MARCLIFF Gloucestershire County Football League

Ron's Match Reports

31^st March 2018 - Frampton beat Wick

Just one fixture survived the terrible weather we are experiencing at present the game between Frampton United and Wick went ahead.

After the amount of rain that has fallen in the last couple of days the pitch was perfectly playable. Both sides shared possession in the first 10 minutes or so until Frampton opened the scoring in the 13^th minute when Sean Lawson hit a great goal from just inside the box from a Max Harper-Emerson cross from the right. Kris Bulley had a great chance to make that 2-0 on 18 minutes when he won the challenge over Wick keeper Jack Madge but with an open goal pulled his shot across the face of the goal and past the far post. Wick struggled to get near the Frampton goal and were kept busy trying to contain the Frampton forwards then in the 28^th minute Wick keeper Madge failed to control the ball and Lawson nipped the ball of his toe to send the ball into an empty net. On 41 minutes Lawson almost got a third but his shot went just past the post. Wicks first real effort on goal came in the 42^nd minute a shot from Joe Thomas just wide of the target. Then a couple of minutes later Dan Stephens left footed free kick from the right of the box was curled towards the far post but home keeper James Marklove managed to take it cleanly. In time added at the end of the first half an effort from Wick’s Alex Whale was only just wide of the post.

Frampton started the second half with a Matt Cook free kick which he sent across to the far post but it went out for a goal kick. In the 58^th minute Lawson hit a shot from 16 yards that gave keeper Madge no chance and complete his hat-trick. In the 70^th minute Wick pulled a goal back and it came from a Joe Thomas shot from the edge of the box that took a deflection off Liam O’Neill and completely wrong footed Marklove. Jack Bartman moved up for a corner from the left for the home side met the ball well with his head but it went over the bar. Wick had a glorious chance to net a second goal on 83 minutes when the home defence got in a right muddle and the ball fell to Jake Robinson but he pulled his shot wide. Frampton had introduced Stuart Maule to the attack and on 87 minutes he was through on goal only to shoot horribly wide as he was challenged. 2 minutes into added time a terrible throw in from Wick to the keeper saw Madge struggling to reach the ball and in his attempt to clear up field the ball fell nicely to Stuart Maule who looked up saw an empty net and shot from 50 yards into the Wick net to make the final score 4-1.

24^th March 2018 - Kingswood take point at Stonehouse

Stonehouse Town were held to a 1-1 draw against today’s visitor’s Kingswood. Kingswood stunned the home side in the very first minute of the game when a cross from a Nathan Croot free kick from the left to the far post found Ady Howarth who headed the ball back across goal clipping the post on its way into the net. The home side got going after that early shock and should have levelled on 11 minutes when Luke Soule was clear on goal but keeper Chris Fox saved well. On 20 minutes a great build up by Stonehouse gave Liam Wright the chance to slip the ball past Fox but he had strayed offside. The home side were beginning to get on top midway through the half but stubborn defensive work from the visitors kept them at bay. On 35 minutes the home side got the goal that they had been pushing for from a long ball down the right the ball was pushed into Liam Wright and he squeezed the ball past Fox. Just before the break Fox brought of another good save this time to deny Will Hayward.

Right from the off the home side pressed hard and Fox again kept out Liam Wright diving to his right. The visitors gave away a corner and Lee Keveren’s header just went over the top. With just 4 minutes of the second half gone Wright again brought out the best in the Kingswood keeper. The visitors were finding it very hard to break into the Stonehouse half and were constantly on the defensive but try as they did the home side were unable to break through with that man Fox keeping them at bay. A frustrating afternoon for the home side but a very valuable point for the visitors.

The local derby of the day was Hanham Athletic v AEK Boco these Clubs are just a mile apart in the Hanham area of Bristol and 254 spectators turned out to support their sides. The game was eventually won by Boco 3-2 with a goal in the very last minute of the game. Basement Club Hanham took the lead on 20 minutes when Jamie Fry poked the ball home from a corner. Harrision Kyte levelled on 55 minutes with a fine individual goal. The home side retook the lead in the 80^th minute from the penalty spot after Boco keeper Nathan Hawkins had brought down Adam Grinter and Sam Brown netted from the spot. A Luke Basseng superb volley from just inside the box on 85 minutes brought it all square again then with almost the last kick of the game Liam Crewe grabbed the winner.

A bad day at the office for Frampton United who were well and truly beaten in today’s early kick off against Lebeq United at Oakland’s Park. The home side were relentless and for the first 15 minutes gave the Frampton defence a very hard time and only some good keeping by Frampton’s keeper James Marklove kept them out. The pressure eventually paid of on 25 minutes when Nikell Plummers pass found Ibrahima Sarr to drive the ball in from 20 yards. Nikell Plummer then chested down a cross to make it 2-0 on 30 minutes. Elan Plummer then netted number three on 37 minutes with a low drive from outside the box. Early in the second half the visitors went close with efforts from Ryan Vincent and Matt Cook but Nikell Pummer scored his second to make it 4-0. It became five on 60 minutes when Fabian McCarthy netted and just after that Nathan Hall got in on the act to make it 6-0. Shah Bhakerd rounded it off in the 85^th minute to make the final score 7-0.

Thornbury Town had to play their fixture at Tytherington Rocks ground because of the work taking place at the Mundy Playing Fields upgrading their facilities for the next level of the pyramid. The leader started very confidently showing why they are top of the table and took the lead on 6 minutes Craig Lancastle tapping home Toby Bennett’s cross from the right. The visitors Gala Wilton insurgence into the Thornbury area was very limited in the first 45 minutes. Town went 2-0 up on 48 minutes from a Scott McLeod cross to the far post headed back by Lancastle and Brandon Benjamin lunged forward to knock the ball in. Gala hit back in the 57^th minute from a corner from the right that was met by Ash Samuels to head home. It was close for the next 20 minutes or so until in the 80^th minute a low cross into the gala box was cut out by the Gala keeper but the ball went straight to Asher Budd on the edge of the box who drove a low shot into the net to make it 3-1.

Another local derby took place today Little Stoke v Patchway Town with the hosts running out 4-2 winners. The home side almost took the lead on 16 minutes when Jack Burgess header from a Fraser Robertson corner went just over. Just 4 minutes later Stoke opened the scoring when Tim O’Loughlin found Dan Cockram out wide and his cross was met by Rich Homer to fire in from the edge of the box. On 25 minutes Stoke keeper Amin Jones played the ball out to Billy Moore but his pass back to the keeper fell short and Patchway’s David Ishi nipped in to plant the ball into the net. 1-1. On 75 minutes a Alex Hill corner found Fraser Robertson who laid the ball off to Dan Cockram to drive home. A minute later Stoke scored again when Homer slipped the ball to Alex Hill whose shot was well saved but the ball ran loose and Luke Henderson sent the ball home. In the 80^th minute Patchway scored their second from a corner from Matt Webb that found Sam Finn and his shot took a deflection off of Billy Moore and past Jones. Stoke netted a fourth goal right on time when Henderson nipped in front of the Patchway defence from a Hill cross.

Broadwell continued their winning form with 4-0 victory over today’s visitors Southmead CS athletic. All four goals coming in the first 45 minutes. Greg Lewis gave the home side the lead on 12 minutes turning in a rebound of the bar from a Paul Manns free kick. It was 2-0 on 20 minutes after Paul Manns sent a superb ball out wide to Jordi Sheen and his cross found the unmarked Harry Williams to finish it off. Liam Thomas then made it three with a low drive and on 35 minutes a one two between Harry Williams and Sheen saw Williams drive it home. Southmead struggled to break the home side down in a pretty uneventful second period.

Wick’s home form has certainly been much better than their away efforts this season and took another 3 points with a 3-1 win over Henbury. Kieren Hutson gave the home side the lead following a Dan Sheldon corner on 10 minutes. 10 minutes later Sheldon turned in Antonio Nurses cross. There had been several attacks from the visitors but nothing materialised. The visitors did get the ball in the wick net on 40 minutes but it was ruled out for offside. 4 minutes into the second half the visitors pulled a goal back when the home side failed to clear their lines and Kieren Cooper scored. On 52 minutes a great run by Dan Sheldon down the right send over a great cross for James Hubbard to net after being sidelined most of the season with a back injury. Henbury had a couple more chances but failed to take them and the score finished 3-1 to Wick.

GFA Challenge Trophy S/F

Ruardean Hill Rangers started the game well defending when needed against the Hellenic Premier Div opponents and were happy to let Brimscombe & Thrupp keep the ball, but the first chance of the game fell to Rangers Luke Johnson on 6 minutes who had a shot cleared off the line after a good flick from Shaun Tingle. The next chance of the game fell to Brimscombe's Ben Deakin who shot wide from 15 yards. Deakin was then yellow carded for a late challenge on Dan Mason after 27 minutes. The Rangers were doing well limiting their opponents to scraps for the first 30 minutes, a good effort from a free was brilliantly tipped around the post from Rangers Arran Underwood. Brimscombe's Karl Nash had the next chance heading over from a great cross. Ben Deakin from Brimscombe then had 2 chances in quick succession firsts poking wide and then seeing Underwood with another great save. The second half started much the same with Brimscombe becoming frustrated with John Evans hitting well over after being set up. The first goal of the game came when a through ball found a Brimscombe player running through and was brought down by Rangers keeper Underwood for a penalty, Ashley Caldwell stepped up to score sending Underwood the wrong way. In the 77th minute Rangers Luke Brown narrowly missed from a 25 yard free kick which went agonisingly wide. Hill were starting to put some pressure on their opponents now and Ruardean's Ricky Tingle saw his header slam against the cross bar. Ranger’s hopes were dealt a blow of getting something from the game when Dan Mason saw red for a serious foul tackle. With Rangers down to 10 men Brimscombe were happy holding the ball up in the corner to waste the time away and secure their place in the Challenge Trophy Final.

17^th March 2018 - Patchway hit eight at Southmead

An outstanding result for bottom Club Patchway Town who travelled the short distance to take on fellow strugglers Southmead CS Athletic and coming away with a resounding 8-1 win. Patchway went into the lead in the 1^st minute as a Dan Rees’s cross from the left to the far post was driven home by Shuah Okonmah the ball hitting the inside of the post on its way in. The visitors went 2-0 up on 22 minutes from a Matt Webb corner from the right that was headed home by Phil Vice. Patchway might have scored again on 28 minutes as Okonmah’s cross from the right just evaded the incoming forwards. In their first real attack Southmead pulled a goal back on 29 minutes through Reece Provis. They almost got a second on 32 minutes but the visitor’s keeper Connor Walsh saved well from Toby Werrett.

From the 50^th minute on it was all Patchway Town as they hit another six goals. Home keeper Shaun O’Keefe spilled the ball and Dan Dunt was on hand to tap it home. Ten minutes later Dan Rees scored the first of his three goals from the penalty spot. 77 minutes saw a second from Dan Rees from the edge of the box and then on 85 minutes Reece Buss who had come on as substitute made it 6 -1. Dan Rees completed his hattrick on 87 minutes and David Ishi completed the scoring in the 90^th minute. Town will be well please with this result as it lifts them off the bottom of the table.

After a few indifferent results recently Ruardean Hill Rangers got back to winning ways with a 3-0 success over Wick. The visitors started well but never really hurt the home defence. In fact the first real chance fell to Rangers Shaun Tingle whose shot from a tight angle went just wide. On 15 minutes home keeper Steve Bowles pulled of a great save to deny Wicks Dave Patterson and 5 minutes later Bowles was in action again this time keeping out Jake Robertson. The home side took the lead 5 minutes before the break the ball falling just right in the box for Luke Johnson to give the home side the lead. Edmunds in the visitor’s goal pulled off a great save from a Kane Fellows header after Dan Mason had crossed the ball on the hour mark. On 65 minutes it was 2-0 to Rangers after Edmonds could only palm the ball away from a Fellows shot and Johnson was on hand to finish. Shaun Tingle then missed a good chance 10 minute later and just after that Johnson missed a glorious chance to complete a hattrick. Ricky Tingle then hit the crossbar before Luke Brown who had been out injured for some time made it 3-0 after being set up by Luke Johnson.

Stonehouse Town hit back from losing an early goal to home side Hardwicke. It was Steve Bick who gave the home side the lead on 6 minutes when he headed home. The visitors levelled on 34 minutes when Luke Soule got the first of his three for the afternoon with a shot from just inside the box. Then a minute before half time Stonehouse took the lead with a well struck shot from just on the edge of the box from Will Hayward. In the 47^th minute Hardwicke’s Will Higgins handled on the line and was shown a red card and Liam Wright netted from the penalty spot to give the visitors a 3-1 lead. Luke Soule then netted twice more to complete his hattrick by the 56^th minute and then in the very last minute a free kick from Hardwicke’s Luke Payne struck the crossbar and Rob Hine was on hand to tap in the rebound.

Frampton United gained another 3 points with a 2-0 win at home to Hanham Athletic. Ryan Vincent had an early chance for the home side but his shot was well saved. On 20 minutes the home side opened the scoring when Manolo Espada set up Kris Bulley to fire home. Just before the break Hanham’s Jamie Fry went close but the ball went just over the bar. Hanham keeper Ross Britton pulled off a great save to deny Jake Lowe on 52 minutes and on 75 minutes Jack Fry missed a great chance to level the score for Hanham. Frampton sealed the points in the 80^th minute when Manolo Espada’s cross was headed home by Matt Cook.

Gala Wilton conceded two goals to Broadwell Amateurs in the second half after a fruitless first half from both sides. Gala did get the ball in the Broadwell net direct from a corner on 28 minutes but it was ruled out for an infringement on the keeper. Broadwell launched an attack down the right in the 64^th minute and the home keeper came rushing out of goal brought the Broadwell forward down and the referee pointed to the penalty spot, Paul Manns took the spot kick and scored to give them the lead. The home side were unlucky a little later when Kyle Bakewell had his header cleared off the line and that would have made it 1-1. When Liam Thomas chipped the ball over Gala’s keeper on 82 minutes that gave Broadwell a 2-0 lead and the three points.

Henbury’s 1-1 draw at home to Lebeq United meant that they had taken 4 points from the title challengers this season. Not a very inspiring first 45 minutes although the home side did have a couple of chances to go ahead. The first on 18 minutes was a chance that Andrew Dickinson might have done better if he had laid the ball off instead of loosing control and allowing the Lebeq keeper to smother his effort. Henbury then got the ball in the visitors net with a great header from Ross Johnson after Adam Rosser had sent over the cross from the right but it was ruled out for offside. In the 60^th minute Henbury took the lead and again it was the same combination with Rosser sending in a great cross for Johnson to rise above the united defence to head them into the lead. Not to be outdone the visitors hit back in the 75^th minute when Ed Wright was adjudged to have pushed a united player in the back in the penalty area with a penalty being awarded. Cameron Brown made no mistake from the spot. A fair result on the day was the comment I received from the reporter.

10^th March 2018 - Thornbury and Frampton progress to League Cup Final

The Les James League Cup Semi-finals took pride of place this afternoon with Thornbury Town reaching the final for a second time and they will face Frampton United in the Final.

In the league Lebeq United closed the gap at the top to 10 points with a slender win over Ruardean Hill Rangers.

Les James League Cup Semi-finals sponsored by Boca Teamwear

Thornbury Town find themselves in the Les James League Cup Final but they had to work extremely hard to earn that right. On a very soft pitch that looked a bit worse for wear at the end of the game credit must go to the Ground Staff for allowing the game to go ahead. Brandon Benjamin created some space for a shot on goal after 90 seconds but the shot never really troubled Dan Brabham in the Gala Wilton goal. Gala sent a scare through the home side after 6 minutes from an in-swinging corner from the left that fizzed across the home goal without anyone getting a touch. At the other end a long ball crossed into the box by Joe Guest had Brabham at full stretch to take the ball from under the bar. Gala had a great chance to take the lead on 14 minutes when they won the ball in their own half pumped along ball over the Thornbury defence and Gala striker Ryan Dobbins was on it like a flash as he broke into the box and unleashed a shot across goal which luckily for Thornbury hit the post and was cleared. Gala had another good chance on 26 minutes as a cross from the left to the far post almost reached the incoming Jack Jeremiah but a defender just managed to deflect it out for a corner. Thornbury’s Brandon Benjamin cut into the Gala box and shot from a tight angle but Brabham pushed it away for a corner. Gala were put under considerable pressure by the home side on 32 minutes but they kept them out with great determination. On 36 minutes Town had the ball in the net after Craig Lancastle’s pass split the Gala defence but Marcus Wormwell was just offside. The home side did take the lead on 42 minutes and it was the same combination only this time it was Wormwell’s cross that was headed home by Craig Lancastle.

6 minutes into the second half Brabham almost gave Town the chance to make it 2-0 when he spilled a simple ball into the box but then turned to grab it at a second attempt. After Town lost possession on the halfway line Mark Mason broke clear reached the 18 yard box but hurried his shot and it went past the post. Gala forced a corner on the left on70 minutes and the cross was only half cleared by Thornbury but the shot at goal went wide of the post. At the other end Benjamin directed his header on target but it was not strong enough to beat the keeper. Thornbury had a great chance to make it 2-0 on 76 minutes as Lancastle broke into the Gala box and was brought down for a penalty. Lancastle took the penalty but Brabham guessed right and pulled of a great diving save to his left. Town were given a free kick just outside the box on 79 minutes after Lancastle was brought down again but this time Toby Bennett took the kick that brought another really good save from the Gala keeper. Thornbury did get the ball in the Gala net 84 minutes but again it was ruled out for offside.

Watched by a crowd of 91 Spectators on a fine spring afternoon, this game was played at Frampton due to the Stonehouse Town ground at Oldends Lane being waterlogged. Frampton came fast out of the blocks & Lewis Wilton went close after just 3 minutes. A flurry of free kicks were then awarded to both sides but came to nothing. On 6 minutes Stonehouse first attack resulted in the award of a free kick on the left which was headed goal-ward by Lewis Fogg. Frampton keeper James Marklove missed the ball & Stonehouse took a 1-0 lead. Then, after 10 minutes, Frampton were awarded a corner on the left from which Stonehouse conceded a further corner on the right. Taken by Manolo Espada, an in-swinging ball was adjudged to have crossed the line by Assistant Referee to bring scores level at 1-1. The game then became a proper “end to end” cup tie.

On 22 minutes Adam Ireland for Stonehouse, took a corner on left which went straight out for a throw in. Pressure from Lewis Fogg on 25 minutes resulted in another Stonehouse corner which was cleared off the line by Kris Bulley of Frampton. From the clearance a chance fell to Frampton, but Stonehouse keeper Adam Clarke saved with his legs from Manolo Espada . A one on one between Bulley & Clarke on 30 minutes was badly missed by the former. Clarke almost gifted Frampton the lead on 35 minutes when he dangerously left his area to make a tackle, but the resulting threat was cleared. Most of the action up to half time took place in Frampton half, but Frampton did break out & threaten Stonehouse on 45 minutes but the chance was put wide.

Second half began as first had ended, but on 52 minutes a free kick taken by Liam O’Neill for Frampton was dropped by Stonehouse keeper Clarke & Wilton netted to put Frampton 2-1 in the lead.

Both teams “huffed & puffed” for the remainder of the game, but neither side came close to adding to the score.

In a game where neither keeper had a particularly difficult save to make, the two sides did seem to cancel each other out. The difference was that Frampton took their chances & Stonehouse did not.

League Games

Broadwell Amateurs move back into third place in the table with a 1-0 victory over Little Stoke. Credit to the ground staff for working very hard to get this game on. Little Stoke adapted to the conditions very well and played some good attractive football but never really trouble the home side after they reached the edge of the 18 yard box. Amin Jones pulled of a great save on 10 minutes to deny Harry Williams giving the home side the lead but then on 25 minutes a sloppy back pass by a Stoke defender allowed Harry Williams to pick up the loose ball and lift the ball over Jones who was stranded on the edge of the 18 yard box. In the second half the visitors pushed hard to try and level the score but the home defence was defiant with Greg Lewis at the top of his game. In the last 5 minutes both Harry Williams and Liam Thomas missed good chances to increase the lead.

Lebeq United cut the points deficit to 10 with a slender 1-0 win at home to Ruardean Hill Rangers. Nathan Hall had the ball in the Rangers net after 10 minutes sliding home a Daniel Wring cross but he had strayed off-side. The Rangers keeper Steve Bowles brought off a great save to deny Cameron Brown after 25 minutes. Rangers Danny Brain was put clear on goal but his shot was well saved by the home keeper. The home side did eventually get on the score sheet in the 43 minute when Sheldon Sawyers cross was headed in by Nathan Hall. The home side continued to press throughout the second half but some fine goal keeping and some stout defending by Rangers defence kept them out.

A fine hattrick from Luke Basseng gave AEK Boco a 3-0 victory at Patchway Town. All the goals were scored in the first 45 minutes with the opener coming in the 13 minute from a corner to the back post where Basseng rose to head home. In the 23rd minute the home side failed to clear their lines from a corner and the ball was knocked back into the box and was again headed in by Basseng. His final goal on 35 minutes was a cracking shot after the ball had been crossed into the box. The home side offered very little in the way of attack and Dan Rees was the only player who came anywhere near finding the back of the Boco net after 10 minutes.

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