MARCLIFF Gloucestershire County Football League

Ron's Match Reports

28^th February 2015 - Bristol Telephones ease to victory over Hanham

Chipping Sodbury hang on to top spot with a draw at home to Kings Stanley, whist Cheltenham Civil Service back in league action this week take the three points at Bishops Cleeve Reserves to move into second place.

No change at the bottom of the table as all three teams lost.

Bristol Telephones who have scored 96 goals this season beat local rivals Hanham Athletic 3-0 but it should have been a much bigger score-line if the home side had converted numerous chances throughout the game. Phones Luke Palmer shot over the bar after surging into the box on 5 minutes. A minute later Hanham’s Mark Johns got his shot on target but it went straight to Will Osborne in the home goal. After 11 minutes phones were in front the ball was hit into the box Dhani Golding pushed it forward for Aaron Mcquaid to draw the keeper and slide the ball home. Hanham’s Shaun Morris got his 30 yard drive on target but it was not good enough to beat Osborne. In the 18^th minute Fletcher just managed to push Mcquaid’s shot wide of the post. Then Dhani Goldings shot was deflected of a Hanham defender onto the bar. The best effort from the visitor’s came in the 23^rd minute a shot from Shaun Morris that had Osborne diving to his right to stop the shot going in and then had to be quick to gather the loose ball. The visitors defence were leading a charmed life as Fletcher again pushed a Dhani Golding header over the bar. In the 38^th minute Martin Blacker had a great chanced to make it 2-0 but fired his shot over the bar from 12 yards.

The second half continued in the same vein with Luke Palmer’s shot went just over the bar in the first minute. Telephones went 2-0 up on 51 minutes when the visitors were caught out just inside their own half and Dhani Golding covering 40 yards before rounding Fletcher to score. Fletcher had to be at his best when he turned away a 30 yard shot from Jack Cox. Hanham barely threatened the home goal and a rare shot from Morris in the 60^th minute told the story. Golding should have made it 3-0 on 54 minutes when Kyran Hunt broke clear down the left squared the ball to Golding but the striker was to casual and pulled his shot wide. In the 73^rd minute a long ball from keeper Osborne was misjudged by the Hanham defence and Aaron McQuaid ran clear to steal the ball away from Fletcher and slide it into an empty net. The home side just kept pressing but they were unable to add to their tally. An unsavoury incident a few minutes from the end saw both sides finish with ten men.

Cheltenham Civil Service gained a 2-0 victory at local rivals Bishops Cleeve Reserves gaining revenge for their only defeat of the season so far. A cross come shot from the edge of the box by John Evans put the visitors ahead after 20 minutes. A second in the 70^th minute from Paul Holmes made sure of the three points.

AEK Boco’s opener came in the 20 minute with good work from midfield and Jordan Scott setting up Ben Menear for a well worked goal. A second for the home side on 33 minute with a superbly placed 25 yard free kick curled in by Liam Powell. Ellwood’s chances were rare and in the 67 minute they gave away a penalty which was coolly netted by Liam Powell for his second of the game. The visitors hit back to score a consolation goal in the 75^th minute a superb solo strike by Daryl Addis a left footed shot that curled into the net.

Henbury went behind to a Simon Clark penalty after 15 minutes at home to Kingswood, but hit back with two second half goals to win the game. Kane Simpson bent his shot around the keeper in the 55^th minute to level and a cross field ball found Shaun Heal to set up Jack Mills to score the winner late on.

Thornbury Town lacked the punch of the last few weeks and could only manage a draw at home to Southmead CS Athletic who gave the home side plenty to think about on the day. A goalless first 45 minutes was broken very early in the second half by the visitors with a cross into the box that found Danny Tomlin to drive the ball into the far corner. Town’s Luke Franklins 30 yard shot struck the top of the cross bar on 55 minutes and Darren Coghlan had a great chance to put Southmead two up in the 65^th minute. Town got the equaliser on 75 minutes a corner that was headed out and fell to Franklin whose shot was blocked but Mark Viner stabbed the ball home from the rebound. Southmead found themselves under the cosh for the last 10 minutes when they lost Ben Roe after picking up a second yellow card.

Gala Wilton took the three points at home to Yate Town Reserves but they had to wait until the last 15 minutes to score the two goals that won them the game. A through ball to Lee Allen gave him the chance to put the home side one up but the keeper saved his shot and the rebound fell kindly for Ben Jones to drive the ball home. In the 80^th minute it was Allen involved again as he sped towards goal only to be upended in the box for a penalty. Allen took the kick and made no mistake.

Berkeley Town are in real trouble after getting hammered 6-1 at home to local rivals Frampton United. The home side got off to a great start taking the lead on 22 minutes when Ben Gillison turned in a long free kick. Within a minute Frampton levelled with a goal from Chris Fower. A Kris Bulley shot from the edge of the box put the visitors 2-1 up after 39 minutes and a minute later the visitors were 3-1 up when Richard Reece put the ball into his own net. Just before the break Frampton increased their lead to 4-1 when Chris Fower netted from the penalty spot. Two further goals from Radford Hogben in the 55^th and 79^th minute put the final nail in the coffin for the home side.

Patchway Town’s were unable to repeat their win at Kings Stanley last week after going down 4-2 at home to Rockleaze Rangers. Rangers got off to a great start on 20 minutes when Alex Fox’s 25 yard unstoppable shot fizzed past the home keeper, but within 2 minutes Town were level with a very special 30 yard screamer from Brandon Benjamin. A James Griffiths header put the visitors back in front before Town levelled again when Tallen Smith rose to head home a Tom Stewart cross. A missed penalty by Alex Graham on 62 minutes cost the home side dearly as 8 minutes later Griffiths netted his second to put Ranger in the lead. The home side were caught out again in time added when Tobias Hart scored a forth for Rangers.

Chipping Sodbury hang on to top spot after they were held to a 0-0 score-line at home to third in the table Kings Stanley. Stanley defended very well and soaked up anything that came at them. According to the report neither side deserved to win this game

21^st February 2015 - Chipping Sodbury win at Ellwood to top table

New leaders again this week as Chipping Sodbury Town head the pack with a win at Ellwood. Kings Stanley’s defeat at home by Patchway Town drops them to second place, whilst Cheltenham Civil Service won through to the Les James League Cup Final.

Berkeley Town’s lose at Hanham Athletic see them go further behind on points, but Patchway Towns success puts them above Bishops Cleeve Reserves who are now second from bottom.

Our travels this week took us to the Forest of Dean where Ellwood played hosts to Chipping Sodbury Town. The visitors came away with a 3-0 win but it could have been different if only the home side had not missed a penalty when the visitors were only 1-0 in the lead. Sodbury were much sharper for most of the game and took the lead in the 12^th minute when Josh Cann slipped the ball through to Ollie Clark to drive the ball past Tim Yemm. A couple of minutes later Yemm pulled off a great save to deny Josh Cann giving the visitors a 2-0 lead. Ellwood’s first effort on goal after 21 minutes was a shot from Darryl Addis from just outside the box that went way over the bar. The visitors almost got a second from a corner that Yemm failed to punch clear but the final finish went past the post. Both Coombes and Mackie had chances to put the visitors further ahead but both fired over the bar.

Sodbury started well in the second half and for the first 5 minutes had the home side on the back foot. A free kick from Ellwood wide on the right almost brought a chance to level but the final shot was weak. The home side started to show a bit more determination and Darryl Addis laid the ball back for Derek Roberts whose 25 yard shot went just wide. A break up of another Ellwood attack in the 57^th minute almost brought to visitors a second goal as the ball was pumped up field and Danny Coombes latched on to the ball just inside the visitors half and sped towards goal and unleashed a low shot across Yemm that left the keeper wondering as it went just the wrong side of the post. The home side had there best spell soon after this and had a great chance to level the score when Matt Addis was brought down in the box for a penalty. Ryan Pendry was nominated to take the spot kick but hit it to close to keeper George Hale who dived to his right to push the ball away. The home side’s confidence sagged and Sodbury started to take the upper hand and a great run from Ben Weaver saw the striker slip past a couple of defenders only to see his shot blocked by Steve Blaby at the last moment. A minute later Sodbury went 2-0 up with a superb pass from Ollie Clark that split the home defence and enabled James Mackie to slide the ball past Yemm. Sodbury made sure of the points in the 79^th minute as Ben Weavers cross from the left was driven home by Sam Jenkins. This defeat for the home side was the 7^th on the trot and drops them dangerously close to the relegation zone.

Surprise of the day was at Kings Stanley who were 2-1 defeated at home by Patchway Town. Stanley got off to a flying start going ahead after 5 minutes with a cross come shot from Luke Barstow. Patchway were reduced to ten men on 25 minutes when Simon Knight was dismissed. This did not seem to deter the visitors as they drew level in the 40^th minute when Phil Vice headed home from a corner. Stanley were not playing well and a couple of saves from Ashley Gale kept them in the game. The home side were undone in the 85^th minute from a free kick knocked into the box and squeezed home by Ashley Hawkins.

Thornbury Town inflicted a second defeat on Bristol Telephones only this time it was a league match, the other the Les James League Cup earlier in the season. Town took the lead on 21 minutes from a break down the right set up by Mark Viner whose pass found Danny Thompson to send the ball across the 6 yard box where Craig Lancastle was waiting to slip the ball home. Things were made easier for the home side after Ryan Webber was dismissed in the 30^th minute for a careless tackle. Thorns went 2-0 up on 35 minutes from a Luke Franklin corner to the far post where Nathan Sage headed home unchallenged. A third goal just before the break put the home side in command Josh Pirie heading home after the ball had been headed back across goal. Thorns went 4-0 up on 60 minutes as Lancastle brought down Danny Thompsons cross before driving the ball home. The home side lost their concentration and let Phones back into the game when Lippiatt misjudged the flight of the ball from an Adam Gregory corner. Dhani Golding netted a second when he turned in the box before hitting the top corner of the net.

Yate Town Reserves had to come back from a 2-0 deficit to earn themselves a point at home to Henbury. The visitors went 1-0 up in the very first minute of the game with a goal from Aaron Anglin and then went further ahead in the 25^th minute from a Jack Mills free kick from the edge of the box. Yate pulled a goal back on 32 minutes when Scott Cousins rose way above the visitors defence to head home a long free kick. The home side were on level terms a minute into the second half this time Scott Cousins headed the ball down for Josh Beddis to score.

1-1 was the final score at Frampton United where the visitors today were AEK Boco. Frampton’s Chris Fower went close in the 6^th minute but his shot just cleared the bar. Joe Wilton also went close for the home side but his header went just wide. Boco’s Ben Menear had a great chance on 35 minutes but his effort was well saved by the home keeper. Frampton went into the break with a 1-0 lead after Chris Fower netted from a corner on 44 minutes. Boco salvaged a point in the 86^th minute when Darren Werrett stabbed the ball home in a goalmouth scramble. Frampton almost stole the points in the very last minute but Joe Wilton’s header was well saved by Pople.

Just a single goal for Rockleaze Rangers was enough to take all three points in their home game with Bishops Cleeve Reserves. In a game that lacked chances and on a very heavy pitch Luke Flickers clever back heal in a goalmouth scramble in the 30^th minute gave Rangers the lead. Cleeve offered very little and never really looked like scoring throughout the game.

Berkeley Town looked to be in real danger of finishing bottom after yet another defeat at Hanham Athletic. Marc Johns poked the ball home on 35 minutes to put the home side in front. A brilliant run by Jack Baber on 55 minutes and a great finish from the edge of the box made it 2-0.

Southmead CS Athletic led twice at Kingswood but eventually went down 3-2. Luke Coghlan gave the visitors the lead after 4 minutes when he turned in the box and hit a shot that went in of the inside of the post. The home side levelled the score on 15 minutes when Frank Hitchings turned in a cross from the right. Danny Glancy then gave the visitors the lead on 30 minutes when he rounded defender Eldridge and drove the ball home. Simon Clark had a great chance to level for Kingswood in the 40^th minute but his penalty hit the upright. Ryan Mudd made up for that right on time at the end of the first half when he was put clear on goal to level again. A Frank Hitchings header from a free kick in the 70^th minute gave the home side the lead and the 3 points.

The first Semi-final of the Les James League Cup between Cheltenham Civil Service and Gala Wilton at Tewksbury Road ended in a 2-2 draw after 90 minutes with the outcome being decided from the penalty spot. Cheltenham who have had a great season in the County League so far will take their place in the final after winning 6-5 on penalties. Paul Holmes headed the home side into the lead after 5 minutes, but Gala were soon level when Cheltenham’s Chris Pates put the ball past his own keeper. Teejay Bick restored the lead for the home side 3 minutes before the break from the penalty spot. A 67^th minute goal from Gala’s Sam Hicks brought the scores level again and with neither club being able to settle it in normal time penalties ensued.

14^th February 2015 - Rockleaze fight back to draw at Gala Wilton

With league leaders Cheltenham Civil Service out of action today we have a new leader in Kings Stanley after their win at Ellwood. Chipping Sodbury were held to a draw at home to Frampton United and are now level on points with Cheltenham but have played four games more.

No change at the bottom of the table but there is a five point gap between Berkeley Town on the bottom and Patchway Town who are a place above them.

Our travels took us to Gala Wilton who were hosting Rockleaze Rangers. On a very bumpy pitch the first forty five minutes of this game was very poor with both sides giving the ball away to each other much too frequently. The home side went ahead after 15 minutes from a corner that was swung into the box from the right and Joe Kelly who was making his debut for Rangers headed it past the helpless Burgess. Rangers Liam Jenkins was put clear in the 33^th minute but took the ball to wide giving home keeper Marcus Chew time to smother his shot. In the 36^th minute a powerful 25 yard drive from Liam Jenkins saw keeper Marcus Chew palming the ball up in the air before collecting at a second attempt.

Dave Wilkinson’s shot from 25 yards had Burgess taking the ball at full stretch 12 minutes into the second half. Two minutes later Burgess saved well with his legs to deny Wilkinson’s shot going in from close range the ball going out for a corner. Gala took full advantage of this set piece as Greg Artus headed home at the far post. This was a kick up the rear for Rangers and within a minute they mounted an attack down the right with Jenkins breaking clear and sending in a cross for Luke Flicker to drive goal-wards only to see home keeper Marcus Chew smother his shot. Rangers got a goal back in the 63^rd minute again a good break down the right by Flicker and a superb cross into the box for new signing Alex Fox to head back across goal hitting the post as it went in. 70 minutes into the game and Rangers were now looking the better side as they broke down the left and a one two between Sam Redmayne and Liam Jenkins created the opening for Redmayne to fire a low shot on target at the near post and then watch as Chew flung out his legs out to stop the ball going in. Rangers got their just rewards on 85 minutes when Ed Freeman defence splitting pass found Alex Fox to run clear on goal and place his shot past Chew.

Ellwood are finding things difficult at the moment after losing at home to Kings Stanley who have been challenging for the title all season. It may have been a different outcome if Ellwood had scored the penalty that was taken by Derek Roberts and brilliantly saved by Ashley Gale very early on. As it was Matt Addis did put the home side one up after 35 minutes to go into the break with that lead. The visitors were not behind for very long as Luke Barstow headed home from a corner early in the second half. A second from Andy Roberts on 60 minutes put Stanley into the lead. Five minutes later the visitors had a 3-1 lead courtesy of Jake Davies. A Sam Prior goal on 75 minutes put Stanley in a very comfortable position. Five minutes from the end Matt Addis netted his second of the afternoon for Ellwood with the final score finishing 4-2 to the visitors.

Kingswood’s visit to Bristol Telephones turned out to be very fruitful afternoon coming away with the 3 points and a 5-2 scoreline. Telephones got off to a dreadful start when their keeper was unable to take the field with outfield player Troy Watts taking the goalkeepers jersey and leading goalscorer Dhani Goulding only arriving at the ground just after the second half had started. Taking nothing away from the visitors this was a very good performance as Ryan Mudd put them one up in the 1^st minute. Simon Clark then scored a second before Mike Grist headed home from a corner to make it 2-1 to the visitors at the break. Dan Griffiths scored to make it 3-1 to Kingswood and a double strike from Frank Hitchings put the visitor well in control. Dhani Goulding then scored for the home side but they were well and truly beaten on the day.

Berkeley Town will need to pull something special out of the bag if they are to pull away from bottom place by the end of the season. Their 2-1 defeat at home to Thornbury Town leaves them 5 points adrift at present. Thornbury took the lead on 25 minutes when Craig Lancastle cut into the box and fired a low shot into the corner. The visitors went 2-0 up on 43 minutes when the ball was squared back to the edge of the box for Toby Bennett. Berkeley pulled a goal back on 59 minutes when Joe Blakeney fired into the bottom corner from just inside the box. The home side were unable to find a second goal in the time remaining.

The local derby of the day was at AEK Boco where the visitors were Hanham Athletic. Just a mile separates the two grounds and a crowd of 123 saw the home side take the three points with a 2-1 win. Hanham’s Jack Tottle had the ball in the net after 10 minutes but it was ruled out for a foul on the keeper. Then 8 minutes later the home side took the lead when Jordan Scott turned in a Darren Werrett cross. No further scoring until the 80^th minute when Darren Werrett neatly chipped the ball over the Hanham keeper from the edge of the box. A scrambled goal by Jack Tottle in time added made it 2-1 but following the goal there was a skirmish in which Adam Grinter for Hanham was dismissed.

No goals in the first 45 minutes between Yate Town Reserves and Southmead CS Athletic although the half belonged to the home side. The second 45 minutes told a different story as a hattrick from Dominic Holver put Southmead well in control. His first on 55 minutes was a misunderstanding in the Yate defence and his second 15 minutes later was again some bad defending on the home side’s part. Holvers hattrick on 75 minutes was a brilliant piece of individual skill. The young Yate side never gave up and hit back on 78 minutes with a goal from Liam Vaulters then a couple of minutes later Josh Beddis scored again for Yate from the penalty spot. The last 10 minutes saw Southmead hold on for the win.

Chipping Sodbury Town seamed to have lost their early season form after being held to a 1-1 draw at home to Frampton United. Both goals came very early on James Mackie gave the home side the lead on 6 minutes when he won a fifty / fifty ball to round the Frampton keeper and slot the ball home. Within a couple of minutes the visitors were level when a corner was whipped into the box and Nathan Barnett headed home. Second half Sodbury pushed hard for the winner but a very resilient Frampton defence kept them at bay.

Bishops Cleeve Reserves v Patchway Town third from bottom playing second from bottom ended in a 0-0 stalemate. Very few chance throughout the 90 minutes resulted in a very poor game.

7^th February 2015 - Kingswood see off ten man Berkeley

With only seven fixtures scheduled for today the overnight frost claimed two of the games at Cheltenham Civil Service and Frampton United. Chipping Sodbury Town and Kings Stanley were unable to take advantage Sodbury were beaten at Hanham Athletic whilst Stanley were held to a draw at home by Bishops Cleeve Reserves.

Conditions at Kingswood got increasingly difficult as the game progressed with players finding it difficult to keep their feet on a very slippery pitch. Both teams did their very best to make the break through and there were plenty of chances created by both sides so the final score of 1-0 to Kingswood was a little disappointing. Kingswood made first inroads with a Simon Clark shot that sped across goal after 3 minutes. Home keeper Chris Fox had to be at his best to keep a Martin Smiths shot out on 9 minutes. A break by Berkeley’s Gary Toal down the flank could well have opened the scoring for the visitors but the cross just evaded Joe Blakeney on the far post. It was fine save from Fox on 22 minutes that prevented Blakeney giving the visitors the lead. The home side were unlucky in the 29^th minute when Ben Hemming’s shot just inside the box hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced clear. Kingswood had the ball in the net on 31 minutes but it was ruled out for offside. Just before the break a corner from the right was well met by Frank Gillison but the header took a deflection away for another corner.

Ben Gillison had a great chance to give the visitors the lead after just 30 seconds of the second period, but with a clear shot on goal he blasted it over the bar. 8 minutes into the second half Gary Toal laid the ball back for full back Paul Brooks who’s shot from the edge of the box skimmed past the far post. In the 54^th minute the game changed when Berkeley’s keeper Lee Thomas brought down Gary Simmons just outside the box and with no other player between him and the goal was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity. Veteran goalkeeper Lee Mason took over in goal for Berkeley but from the resulting free kick struck by Simon Clark the keeper only managed to parry the ball and Gary Simmons was on hand to slip the ball home. The home side had another chance on 64 minutes but Ben Hemmings headed wide from a corner. Berkeley took advantage of the home side’s lacklustre approach and Fox had to get down quick from a Martin Smith shot on 73 minutes. 5 minutes later Fox kept the home side in front when he superbly pushed the ball over the bar from a Joe Blakeney shot. The next effort from the visitors was a header from Frank Gillison that went just wide. An 84^th minute drive from the 25 yards by Simon Clark had Mason diving full length to stop. A minute later Mason pulled off another good save to deny Ryan Mudd getting a second for the home side.

The surprise result of the day came from Vicarage Road Hanham where the home side ran out 2-0 winners over title contenders Chipping Sodbury Town. The opening goal on 24 minutes was really well taken by Adam Grinter who was put clear with a one on one situation and cheekily lifted the ball over the visitor’s keeper. The second goal on 65 minutes was a good move by the home side with Jack Baber cutting in to the edge of the box and sliding the ball under the keeper.

Thornbury Town’s home form has been good of late and another win today keeps them near the mid-table. There were no goals in the first 45 minutes but it was AEK Boco who came close to opening the scoring in that period from a cross into the box that was headed just over the bar by Jordan Scott. Town took the lead on 56 minutes from a break down the flank by full-back Joe Guest the ball being pulled back for Danny Haines who was unlucky with his shot as it took a deflection onto the post but the rebound fell to Craig Lancastle to tap the ball home. A second goal on 80 minutes looked to have the points wrapped up. A cross into the box was fisted away by the visitor’s keeper straight to Mark Viner whose overhead kick sailed into the roof of the net. 4 minutes later Town gave away a penalty Jordan Scott being brought down by home keeper Alex Lippiatt to give Charlie Stevens the chance from the spot which was duly converted.

Rockleaze Rangers will be the happier of the two Clubs with this 2-1 win over local rivals Henbury. A good move after 10 minutes between Burnaby Bosson and Ed Freeman gave Bosson the chance to open the scoring for the home side. That was short lived as Henbury hit back 2 minutes later from a corner headed home by Ed Wright after Burgess had failed to collect. The home side might have taken the lead in the 26^th minute but Matt Bignall’s shot from a Liam Jenkins cross struck the post. The home side eventually got the winner just 3 minutes from the end when Mark Parsons sent the ball through to Ed Freeman who coolly dinked the ball over the keeper.

Kings Stanley missed the chance to close the gap at the top of the table when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Bishops Cleeve. The first 20 minutes of this game was controlled by the visitors and they deservedly took the lead on 25 minutes with a class strike from Ed Major. Stanley came out firing on all cylinders at the start of the second half and pushed the visitors hard. The pressure paid off in the 65^th minute when Danny Chandler levelled the score with a 25 yard free kick. With the home side pushing for the winner Cleeve had a great chance to steal the 3 points on 75 minutes but the final shot on goal went wide. Stanley will be disappointed with the result and look up on it as 2 points dropped instead of a point gained. This result for the visitors moves them out of the bottom two with Patchway Town who were not playing today taking their place.

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