minutes with 20 yard shot from Chris Andrews. The visitors made it 2-0 on 62 minutes when Paul Brooks lobbed the keeper. The home side then started to play and pulled a goal back on 70 minutes through Karl Reese, but even though they were on top for the rest of the game they could not find a second goal.

Frampton United had to come from behind twice to secure the three points. Rockleaze took a 19^th minute lead when a free kick that was parried onto the bar by the home keeper but Ed Freeman was on hand to head the rebound home. The home side levelled on the half hour with a goal from Chris Fower. The visitors went 2-1 up on 47 minutes an almost identical goal to the first and again it was Ed Freeman on hand to head home. Freeman then received a red card for a bad tackle leaving the visitors in the lead but down to ten men. Steve Jackson levelled for Frampton on 73 minutes and Chris Fower grabbed his second on 82 minutes to give Frampton the win.

Gala Wilton opened the scoring against visitors Yate Town Reserves with a Brett James penalty on 23 minutes. Ryan Hughes volleyed home a second on 36 minutes for a 2-0 lead, but Yate hit back on 44 minutes with a Ben Royall strike. Craig Harris volleyed home a Brett James cross on 56 minutes to put the home side 3-1 up and Sub Joe White netted the fourth in the 78^th minute.

Patchway Town took a 3-0 lead at Hanham Athletic with Matt Davis netting after 90 seconds. John Pugsley made it 2-0 on 50 minutes and with fifteen minutes left Phil Vice put the visitors well in control. Hanham hit back with two late goals in the last 5 minutes the first from Darren Burt on 85 minutes and a final strike from James Shipman right on time.

Kings Stanley’s first home game of the season ended in a 1-1 score-line. Stanley went ahead on 8 minutes from a cross come shot from Andy Roberts that deceived the visitor’s keeper dropping into the far corner of the net. Ellwood had the chance to level on 12 minutes from the penalty spot but it was brilliantly saved by Ashley Gale. Gale was in great form as he again kept the visitors at bay in the 20^th minute. The equalising goal came in the 30 minute from a free kick on the edge of the area struck home by Derek Roberts.

Leaders Longlevens made hard work of this 2-1 victory over Bristol Academy who showed plenty of character and skill in patches throughout the game. The game was won by two goals scored by Brad Bernard in the first 45 minutes. Good Play from Brad Martin on 25 minutes set up Bernard for his first an easy tap in. Then Bernard chested the ball down and turned to drive a second home on 35 minutes for a 2-0 lead at the break. The visitors were much better in the second half and the last 15 minutes of the game saw the home side on the back foot. The Academy did eventually find a way through right on 90 minutes with a shot on the far post that beat both keeper Underwood and defender Ed Smylie on its way in.

Southmead’ CS Athletic’ 4-2 victory over Thornbury Town got their form back on track but other results on the day sent Thornbury to the bottom of the table. Thornbury started really well and took the lead with a Steve Thompson goal from six yards on 4 minutes. It took the home side another 26 minutes to draw level with a thirty yard shot from Gary Booth. Luke Coghlan’s shot from the edge of the box put the home side in front five minutes later A Pete Fowler header on 61 minutes pulled the score back to 2-2, but it only lasted 7 minutes as Luke Mills finished off a three man move to put Southmead 3-2 up. A second goal form Luke Mills on 82 minutes again a really good build up and really well finished off.

7^th September 2013 - Yate and Bishops Cleeve share eight goals

There was no action for the top teams in the league today due to the GFA Challenge Trophy Round 1 being played. There were four fixtures played in midweek that were affected by this draw. Henbury were the only movers up the table into third spot taking the place of Southmead CS Athletic who were heavily beaten at Bristol Telephones.

Today’s fixtures brought the two Reserve teams - Yate Town and Bishops Cleeve together and what a cracking game that turned out to be. The 28 spectators present witnessed eight goals that were shared and loads of near misses as well. Yate’s speedy left winger Jack Parker was the first to get a shot on target after 2 minutes that was well saved by keeper Dan Greenhouse. We then had a period of seventeen minutes where both sides had equal possession but did little with it. Parker always looked dangerous and broke down the left to the by-line before squaring the ball back across goal only to see it scrambled away by the Cleeve defence. Cleeves first sight on goal came in the 19^th minute from a corner that was headed over by Neil Goodwin. With 21 minutes played Yate took the lead with a rasping shot from Scott Robson that was parried by Greenhouse but Robson followed up to score. Cleeve who generally used the long ball for most of the game against the passing game that the home side had adopted levelled the score in the 34^st minute from a set piece. A free kick out on the right was lifted into the box by Josh Carroll and Will Pugh got on the end of it to head the visitors level. Jordan Rogers saw his goal-bound shot pushed around the post by Greenhouse on 40 minutes, but then 2 minutes later Rogers beat the visitor’s keeper with a great shot from the edge of the box. Cleeve were back on level terms on 44 minutes when James Bayliffe turned in a James Vercesi cross.

The second half turned out to be more exciting than the first as Jordan Rogers shot from the edge of the box thudded past the Cleeve upright but just the wrong side. Another great chance went begging for Yate in the 52^nd minute as Parker fired wide from six yards. Parker caused Cleeve a few problems as he again broke free down the left, but his superb cross was wasted as the Yate forwards failed to get on the end of it. Yate took the lead again in the 62^nd minute from a low cross into the six yard box by Scott Robson that Joe Guest turned in. Three minutes later Cleeve drew level again as a 25 yard punt up field that found James Bayliffe to dink the ball over keeper Glen Murley from the edge of the box. Yate had several more good shots that went very close, while at the other end they had to clear the ball off the line on two occasions. Bishops Cleeve took the lead for the first time in the 81^st minute from a great bit of skill from James Vercesi who chased the ball wide down the right cut back inside and drove a fierce shot at goal that Murley could not hold on its way into the net. Yate hit back on 84 minutes to make it 4-4 when Scott Robson bundled home a Jason Henley corner.

Bristol Academy v Hanham Athletic also produced eight goals with the final score in favour of the visitors by five goals to three. The Academy took the lead on 31 minutes from a free kick after Marcus Thatcher was fouled on the edge of the box, Mason Winter curling the ball over the wall into the corner of the net. Hanham drew level five minutes later after the home defence went missing allowing Adam Grinter an empty goal to score. The visitors took the lead on 59 minutes Ryan Hughes following in from a James Shipman shot that came back off the post. Three minutes later the Academy made it 2-2 Dave Sims-Burgess sent Toby Waterman clear to score. Hanham got the noses in front just two minutes later from a cross to the far post where Adam Grinter was waiting unmarked to head home. The home side drew level once again in the 84^th minute this time it was Toby Waterman who set up Dave Sims-Burgess to fire home. Hanham took the three points with two late goals in the 87^th and 89^th minute the first a lob over the keeper by Billy Hodge after he had been put clear on goal and the final goal was netted by Tolo Taylor turning home a cross from the right.

Rockleaze Rangers gained their first win of the season with a slender 1-0 victory over Chipping Sodbury Town. Not a lot happened in the first 45 minutes, but the home side brought on Shane Budding for his first outing since picking up an injury at the end of last season. Budding definitely made the difference as he struck the visitors crossbar on two occasions in the 60^th and 67^th minutes and then finally beat the visitors keeper in the 77^th minute when he stole the ball off a Sodbury defender before firing the ball past George Hale. Sodbury staged a late rally and Alex Fox went close in the 87^th minute but the home side hung on for the win.

Berkeley Town remain seated on the bottom as they were again beaten for the seventh league match in a row. The visitors today were Kings Stanley who went away with the three points with a 2-0 win. Paul Day gave Stanley the lead from close range following a free kick on 32 minutes and Stanley scored a second five minutes from the end when Jake Davis ran onto a through ball to score.

Patchway Town fared a little better at Frampton United this season coming away with a point from a 1-1 draw. Matt Cook gave the home side the lead with a left foot drive after 28 minutes, but Patchway’s John Pugsley levelled the score with a shot into the top corner on 62 minutes.

In the GFA Challenge Trophy Round 1 Ellwood progress to the next round with a 2-0 win over Bristol Telephones. On target for the home side were Matt Addis on 40 minutes and a second goal from Mike Nelson in the second half sealed the win. Telephones let themselves down badly with three players being dismissed.

In the other game Gala Wilton are through to the next round with a 2-0 victory over Thornbury Town. Both goals being scored by Lee Allen.

Match Report Archive