MARCLIFF Gloucestershire County Football League

Ron's Match Reports

24^th February 2018 - Late Frampton strike salvages point at Kingswood

Thornbury Town have now opened up a big gap at the top.

Hanham Athletics’ win over Southmead CS Athletic lifts them off the bottom.

This was a tough game for the visitors Frampton United. The home side shut them down at every opportunity and disrupted any sort of rhythm. Frampton’s first shot on goal came from Jack Bartman on 12 minutes but Fox in the home goal took it comfortably. On 19 minutes Kingswood’s Charlie Read cut in from the right and his fierce shot brought a great save out of James Marklove. Another good move by Kingswood on 22 minutes saw a low cross into the box from Read and Matt Cook stretching to clear it almost put the ball past Marklove into his own net but for another good save by the keeper. Marklove was in action again a couple of minutes later this time he kept out a good effort from Joe Hilliard. Frampton’s first real chance to score came from a free kick on the edge of the box a minute before the break. Nathan Dennis hit a great shot towards the bottom corner but Fox got across to push the shot away.

Frampton opened the second half looking a little sharper and Kingswood keeper Chris Fox saved well from Stuart Maule tipping the shot over the bar on 48 minutes. 3 minutes later Fox was in action again with a good save from a Ryan Vincent effort. At the other end a couple of minutes later an Adam Eldridge cross from the left was headed just over by Charlie Read. On 61 minutes the home side made their first change and brought on Levi Morris for Matt Poole and that certainly paid dividends for Kingswood as Morris put the home side 1-0 up in the 73^rd minute latching on to a cross from Read and squeezing the ball under Marklove who tried hard to keep it out. It looked as though the home side would hang on for the win but in the 89^th minute a long throw on the right into the box found Ryan Vincent to fire the ball past Fox.

Only the second win this season for Hanham Athletic a 2-0 defeat of Southmead CS Athletic. The home side started well and Giovanni Fisher missed a good chance on 12 minutes. At the other end home keeper Dan Sperring brought off a great save to deny Southmead’s Reece Provis. The home side took the lead on 58 minutes when Sam Brown finished well from a Tom Welling knock down. Ashley Bowle missed a glorious chance from 5 yards to make it 2-0 on 65 minutes. Southmead’s Luke Coghlan should have levelled the score in the 69^th minute but headed wide from close range. Rob Sivers hit the post for the visitors late on but the home side sealed the points in the 88th minute when Adam Grinter was put clear with a one on one to net the second. Southmead had Gary Booth sent off right at the end for striking an opponent.

All the action took place in the first 45 minutes at Rockleaze Rangers who entertained Ruardean Hill Rangers today. The home side had a great chance to take the lead on 11 minutes when Ruardean’s Steve Coombs brought down Sam Knight in the box for a penalty. Jake Hannam took the spot kick but it was poorly directed and keeper Steve Bowles save with his legs. On 28 minutes the team from the Forest took the lead, the ball was bobbling around in the box and eventually landed at the feet of Shaun Tingle who fired a fierce shot into the top corner from 15 yards. Rockleaze had a chance to level on 33 minutes but Dan Bendall who was clear on goal pulled his shot wide. In the second 45 minutes there was a lot of huffing and puffing from both teams but neither goal keeper was called up on to make a save.

Thornbury Town have now opened up a 13 point gap at the top with a 3-0 win at Patchway Town. The home side held the leaders to a goalless draw in the first 45 minutes but on 48 minutes former Patchway player Brandon Benjamin headed home to give Thornbury the lead. The visitors went 2-0 up on 53 minutes with a slice of luck as Marcus Wormwell’s shot skewed of his shin pad and looped over the keeper. The visitors wrapped it up on 70 minutes when the Thornbury keeper sent the ball up to Craig Lancastle on the half way line he then sped towards the Patchway goal round several defenders on his way and slammed the ball home.

Stonehouse Town started like a train going ahead on 3 minutes when Liam Gale broke into the box was felled and he then got up to hammer the ball home from the spot. They were 2-0 ahead after 9 minutes when Liam Wright’s shot was well saved but the ball fell for Luke Soule to score. The home side then missed several good chances to go further ahead before Henbury pulled a goal back on 27 minutes from an attack that was only half cleared with the ball falling to Andrew Dickinson to hammer the ball home from around 12 yards. Tim Williams then struck the post for the home side before Dickinson levelled the score on 42 minutes from the penalty spot. The Henbury keeper then pulled off a great save to deny Liam Wright early in the second half. A slice of luck for the visitors brought them their third goal on 67 minutes when Stonehouse defender Dave Apperly deflected the ball past his own keeper. Liam gale hit the post for the home side on 85 minutes and Henbury missed a second penalty right on time when keeper Clark deflected Andrew Dickinson’s shot away with his legs.

Wick won their contest with Little Stoke 2-1 but it might have been a few more but for the great saves by Amin Jones the Little Stoke keeper. The first after 10 minutes was an effort from Dan Payne and 8 minutes later Jones again denied a Payne effort. On 25 minutes Stokes Dean Patterson struck the crossbar and 5 minutes later that man Jones tipped Joe Thomas’s shot over the bar. Little Stoke had a great chance to take the lead on 40 minutes when Dean Patterson broke down the right and shot but home keeper Tyler Edmonds brought off a great save. Wick took the lead on 57 minutes when Dan Payne was upended in the box and Mike Hardiman scored from the spot. 10 minutes later the home side were down to ten men when Hardiman was shown a straight red card for a rash tackle. Stoke made it 1-1 on 70 minutes when the home defence failed to clear and Patterson pounced. Wick grabbed the winner 4 minutes from the end when Dan Sheldon cut in from the flank and fired an angled shot past Jones.

Hardwicke pulled off a great win against AEK Boco with three late goals. The home side went ahead on 20 minutes when Luke Payne prodded home from a Paul Carter free kick. They went 2-0 up on 26 minutes when Steve Bick was upended in the box and Paul Carter netted the resulting penalty. 2-0 to the home side at the break but that all change in the second half when Boco brought on Harrison Kyte. He scramble the ball home on 55 minutes and then levelled the score on 60 minutes when we went clear and rounded the keeper before slotting the ball home. The home side got their noses back in front on 70 minutes when Mark Carter prodded home from a corner. Tobie Webb then made it 4-2 on 85 minutes before Steve Bick got a fifth right on time.

17^th February 2018 - Little Stoke get better of Lebeq

A minutes silence was observed at all games before the kick off today in memory of the leagues President Bob Stewart who sadly passed away this week.

Thornbury Town are now ten points clear at the top after their win at home to Wick and Little Stoke beating Lebeq United.

Lebeq United made several changes to their line up for today’s visit to Little Stoke but a dogged performance from the home side brought them a win that they dearly needed. The first effort on goal fell to the home side on 8 minutes from a free kick pumped into the Lebeq box it was half cleared and two attempted sliced shots on goal from Stoke was eventually cleared by the Lebeq defence. The home side went ahead on 13 minutes from a great build up from the left back position that was eventually played out to Harry Goldspink on the right and he cut in fired his shot at goal and it took a wicked deflection off Omar Lindsay and finished up in the back of the visitor’s net. A long ball into the box from Stokes Danny Cochram was well taken by the visitor’s keeper Maciej Jesionowski as Tim O’Loughlin rose to head it goal-wards. Home keeper Amin Jones was untroubled for the first 41 minutes when he dived full length to push the ball out for a corner and just before the break Lebeq’s keeper save well from Dean Patterson.

A second goal from Little Stoke on 62 minutes came from a free kick on the right that was well hit by Patterson but it came straight back and his second strike flew past the Jesionowski into the top right corner. Lebeq missed a great goal-scoring opportunity in the 63^rd minute when Elan Plummer and Omar Lindsay played a brilliant one – two with Plummer’s shot being well saved by Jones. Although the visitors made several changes during the second half they were still unable to break down a solid home defence who were elated when the final whistle went.

Thornbury Town have now gone well clear at the top after another three points gained with a 4-1 win at home to Wick. It was the visitors who scored first after 12 minutes from a long ball over the home defence that was met by keeper Tom Sheppard but his clearance struck Dan Payne and then fell nicely for him to slot the ball into an empty net. Town hit back on 20 minutes to level after Matt Davis’s cross to the far post was acrobatically turned in by Craig Lancastle. Joe Guest then cleared of the line for the home side before they took the lead 3 minutes before the break when a good break out of defence allowed Brandon Benjamin to slot the ball through to Lancastle who took the ball in his stride and fired the ball past Tyler Edmonds. An early goal 3 minutes into the second half from Town to make it 3-1 came from a great run by Brandon Benjamin who pulled the ball back across goal for Matt Davis to finish off. Davis got his second on 62 minutes and this time it was Luke Franklin who made the break and then pulled it back across the face of the goal to the far post for Davis to slide home. Wick almost got a second on 75 minutes from a Dan Payne free kick that Sheppard did well to push around the post.

The local derby in the north of the county between Frampton United and Hardwicke ended with the home side taking the spoils by three goals to one. Stuart Maule hit the post for Frampton on 12 minutes and the first effort from Hardwicke came on 20 minutes Craig Harris shooting just wide. Kris Bulley’s found himself clear on goal for the home side but his shot was well saved by the keeper. From the resulting corner the home side took the lead a brilliant curling shot from Manola Marquez Espada from 25 yards hit the back of the Hardwicke net. Another corner on 34 minutes brought a second for the home side as the ball from the corner found Stuart Maule to volley home. Frampton went 3-0 up in the 50th minute as Lewis Wilton broke into the box he was brought down and Matt Cook netted the resulting penalty. Rick Mansell then struck the top of the bar on 65 minutes for the visitors and on 78 minutes they pulled a goal back when Rob Hine headed home from a corner. They almost grabbed a second 2 minutes later but Paul Carters free kick went just the wrong side of the post.

A much better performance from Patchway Town who travelled to the Forest of Dean to take on Broadwell Amateurs. Although the home side got off to a great start scoring after just 5 minutes when Kristin Burnard’s low cross into the box was turned in by Harry Williams. Patchway’s Dan Reece went close on the half hour and Broadwell’s Jori Sheen saw his header skim across goal and just out side the post. On 42 minutes Broadwell grabbed a second from a cross into the Patchway box where Liam Thomas was waiting to volley home. The visitors lift their game in the second half and Dan Reece hit the upright on 60 minutes, then 5 minutes later they pulled a goal back when Rob Foster out jumped the home defence to head home. With a much improved performance from Patchway they will probably be disappointed they did not manage to snatch a point from the game.

After their previous weeks performance at Rockleaze Rangers Gala Wilton must have fancied their chances against today’s visitors bottom Club Hanham Athletic. It was the visitors who had a goal disallowed on 26 minutes after the referee spotted a push on a Gala defender and the first 45 minutes failed to produce a goal from either side. Hanham’s keeper Max Heaven lost all control on 63 minutes when he rushed out of the penalty area and handled the ball and was immediately sent off by the referee. The home side were now facing 10 men and a stand in goal keeper but had to wait until the 80^th minute to break the deadlock as Peter Boyle raced through the visitors defence to place the ball past the stand in keeper. It looked as though that might be the final result until the very last minute of the game when Jack Fry volleyed home for the visitors to send them home elated that they had salvaged a point.

Henbury managed a 2-0 win over today’s visitors Kingswood but it should have been over before half time according to the report. Although Henbury lead 1-0 at the break with a goal from Craig Davis after he picked up the ball just inside his own half outstripped the Kingswood defence and fire past Fox in the visitors goal. Henbury were guilty of missing numerous chances in that first 45 minutes - credit also has to go to the Kingswood keeper Chris Fox for pulling off numerous great saves. Henbury sealed the points in the 85^th minute with a goal from Tyler Parsons.

The game of the day must be the fixture between hosts Southmead CS Athletic and tenants Rockleaze Rangers with the latter taking the 3 points with a narrow 3-2 victory. Rangers took the lead on 10 minutes when Southmead’s keeper O’Keefe brought off a great save only to see the ball spin across to Ali Boyer to squeeze the ball home. Just before the break the home side levelled the score after a scramble around the box the ball fell to Toby Werrett who nipped into space around 12 yards out and fired the ball home. Rangers retook the lead on 55 minutes from a corner that found Dan Webb completely unmarked to head home. A big day for Southmead’s Rob Sivers who came on as a substitute for the first time this season having been sidelined with a very bad injury picked up in pre- season. Rangers made it 3-1 on 70 minutes from a free kick that was headed home by Joey Martin-Tulloch. In the very last minute of the game the home side got a second from a corner headed home by Gary Booth.

In a very uninspiring game at Ruardean Hill Rangers Stonehouse Town keep up their challenge for the title with a slender 1-0 win. The goal came in the 28^th minute and volleyed in by Michael Ashenhurst from the edge of the box.

10^th February 2018 - Thornbury take chance in top of table clash with Lebeq

The weather played havoc with the fixtures again this Saturday with 6 of the 8 scheduled fixtures due to take place postponed.

Top game of the day had to be the early kick-off at Oakland’s Park between 2^nd place Lebeq United and league leaders Thornbury Town with the home side looking to gain revenge on their defeat at Thornbury earlier in the season and also close the gap at the top and still have a game in hand. Unfortunately for the 70 spectators who attended the game it never lived up to its billing.

After the first 10 minutes where play was even the home side had much more of the possession in the first half. A free kick from Lebeq’s Twaine Plummer on 16 minutes went straight to Sheppard in the visitor’s goal and a minute later Sheppard was in action again when he plucked a high ball from off the goal line from a cross by James Hall. Lebeq had a great chance to take the lead on 18 minutes when Cameron Brown broke into the Thornbury penalty area and was brought down by Pete Fowler the match official pointing straight to the spot. Twaine Plummer was the player selected to take the kick but fired his shot well wide of the post. A 35 yard free kick from Ibrahima Sarr on 26 minutes looked to be going wide but it struck the upright and rebounded to Shah Bhakerd but he then shot wide. Another possible chance for the home side on 36 minutes when home keeper Maciej Jesionowshki sent along ball right into the heart of the Thornbury penalty area and only a last ditch tackle from Nathan Sage prevented Bhakerd reaching it as Sage pushed it away for a corner. On 39 minutes Bhakerd had another good shooting chance but again missed the target. Thornbury had a couple of efforts on goal just before the break but failed to find the back of the net.

5 minutes in to the second half Thornbury had a great chance to take the lead when a cross from the right found Luke Franklin completely unmarked on the far post but steered his header back across goal and it was cleared. A Toby Bennett free kick wide on the right skimmed across the six yard box but Nathan Sage was unable to steer the ball into the net. Thornbury conjured up a great move on 79 minutes with Tom Webb breaking wide down the left and squared the ball across goal where it was met by substitute Marcus Wormwell to slide the ball home. A few minutes later a great move between Brandon Benjamin and Craig Lancastle almost brought a second goal but Lancastle’s shot across goal hit the post. The home side failed to create any real chances in the second half until the 85^th minute when a long ball was pumped high into the town penalty area but Sheppard was there again to pluck the ball out of the air. This win for Thornbury extends the lead at the top to 7 points.

Goals galore at Rockleaze Rangers where today’s visitors Gala Wilton found the back of the Rangers net no less than eight times but also conceded five in their own. The player of the day must be Ryan Dobbins the Gala striker who added five more to his tally this season. Not to be out done Dan Webb also completed a hat-trick for Rangers. Ryan Dobbins gave Gala the lead after 5 minutes with a close range effort and after 22 minutes he scored his second from the penalty spot. On 29 minutes he completed his hat-trick when he stroked the ball past keeper Will Stabb in the home goal. Rangers pulled one back on 35 minutes when Dan Bendall set up Danny Webb to score from close range. Just 2 minutes later that man Dobbins drilled the ball home for his fourth. On 44 minutes Ash Samuels headed home from a corner to give Gala a 5-1 lead, but right on half time Rangers got a second when Ali Boyer netted after a good build up by Webb.

In the 62nd minute Ryan Dobbins got his fifth goal of the afternoon when he lobbed the ball over Stabb. Gala’s seventh goal was fortunate as Stabb went to clear a back pass Mark Mason charged in front of the keeper and the ball flew off Mason and over the keeper into the net. It became 8-2 on 80 minutes when Ash Samuels netted his second from close range. Then in the last 12 minutes included time added the home side netted three goals. Dan Webb from close range on 81 minutes, then James Brown netted on 86 minutes and Webb then completed his hat-trick in the 92^nd minute. The 27 spectators present certainly got their money’s worth today.

3^rd February 2018 - AEK take points as Henbury finish with 9 men

No change at the top where both Thornbury Town and Lebeq united both won.

At the bottom Southmead CS Athletic move up fourth places after their win at home to Kingswood.

The game at Henbury where today’s visitors were AEK Boco turned out to be a very uninspiring game with Boco going away with the 3 points. The home side looked the better side for the first 15 minutes getting a couple of shots on target but not good enough to beat Joe Pople in the Boco goal. The first real effort from the visitors was a cross from Liam Crewe that found Callum Ball on the far post but he headed it straight into the arms of keeper Dan Parsons. A shot from Boco’s Jack Winter was also on target but it didn’t trouble Parsons. At this stage the visitors were beginning to command more of the possession and efforts from Harrison Kyte and Liam Crewe were close. On 34 minutes Parson’s brought off an excellent save to parry Luke Basseng’s shot that looked to be going just inside the post but Rosser managed to clear it off the line. Just a minute later Parsons brought off a great save from Basseng from point blank range keeping his side in the game.

AEK Boco went ahead on 52 minutes when a harmless looking cross into the Henbury box was not cleared properly and Callum Ball hit the back of the Henbury net with a sharp shot. Henbury then shot themselves in the foot when Adam Rosser picked up a second yellow card and was dismissed. This gave the visitors a distinct advantage with Liam Powell’s shot being saved by Parsons and a few minutes later a curling left foot shot from the right side of the box by Jason Thatcher was pushed around the post by Parson’s Boco scored a second on 83 minutes when Liam Jenkins cut in from the right and shot across Parson’s into the far corner. The home side made it even worse for themselves in the 85^th minute when Luke Cox received a straight Red card.

Stonehouse Town have moved into third place in the table with a 5-3 win at Gala Wilton. They opened the scoring on 17 minute from a long ball from the right to the far post and Liam Gale nipped in behind the home defence to side foot home. On 26 minutes Lee Keveren scored his first of three for the afternoon when he was put clear to coolly slot the ball home. 6 minutes later Keveren was at it again this time waltzing past three home defenders to make it 3-0. Gala’s Ryan Dobbins headed home on 37 minutes to make it 3-1 but right on half time Robert Humphries netted a fourth for Stonehouse from a corner. Josh Emery hit an unstoppable shot into the Stonehouse net on 54 minutes and 4 minutes later Ryan Dobbins controlled a great cross into the box to strike number three for Gala. The visitors got a fifth on 89 minutes from a long throw that seem to avoid everyone except Lee Keveren who knocked the ball home for his hattrick.

Broadwell Amateurs who started the day having lost only two games so far this season came up against promotion hopefuls Lebeq United. The home side almost drew first blood on 10 minutes but Jordan Sheens shot from a great run down the flank went just the wrong side of the post. It was Lebeq who took the lead on 36 minutes a great goal from Leroy Swaby curling his shot into the top corner from the edge of the box. After having two shouts for a penalty turned away the home side eventually were awarded a penalty on 64 minutes with Paul Manns stepping up to take it but they could not believe it when his shot went the wrong side of the upright. After end to end play Lebeq finally got the break they needed when Cameron Brown played a one – two with James Hall and then fired his shot under Jamie Merry with 7 minutes to go.

An unbelievable score-line at Patchway Town where Wick hammered 12 goals into the home net without reply. They came at regular intervals throughout the game. The first on 4 minutes when Mike Hardiman headed home then a minute later Joe Thomas scored from just inside the box. Joe Thomas again on 9 minutes from just outside the box and on 19 minutes Allen Williams got his first with an attempted overhead kick. On 26 minutes Dan Sheldon dribbled into the box for the fifth and Allen Williams netted his second on 35 minutes. 3 minutes into the second half Mike Hardiman netted his second from the edge of the box and Allen Williams then scored his third from the same area on 54 minutes. Jake Robertson then got in on the act on 69 minutes and Max Barker scored 3 minutes later both shots from the edge of the box. Joe Thomas then netted two more on 75 and 87 minutes to bring his tally to four.

Southmead CS Athletic gained a valuable win at home to Kingswood by two goals to one. Kingswood showed the better in the first 45 minutes and took the lead from a corner driven home by Nick Bishop on 16 minutes. The home side looked in much better shape in the second half and levelled the score on 55 minutes when Gary Booth out jumped the Kingswood defence from a corner and headed in at the far post. The winner cane just a minute from the end from along ball out to Frank Stallard on the flank he nipped past the Kingswood defender squared the ball across goal and Connor Davies was there to guide the ball home.

Thornbury Town were at home to bottom Club Hanham Athletic and were on top for a large proportion of the game. They opened the scoring on 10 minutes when Tom Webb sent a good cross into Craig Lancastle who coolly pulled the ball down before planting it in the visitors net. 4 Minutes later we had an almost identical move only this time the ball was crossed in by Joe Guest with Lancastle dealing with it in the same way. The home side continued to press for more goals and struck the upright twice and the bar once before the break, then a minute to half time Hanham struck the ball came into the Thornbury box it was poorly cleared and James Fry struck a sweet half volley into the Thornbury net. The visitors defended much better in the second half and it took the home side until the 80^th minutes before they got a third goal and it came when Matt Davies raced into the box and was brought down and Lancastle stepped up to net the penalty and complete his hattrick. Town got a fourth 2 minutes from the end when Toby Bennett’s free kick was parried by the Hanham keeper but Mark Viner was on hand to score from a tight angle.

Little Stoke had the chance to bounce back from their defeat at Stonehouse Town with a fixture against fairly local rivals Rockleaze Rangers. The home side fell behind after 15 minutes when a Sam Knights corner was flicked on by Ali Boyer and Dan Bendall was waiting at the far post. Stoke almost levelled on 20 minutes when a ball played into Dean Patterson by Jessie Owen saw the ball fly back off the upright. Then Tim O’Loughlin had a great chance for the home side from a Jazz Bright cross his effort was just over the bar. Rangers got a second when Jake Hannham played the ball through to Boyer - Jake Burgess brought him down for a penalty to Rangers. Boyer took the kick to make it 2-0. Stoke hit back in the 50^th minute when Dan Cockram played the ball into Tim O’Loughlin to slam the ball into the Rangers net from just inside the box. 10 minutes later Stoke were on level terms when Fraser Robertson’s 25 yard free kick was head in by Billy Moore. Rangers stole the game in the 89^th minute when Ali Boyer crossed to the far post and Cameron Jones was there to slot the ball home.

Hardwicke came away from the forest with three points after defeating Ruardean Hill Rangers 2-1. No goals in the first 45 minutes with Hardwicke taking the lead on 65 minutes from the penalty spot after the home side had their keeper sent off - Paul Carter stepped up to make sure from the spot. 5 minutes later the home side were level when Ricky Tingle netted from a corner. The winner came in the 80^th minute from the foot of Will Matthews firing home an unstoppable shot from the right side of the box.

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