MARCLIFF Gloucestershire County Football League

Ron's Match Reports

25^th March 2017 - Bristol Telephones smash five past Little Stoke in second half

Bristol Telephones Nil – Little Stoke Nil after forty five minutes but there were a few chances for both sides. Dhani Golding had a shot well saved by Matt Turner two minutes into the game and on seven minutes Lee Pitman struck the upright for Phones. Little Stoke had a free kick on the edge of the box on fourteen minutes but Kieran Williams hit the top of the crossbar. A Sasha Tong shot from the edge of the box for Stoke went just wide.

The second half was a different matter as the home side took the game to Stoke and were two goals up after seven minutes. The first in the forty ninth minute came from Substitute Ben Griffiths who broke down the left cut inside the Stoke fullback Ollie Bacon and hammered the ball past Turner from just inside the box. A minute later Turner had to save a well struck shot from Mike Alvis. At the other end Owen Greening got behind the home defence and was bearing down on goal then somehow a great tackle just slipped the ball away from Greening and it was cleared.

Enter Lee Pitman who scored the first of his four goals from a move down the left between Golding and Griffiths who delivered a perfect pass to the unmarked Pitman to slide the ball past Turner. Stoke had a great chance to pull a goal back on fifty seven minutes from a free kick from Ollie Bacon that found Simon Knight completely unmarked and with a clear header on goal that went wide of the target. Two minutes later home keeper Will Osborne brought of a good save to deny a Kieran Williams free kick going in. Then a minute later Osborne tipped another Williams effort over the bar. On seventy one minutes Pitman scored his second after latching onto a long ball over the Stoke defence. At this stage the home side were buzzing and an effort from Ben Griffith who broke down the left and sent over a great cross was missed by all. Pitman was given the task of making it four from the penalty spot on eighty minutes after Turner had brought down Dhani Golding and he did not disappoint his team mates. Just two minutes later Golding found space out on the left sent over a great cross that was met by Pitman to volley home his fourth of the afternoon. The final effort from the home side came in the eighty forth minute a tremendous long range shot from substitute Alex Graham that whistle over the bar. Little Stoke were second best in the second forty five minutes of this game.

Gala Wilton v Kingswood saw seven goals in this game with Kingswood grabbing the decider in third minute of added time. The visitors took an early lead on three minutes from a long ball hit over the home defence and Frank Hitchings running clear to score. They went two – nil up on seventeen minutes after a cross from the right saw a mix up in the home defence and Callum Vickery slid the ball home. Sam Prosser pulled a goal back for the home side on twenty four minutes when he broke down the left cut in and neatly chipped the ball over the keeper. On thirty five minutes the home side were level as the ball came into the box it was not cleared by Kingswood and Prosser swivelled in the box to make it two – two. Five minutes before the break Gala’s Peter Boyle gave away a penalty and Simon Clarke netted from the spot for a three - two lead at the break. The home side were not deterred and hit back to level the score in the fifty seventh minute a break down the right by Rory Wilkinson and a cross in for Kyle Bakewell to make it three – three. When it looked as though the points would be shared Kingswood struck in the ninety third minute through Gavin Dibden who broke clear from his own half hit a tremendous shot that was saved by the keeper but it rebounded straight to Dibden to fire home.

Frampton United kept up their challenge with a three – nil win at home to Bishops Cleeve Reserves. The first chance fell to Cleeve’s Dan Sherry but it just cleared the bar. Minolo Marquez Espada had a half chance for the home side but his finish was poor on twenty four minutes. Three minutes later Frampton took the lead from a cross into the box that was met by Dan Huxstep and then bundled home by Steve Jackson. Joel White went close for the home side just before the break. Frampton took a two – nil lead on fifty six minutes when Jackson turned his defender to fire the ball home. The third for the home side came from the penalty spot after Jackson had been brought down and Matt Cook netted from the spot. The visitors almost pulled a goal back right at the end and it was Sherry involved again.

The game at Scott Park between Patchway Town and Henbury ended in a one – one scoreline. The visitors went ahead on fifteen minutes from a through ball to Cedric Motondo to finish neatly. Both sides were reduced to ten men near the end of the game Patchway had Matt Tovey sent off while Henbury’s Jack Mills also received his marching orders. The home side got out of jail in the second minute of added time when the referee spotted some pushing in the box following a free kick and awarded Patchway a penalty. Geraint Williams netted from the spot to salvage a point.

Bottom Club Southmead CS Athletic suffered a heavy defeat at Broadwell Amateurs going down six – nil. A second half hattrick by Jordan Sheen was the highlight for the home side who were only leading one – nil at the break and that goal came from the penalty spot just one minute into the game as Kristian Burnard was brought down as he burst into the box. Paul Manns was given the chance from the spot an duly obliged. Southmead had plenty of possession in the first forty five minutes but no punch to finish off. Two minutes into the second half Jordan Sheen set up Kristian Burnard to make it two – nil and at the other end Merry saved well from Rob Sivers. A fantastic twenty yard drive from Ben Fishwick on seventy one minutes made it three – nil and then came the Sheen hattrick. The first on seventy nine minutes from a pass from Jamie Powell the second three minutes later and the final goal in the last minute of the game came from a cross from Burnard that Sheen hit on the half volley.

Stonehouse Town remain top after hitting five past Lebeq United with only one in reply. Liam Gale put the home side in front from the penalty spot early on before Tim Williams made it two – nil. The game was held up for fifteen minutes when the Referee sustained an injury and could not continue. A through ball from Ben Jones to Williams to make it three – nil before the break. Stonehouse were awarded a second penalty in the sixty seventh minute and Liam Gale netted his second from the spot. Lebeq was almost gifted a goal when Dan Stephens back header was brilliantly saved by keeper Will Pedrick. The fifth and final goal for the home side was a strike from Ryan Stewart on eighty five minutes and in the very last minute Lebeq’s Elan Plummer netted a consolation.

Hardwicke and Thornbury Town shared the points in a two – two draw. The home side went ahead on three minutes with a goal from Tobie Webb and it was Webbs strike from the edge of the box on thirty five minutes that gave them a two goal cushion. A free kick from Thornbury’s Tom Webb was well saved by home keeper Edwards on thirty seven minutes but three minutes before half time Hardwicke were reduced to ten men when Glen Gittins was sent of for a second Yellow Card. Thornbury lulled a goal back on sixty five minutes from a free kick that Tom Webb steered home. Then eight minutes later the visitors were level when Mark Viner headed home. Hardwicke were then reduced to nine men on seventy five minute Paul Carter picking up ma second yellow Card. The home side were hanging on but with five minutes to go Alex Barker gave away a penalty. Craig Lancastle took the spot kick for Thornbury but Kenny Edward’s guessed right and pulled off a great save.

AEK Boco three Rockleaze Rangers two was the final result. Jason Thatcher opened the scoring for the home side from a Darren Werrett cross and then made it two when he drifted past several defenders for his second. Iggy Ilott pulled a goal back for Rangers and in the second half Steve Fitzpatrick headed home the equaliser. Then in front of 107 spectators Darren Werret grabbed a late the winner for Boco.

18^th March 2017 - Kingswood fight back to hold Frampton

Bristol Telephones close the gap with a win at Broadwell Amateurs whilst Frampton United were held to a draw at Kingswood.

An excellent game of football at Kingswood with both teams sharing a point a piece after a three – three draw. The home side had to come from behind three times but there was a spell in the second half where they should have won the game but missed several really good chances. Frampton showed their intentions right from the off and Joe Wilton was on target after just two minutes with a shot that was saved by keeper Dan Blackwell. Just four minutes later Frampton went in front when Steve Jackson broke into the box was upended and Matt Cook netted the resulting penalty. Just four minutes later Kingswood were level when they were awarded a penalty with Simon Clarke giving the visitors keeper James Marklove no chance from the spot. The visitors retook the lead on nineteen minutes with a superb ball from Joe Wilton that split the home defence and Steve Jackson slotted the ball past Blackwell. Frampton might have scored a gain in the twenty first minute from a break by Joe Wilton down the left resulting in a low cross the fizzed across the six yard box without anyone getting the final touch. The home side got back on level terms in the twenty second minute from a cross into the box that was touched home by Dave Parslow. Kingswood should have made it three – two on thirty four minutes when Frank Hitchings hit a long free kick from his own half that found Jamie Evans who controlled it brilliantly then cut in towards goal but then drove his shot into the side netting.

Four minutes into the second half the home side should have scored again as a low free kick from Clarke avoided all the Frampton defenders found Evans free on the far post but again he drove it into the side netting. Evans made space for a clear shot on goal but hit it to high. At the other end Steve Jackson went passed a couple of home defenders but then met Blackwell who cleared the ball away. Frampton thought they had taken the lead on sixty one minute when they got the ball in the net from a corner but it was ruled out for pushing. Monola Marquez Espada was unlucky in the seventy seventh minute when he hit a tremendous shot at the Kingswood goal but it struck the upright. A minute later - how the visitors kept their goal intact is a mystery as several chances to take the lead by the home side went begging. In the eightieth minute Kingswood’s Andy Carpenter walked away in disbelief with his head in his hands after putting the ball wide from eight yards. A mistake by the home defence led to the visitors going into a three – two lead in the eighty fourth minute after several attempts on goal Kris Bulley found the back of the Kingswood net. It looked as though the visitors were going away with the three points until a minute into time added Kingswood’s Jamie Evans broke into the box and was brought down by Dan Huxstep for a second penalty of the afternoon. Simon Clarke stepped up again and again fired the ball past Marklove to make it three – three. This turned out to be a fair result in the end.

Bristol Telephones are showing they mean business when they came away from Broadwell Amateurs with five three win in an eight goal thriller. The visitors started well and took the lead on sixteen minutes when Dhani Golding latched onto a long ball over the home defence to run through and lob the ball over Merry. That lead only lasted a minute as the home side hit back immediately and it came from Jordan Sheen whose shot from just out side the box was to hot for keeper Osborne to hold as it slipped through his hands and into the net. Five minutes later Broadwell were two – one up from a Paul Manns shot that trickled past Osborne into the corner of the net. Broadwell made that three – one on thirty four minutes when Blaine Smith picked up a long ball from Lee Hanson to drive his shot high into the net. Right on half time Phones pulled a goal back and it was Dhani Golding who capitalised on some poor defending to chip the ball over Merry. Phones levelled the score on sixty five minutes from a long free kick that found Joe Goddard unmarked to slot the ball home. Just three minutes later Goddard was at it again as he drove the ball across Merry into the far corner. Phones made it five – three on seventy five minutes when Kieran Hunt drove a long range shot past Merry.

Henbury’s three – nil win over Gala Wilton came as relief after some indifferent results of late. The report stated that the home side dominated this game and missed numerous chances before taking the lead right on half time from a Jack Mills corner that was headed home by Ross Johnson. More chances went begging before a second goal was scored in the seventy seventh minute when Jack Mills put Ryan Kilbane through on goal. The final goal came in the eighty fifth minute from the penalty spot. Ryan Kilbane broke into the box was brought down and Jack Mill netted the resulting penalty. A good day for Jack Mills who was involved in all three goals.

Little Stoke went into a two – nil lead in the first forty five minutes of their game at AEK Boco. Dave Franklin gave Stoke the lead on ten minutes with a second coming from Simon Knight in the thirty seventh minute. Both sides were reduced to ten men early in the second half both for receiving two yellow cards. In the fifty sixth minute Callum Ball was brought down in the box for a penalty and it was Ball who took that spot kick to make it two – one. In the sixty fifth minute the home side were on level terms as Callum Ball crossed into the box for Darren Werrett to finish the job off. The home side will no doubt be please they were able to come back from that two goal deficit to gain a point.

Last but not least Hardwicke travelled home with all three points after a slender one – nil win at Hanham Athletic. A game of few chances especially in the first forty five minutes that is until the forty second minute when Rob Hine rose to to head home from a corner. The home side had a good chance to level on sixty four minutes But Ryan Phillips shot straight at the Hardwicke keeper. The home side ahd a few half chances and Hardwicke might have scored again near the end but that one goal was enough to win the game.

The game between Southmead CS Athletic and Stonehouse had to be postponed as the pitch is still not fit after the vandalism that took place three weeks ago.

11^th March 2017 - Patchway get the better of Southmead

This was a local derby with Patchway Town entertained Southmead CS Athletic. A game in which the home side had a lion’s share of the possession throughout the ninety minutes. The visitors were right up against it when they had a player sent off in the twenty sixth minute. The home side attacked right from the off and were rewarded after ten minutes when Dan Bendall broke into the box and was upended by Jason Tarr. The penalty was taken by Matt Tovey who blasted a low shot into the left corner. Just two minutes later Bendall was through on goal again but this time his shot was blocked. A minute further on Brandon Benjamin had a chance to increase the lead but shot over. In the fifteenth minute a corner from the right found Benjamin again but this time his shot was well saved by keeper Callum Flynn. The home side were rampant and a mistake by the visitors defence allowed Bendall a free run on goal and a superb shot across Flynn and into the far corner made it two – nil. It took Southmead twenty five minutes to get their first shot at goal and it came from Ernesto Correia who shot wide. Just a minute later Correia was dismissed for a stamp on a Patchway player leaving the visitors to play the rest of the game with ten men. On twenty seven minutes Ashley Harwood picked up a loose ball for the visitors sent a superb pass to Luke Soure whose shot found the target but it went straight to Farmiloe. The last action of the first half was a good shot from Patchway’s Matt Tovey that went just wide.

Bendall made it three – nil in the fifty fifth minute after a good move down the right and a crisp shot from the edge of the box that beat Flynn. Southmead rarely ventured into the home side’s half and defended with nine men behind the ball and although the home side pushed hard they found it difficult to break down. In fact Southmead only got into the Patchway box twenty minutes into the second half for the first time. The unthinkable happened in the seventieth minute after the visitors defended a Patchway corner they broke away and Luke Soure hammered the ball past Framiloe to make it three – one. The amount of possession the home side were having should have resulted in more goals and Bendall had a great chance to score his third on eighty one minutes but put clear on goal he missed controlled the ball and Flynn took it with ease. The visitors did well to keep the score down considering the amount of possession the home side enjoyed.

Seven goals to enjoy at Rockleaze Rangers where today’s visitors were Thornbury Town. This turned out to be an excellent win for the home side by four goals to three. It was Thornbury who went ahead after sixteen minutes when home keeper Sam Burgess misjudged a cross and Pete Fowler was there to tap the ball home. Rangers drew level three minutes later from the penalty spot after Marcus Williams was brought down and James Kenway netted from the spot kick. Thornbury retook the lead on twenty nine minutes when the Rangers defence stopped thinking Craig Lancastle was offside and he ran on to slip the ball past Burgess. Rangers levelled again on fifty five minutes when James Kenway lobbed keeper Shepherd from the edge of the eighteen yard box. Rangers then took the lead as James Fitzgerald out paced the Thornbury defence to make it three – two. But the visitors hit back on sixty one minutes when Danny Haines sent Lancastle away to make it three – three. Kye Simpson hit the cross bar before setting up Greg Williams to net the winner for Rangers.

Stonehouse Town still have a comfortable lead at the top of the table after their one – nil home success over Broadwell Amateurs. Tim Williams should have given the home side the lead on eighteen minutes but the visitors keeper brought off a great save. Then Liam Gale was through on goal but failed with his shot. Lee Keveren was set up by Broadie but shot wide. Broadwell’s Paul Manns then saw his free kick well saved by Pedrick. a minute later Manns had another chance but missed the target. Nobody was able to make that break through and the half ended goalless. Andy Maryon who missed last weeks game was on the bench this week and came on in the fiftieth minute and ten minutes later he chested the ball down and volleyed it home for the lead. Both sides created chance during the rest of the second half but unable to find the back of the net.

Hardwicke’s two – nil win over Kingswood was a good result for the Gloucester side. Both goals came in the first forty five minutes. After a steady opening the home side went ahead on twenty four minutes from a Paul Carter corner hit long to the far post where Rob Hine rose above everyone to head home. They might have made it two on twenty eight minutes when Harris broke down the left crossed into the box where Steve Bick hit a great shot but it hit the post. Hardwicke scored again on thirty seven minutes from a loose ball that was picked up by Tobie Webb to muscle his way past several defenders to score.

Frampton United kept up their challenge for the title with a three – one win over Henbury. The home side bounced back from their mid-week defeat at Lebeq United. Joe Wilton got the opener on fourteen minutes from a goalmouth scramble. Jack Mills levelled the score on the half hour with a really well struck free kick on the edge of the box. United went ahead again on forty four minutes when Jack Phillips headed home a Frazer Wilson cross. Matt Cook almost made it three but his attempted lob over the keeper hit the top of the crossbar. The home side did however get a third goal on seventy minutes when Steve Jackson’s pass sent Matt Cook away to round the keeper to score.

Bristol Telephones got back on track after there defeat at Stonehouse last week with a three – one win over AEK Boco. The home side led by one goal to nil at the break with a good move after four minutes finished off by Leon Britton. AEK Boco thought they had a good penalty shout on fifty six minutes but the match official waved play on. Boco did however draw level on seventy minutes that Darren Werrett picked up from a rebound after Will Osborne failed to hold the first shot. Two late goals fro the home side the first on eighty four minutes a cross to the far post that Lee Pitman turned in and four minutes later when the same player Pitman latched onto a through ball to slot home.

Little Stoke won their home fixture with Hanham Athletic by four goals to nil. Sasha Tong headed onto the cross bar from Kieran Williams cross after ten minutes. Hanham’s Ben Francis then had his shot well saved by Stoke keeper Turner. Another near miss on twenty minutes from a Matt Price free kick that was flicked on by Simon Knight only for Robinson to fire past the post. Stoke opened the scoring on twenty five minutes from a header into the box by Tim O’Loughlin flicked on by Tong to Simon Knight to drive it in to the top corner. Visitor’s keeper Max Heaven then saved well from James Laver and that was followed by a header off the line by Sam Hagerty. Stoke went two – nil up on forty eight minutes from a Simon Knight strike. At the other end Turner brought of a good save to deny Liam Robson. On seventy minutes James Laver’s pass to Sasha Tong made it three – nil as his shot hit the post on its way in. Knight almost got a third but his twenty five yard shot hit the bar. With just five minutes to go Stoke got their forth goal Owen Greening broke down the left crossed to Knight who found Russ Church on the far post to head home.

Another defeat for Gala Wilton going down two – one at home to Lebeq United. It took until the forty fourth minute before the deadlock was broken and it was Leroy Swaby who got the ball into the Gala net after his first shot had been saved by Tom Kaye he followed up to score. The home side levelled on sixty two minutes after Kyle Bakewell’s shot was handled on the line by Szymon Gromek who then received a straight red card and Danny Irvin made no mistake from the spot. The crunch for the home side came in the first minute of time added after ninety minutes when Lebeq broke away and Leroy Swaby netted his second.

4^th March 2017 - Stonehouse open gap at the top

In today’s top clash between leaders Stonehouse Town and title contenders Bristol Telephones the home side ran out worthy winners by five goals to one.

The home side looked really determined right from the off and with the thought in their mind that they wanted revenge for the four – nil defeat they suffered at Phones back in November. That determination paid off when Stonehouse went ahead in the very first minute after forcing a corner on the right the ball was hit long to the far post where Dan Stephens headed back across goal and Tim Williams knocked the ball home. Williams tried his luck again six minutes later with a shot from just outside the eighteen yard box that went just over. Phones first real attack down the left on nine minutes brought them an equalising goal, the ball was hit low across to the unmarked James Batchelor who hit a brilliant shot past keeper Will Pedrick from the edge of the box. The home side retook the lead on thirteen minutes again it came from the right side and Liam Gales cross was headed home by Lee Keveren. A few minutes later home keeper Pedrick did well to push the ball around the post from a Dhani Golding header. In the twenty second minute a free kick out on the right was hit well by Golding but it went just past the far post. The home side could well have made it three – one in the twenty fourth minute when Keveren got behind the visitors defence but then failed to chip the ball over Osborne’s head. At the other end Dhani Golding tried a clever chip over Pedrick but it landed on the top of the net. Then Phones Ben Griffiths broke down the left but saw his shot pushed wide for a corner. Both teams were giving their all and two efforts from Liam Gale just before the break went close for the home side and another effort from Golding was close for Phones.

The second half belonged to the home side although it might have been much different if Dhani Golding had levelled one minute into the second half as he broke clear and tried a chip over Pedrick that just cleared the bar. How things can change so quickly as the home side Phones Alex Graham lost possession just outside the box the Lee Keveren and his little flick found Ryan Stewart to float the ball over Will Osborn and into the far corner. Four minutes later another break by the home side’s Tim Williams down the right and a perfect cross for Stewart to pick his spot but lifted the ball high over the bar. Then 0n fifty three minutes Stewart missed another Glorious chance. On seventy seven minutes Stonehouse made it four – one as Lee Keveren set up Liam Gale to run clear and fire past Osborne. At this stage of the game Telephone began to loose their composure and found themselves down to ten men when their goalscorer James Batchelor received a second yellow card. The home side wrapped it all up right on time when Substitute Tom Backx fired home number five.

In the local derby Hanham Athletic v AEK Boco the visitors went away with the three points after netting six times without reply from the home side. It took until the fortieth minute before AEK opened the scoring and it fell to Darren Werrett who picked up the rebound after home keeper Max Heaven had saved the first shot. Three minutes later Heaven misjudged a cross and the ball landed right at the feet of Werrett to net his second. Boco made it three on fifty five minutes from a break down the right flank and a long ball to the far post where Liam Jenkins was waiting to head home. The fourth goal for the visitors came from another cross into the box that was headed away by Sam Hagerty but it fell nicely for Jacob Saunders who hit his shot into the top corner. Number five came from a goalmouth scramble which was finished off by Matt Tippings. The final goal in the seventy third minute was a good piece of skill by Callum Ball who rounded a home defender before driving the ball into the bottom corner.

Thornbury Town had their promotion hopes dented when they went down two – one at home to Little Stoke. No goals in the first forty five minutes in which Little Stoke enjoyed a lot of the possession. Thornbury’s Danny Haines had his shot tipped over the bar by keeper Matt Turner and home keeper Alex Lippiatt save well from Stokes Simon Knight. The visitors got off the mark in the fifty seventh minute from a quick break out of defence and Simon Knight driving the ball past Lippiatt. Thornbury levelled five minutes later after Luke Franklin played a one – two with Tom Webb and hit his shot past Turner. Kane Lansdown missed a good chance to put Stoke ahead before they snatched the three points in the eighty fifth minute from a ball crossed into the box and Josh Hull bundled it into the Thornbury net.

Henbury are struggling at present and went down three – one at home to Hardwicke. They fell behind after five minutes when Danny Rasdale broke down the right crossed into the box and Tobie Webb swept the ball home. Webb missed another good chance to put the visitors two up before Henbury’s Caelen Simpson’s shot had Edwards at full stretch to push it away fro a corner. The home side got on level terms from a superbly taken twenty five yard free kick from Jack Mills, but two goals late on. The first from the penalty spot on seventy six minutes after Tobie Webb had been brought down and Paul Carter put the spot kick away. Then with two minutes to go Adam Mace was put clear to round the keeper to make it three – one.

A stalemate at Broadwell Ameteurs where Patchway Town were the visitors today and both teams were unable to find the back of the net. Jordan Sheen and Danny Latham had chances for the home side and Antonio Nurse and Matt Tovey were major players for the visitors. Patchway might have snatched the win right near the end but Dan Bendall opted to pass to Nurse who had moved into an offside position instead of shooting himself.

Bishops Cleeve Reserves v Rockleaze Rangers was postponed – waterlogged pitch

Southmead CS Athletic v Gala Wilton was also postponed after vandalism to Southmead’s pitch

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