27th October 2018 - Lebeq United give Patchway footballing lesson in second half

Ron Holpin

League leaders Lebeq United were drawing 2-2 at the break with today’s opponents Patchway Town, but a superb second half from the leaders who out played Patchway in skill and finishing and score six more in the second 45 minutes.

It was Patchway who got off to a flying start and took the lead on 2 minutes when Dan Bendall broke clear down the left and hit a low shot into the six-yard box where Liam Lloyd was arriving to hit the ball past keeper Amin Jones. Lebeq’s reply came on 6 minutes from Kevin Camargo a shot from the edge of the box that went over the bar. Then on 10 minutes the home side were level from a break down the right by James Hall who squared the ball back for the incoming Christian DaCosta to hit a shot from the edge of the box past keeper Sam Burgess. The home side then went ahead on 17 minutes from a low cross from the left that found Fabian McCarthy to turn the ball past Burgess. On 24 minutes Patchway were level when the home defence had pushed up to far and a long ball found Josh Morris completely unmarked and he strolled through to hammer the ball past the helpless Jones. Towards the latter stages of the first half the home side were beginning to show their metal and McCarthy fired just over on 33 minutes and a couple of minutes later A shot straight at Burgess hit the keeper on the chest rebounded to Cornwall but he shot straight into the keeper’s arms. Twaine Plummer then hit his shot just wide and James Hall struck the crossbar but it remained 2-2 at the break.

7 minutes into the second half Elan Plummer’s good run and shot was deflected over the bar but 2 minutes later Lebeq were back in front and it came from half-time substitute Cameron Brown who made some space for his shot from the edge of the box and it flew past Burgess. In the 63rd minute Burgess saved well from Aaron Cornwall but from the resulting corner Cornwall turned the ball in from close range. From another attack by the home side a shot on goal was blocked by the Patchway defence but Kevin Camargo curled the ball past Burgess. On 75 minutes came one of the best goals of the game as Cameron Brown weaved his way past three Patchway defenders before sliding the ball into the net with Burgess stranded. Shah Bhakerd then fired over the bar for the home side before a rare break by the visitors saw Dave Talbot shoot straight at Jones. On 82 minutes Lebeq scored again when Cameron Brown split the Patchway defence with a superb ball that found Fabian McCarthy to score his second. Pathway kept trying and on 87 minutes Dan Bendall was unlucky with a shot that curled at the last moment and struck the outside of the upright. Then right on 90 minutes Lebeq made it 8-2 after Shah Bhakerd scored form a tight angle.

A goal in the 82nd minute gave Frampton a 2-1 win at home to Hanham Athletic after the visitors had taken the lead in the 36th minute. Sean Lawson should have put the home side one up on 29th minute but headed over the bar, but a minute later the Frampton keeper saved well from Hanham’s Jack Camm. Sean Lawson then ran almost the full length of the field and then saw his final shot brilliantly saved by Hawkins. The visitors went ahead on 36 minutes a free kick from Jack Camm was headed in by Tom Welling. Ryan Vincent levelled the score for the home side and then came that late goal when Manolo Espada pulled the ball back for Jonathan Lewis to fire home.

Wick were brought back down to earth after their excellent win at Lebeq in midweek when they were held to a draw by Henbury. With very little action until the 44th minute when Henbury took the lead with a great strike from the edge of the box by Harvey Moran. Henbury were reduced to ten men on 51 minutes when Adam Rosser was shown a straight red for a foul. Wick pressed hard and were rewarded with an equalising goal on 70 minutes that was stabbed in by Jordan Scott following a goalmouth scramble. The home side retook the lead on 80 minutes from a long kick from keeper Cameron Tarr that saw a Wick defender slip as he went for the ball and that allowed Moran in on a one-on- one situation and he made no mistake Henbury were 2-1 up. With just 3 minutes to go Wick were awarded a penalty and Shaun Morris hit the back of the net to make the final score 2-2.

Ruardean Hill Rangers went a goal down after 8 minutes to todays opponents Stonehouse Town scored by Dan Martin who craftily lobbed the ball over keeper underwood as he advanced. Rangers first effort on goal came from Luke Johnson on 18 minutes but Town’s keeper Will Pedrick saved well. The visitors let the home side back into the game on 20 minutes when they gave away a penalty which Luke Johnson duly dispatched. Just after the restart Stonehouse had a great chance to go ahead but the ball was scrambled away by Rangers. They were unlucky again in the 50 minute when Dan Martin saw his header cleared off the line by Charlie Mason. On 72 minutes Rangers grabbed the winner when Shaun Tingle squeezed the ball in following a goalmouth scramble. They could well have increased that lead just 3 minutes later when they were awarded a second penalty but Pedrick saved Luke Johnson’s shot only for the referee to make them take the kick again and this time Johnson fired over the bar. The visitors were unlucky right at the end when firstly Dan Martin went close and then Jamie Martin had his effort well saved by Underwood.

Broadwell Amateurs took an 8th minute lead when new signing Sam Wines scored from a 25-yard free kick against Little Stoke. Broadwell’s Kristian Burnard had to leave the field very early on with an injury and they brought on 16-year-old Josh White for his first game. With no further score in the first 45 minutes the second half saw Stoke with much more possession and in the 56th minute they levelled the score when a cross from the right was met at the near post by Luke Henderson. Both sides had chances to win the game and the home side almost stole the points in the 80th minute but for a great save by the Little Stoke keeper from a Harry Williams effort.

Southmead slip up again at home this time losing to Rockleaze Rangers by three goals to one. Rangers went ahead on 15 minutes when Mike Perham headed home at the back post from a corner. Rangers made it 2-0 in the 41st minute again it came from a corner that was headed back to Dan Webb to fire home. The home side got themselves back in the game on 65 minutes when Remi Ferguson scored from the penalty spot, but then in the 75th minute a break by Rangers down the left and the ball swung into the edge of the box and Rory Langdon drove the ball home.

Hardwicke ran out 3-2 winners in this close encounter with Gala Wilton. It was Gala who had the first attempt on goal after 16 minutes a rasping shot from Steve Smith from 30 yards that went just past the post. The home side took the lead on 20 minutes from a Glen Gittins cross that was headed in by Will Matthews. Gala levelled the score in the 28th minute fierce 30-yard drive from Jon Antonio that flew over keeper Jacob Hobbs. Gala keeper Lewis Skyers brought off a really good save from a James Ratcliffe 25-yard free kick on 38 minutes to keep the score level. Just a minute before the break Hardwicke retook the lead when Glen Gittins passed the ball out to Ratcliffe on the left he cut into the box and slotted the ball past the keeper into the bottom corner. Gala started the better in the second half and Andrew Ikuesen had three good shots on goal all really well saved by Jacob Hobbs. Then on 80 minutes against the run of play Hardwicke scored a third and it came from a James Ractliffe cross that was turned in by Will Matthews. Gala hit back 5 minutes later with a well-deserved goal by Andrew Ikuesen but the home side held out to the end for that win.

20th October 2018 - Ruardean win to end Rockleaze winning streak

Rockleaze Rangers four match winning streak came to an end today when they were beaten 2-0 by today’s visitors Ruardean Hill Rangers. The Forest team attacked right from the off and home keeper Lewis Brodie Pulled of a good save to deny Kane Fellows. For the next few minutes both sides failed with their passing just giving the ball away to each other. The visitors took the lead on 11 minutes with a great strike from Luke Brown. At the other end Dan Webb tried his luck with a shot from 25 yards but it went well over the bar. A second goal on 21 minutes for Ruardean came from a long ball up the right side where Luke Brown took in his stride and raced on to slot the ball past Brodie. On 26 minutes Rockleaze came close to scoring when a low shot from the edge of the box from Joe Weare saw the Ruardean keeper Aaron Underwood diving low to save. The visitors almost got a third just before the break with some really good football in the build-up which allowed Luke Brown to fire just past the post.

The home side started well in the second half and a break down the flank by left full-back Nick Jones had Underwood diving full length to push the shot around the post for a corner. A couple of minutes later a through ball to Weare was really well read by the keeper as he rushed out and prevented an almost certain goal. Ruardean hit back and home keeper Brodie could only parry a Kane Fellows shot over the bar. Jones was causing the visitors defence some real trouble and another good break down the left saw his cross pushed away for a corner. The best chance of the game for Rockleaze came in the 75th minute from a cross that came in from the right was met by Joe Weare but he steered his header wide. The last chance of the game fell to Rockleaze Rangers Ali Boyer but with a clear header on goal he sent the ball over the bar.

Little Stoke’s last venture out ended in a heavy defeat but they made up for that today with a 2-1 win over struggling side AEK Boco. Boco surprised the home side in the 10th minute when a shot from the edge of the box by Joe Beardwell flew into the Stoke net. Boco could well have been 2-0 up on 24 minutes but for an outstanding save by home keeper Jones from a point blank Beardwell shot. Stoke were back in the game on 27 minutes when Luke Henderson broke in to the box and was upended and the referee pointed straight to the spot. Henderson hauled himself up and planted the ball into the Boco net to level the score. With 2 minutes being added to the first 45 minutes Stoke took the lead when Henderson’s powerful shot rebounded of the post straight to Tim O’Loughlin drive the rebound into the Boco net. There were few chances in the second half until around five minutes from the end when Stokes Keiron Williams saw his goal bound shot turned around the post.

Hanham Athletic continue to climb the table steadily and recorded another 2-1 win against todays visitor’s Southmead CS Athletic. The home side took a very early lead after 3 minutes when Tom Welling turned in a corner from Sam Brown. Hanham then missed several good opportunities to increase the lead with new signing Jack Camm – George Cryer and Max Barker being the culprits. On 63 minutes Southmead levelled the score from the penalty spot neatly tucked away by Remi Ferguson. Hanham grabbed the winner on 77 minutes with a superb effort from George Cryer.

League leaders Lebeq United came away with a slender 1-0 win at strugglers Gala Wilton. The home side had made up their minds that they would try and frustrate a united side by defending deeply and hoping for the odd break. They managed to do this until the 30th minute when the visitors took the lead from a cross into the box where Sheldon Sawyers avoided his marker and headed the ball home. The game continued in the same vein in the second half with the home side frustrating the united side by defending very deep. Then in the 56th minute Gala had their first attempt on goal a shot from Danny Knight that went just the wrong side of the post. On 75 minutes a shot from Tom Dunsford crashed against the crossbar and United turned the rebound into attack and almost got a second goal but for a fantastic save from keeper Dan Brabham. Gala almost got a point out of the game in the 88th minute from a corner that was punched clear by United keeper Amin Jones but the ball was pumped back into the box and Peter Boyles header went just wide.

What a difference a week makes. Last Saturday Broadwell Amateurs face the same opposition in Patchway Town in the GFA Challenge Trophy Cup and lost 4-0. This week they returned for a league match and went away with the three point and a slender 1-0 win. The home side had a lot of possession in this game but failed to turn it into goals. They should have scored after 4 minutes when Dan Bendall was through on goal but was thwarted by a fine save from keeper Jamie Merry. At the other end Kristian Burnard went close with a header that just cleared the bar. The only goal of the game on 10 minutes came from across into the box by Ben Fishwick that found Harry Williams whose shot saw keeper Sam Burgess get his hand to the ball but could not stop it going in. Although the home side had a lot of the play in the second half they failed to break through a well organised defence.

Stonehouse Town were held to a 1-1 draw by todays visitors Henbury. They gave the visitors a head start on 13 minutes when Ben Carmen’s poor back pass was picked up by Harvey Moran whose first shot was saved by keeper Will Pedrick but slotted home the rebound. Trailing 1-0 at the break the home side started well in the second half and Dan Martin had his effort well saved by the Henbury keeper. Stonehouse levelled the score on 51 minutes when Alex Kibble lifted the ball over the Henbury defence for Dan Martin to run clear and lob the ball over the advancing keeper. Home keeper Will Pedrick then brought of a fantastic save to deny Henbury taking the lead from a Nathan Hewitt shot and Tom Palmer scrambled the ball away from a corner. With just 5 minutes left on the watch Chris Earle sent the ball through to Luke Soule but unfortunately, he failed to control the ball and the chance was gone.

A 2-2 draw at Oldbury Lane between Wick and Hardwicke. Hardwicke started the better and several early chances went begging opened the scoring on 15 minutes when Kieran Bryce-Ingles scored. Wick’s Dan Wingfield, Shaun Morris and Joe Thomas all had several chances to level but some indifferent finishing and good goal keeping kept them out. On 43 minutes home keeper Joe Pople fouled Will Matthews in the box and from the resulting penalty Will Higgins made it 2-0 to the visitors at the break. Wick continued to press and on 53 minutes Shaun Morris’s set up Joe Thomas but his shot struck the post. The constant pressure paid off and in the 70th minute from a corner that came into the box there was an almighty scramble with Jordan Scott getting the final touch to make it 2-1. A couple of minutes later Dan Wingfield saw his shot cleared off the line and then Dan Sheldon struck the crossbar. The equalising eventually came 2 minutes into added time from great work by Joe Thomas and finished off by Harry Madge.

13th October 2018 - Wick win at windy Southmead

Just one league fixture played today - with five other fixtures involving Clubs in this league - took place in the GFA Challenge Trophy Round 2.

Southmead CS Athletic were playing their first home fixture of the season after the baking weather we experienced in the summer played havoc with their pitch leaving huge cracks all over the ground. The Club has worked hard to put the problem right and there visitors today were Wick who are having a successful season so far.

It was very difficult conditions for both sides with a very strong wind with extra strong gusts blowing straight down the pitch towards the pavilion. Wick had the advantage of the wind in the first 45 minutes and made full use of the conditions while the home defence did not adapt very well. Wick went ahead after 11 minutes from a cross from the right that was met by Shaun Morris who powered his header past keeper Alvin Quaye. A few minutes later Morris went very close with a shot from 25 yards. Jordan Scott had his shot well saved by Quaye after latching onto a long free kick on 15 minutes. Southmead’s first effort on goal after 17 minutes was a chipped effort from Rob Sivers that Wick keeper Joe Pople had to reach high to take. Wick took a 2-0 lead on 23 minutes when the ball was slipped through to Jordan Scott to avoid Quale and slip the ball into an empty net. Harry Madge was next on the score sheet for the visitors when a long ball into the Southmead box caught their defence out and Madge fired past Quaye on the angle. It was 4-0 in the 32nd minute and it came from some excellent work out on the right with a low cross into the box and Jordan Scott swivelled to drive the ball home. Just a minute later it was five Ryan Kilban was caught in possession in the box by Shaun Morris and he drove the ball into the net from around 14 yards. A minute before the break Rob Sivers got into a great position to pull a goal back for the home side.

The second half produced no goals as Wick copped with the conditions very well and kept a tight rein on the action. Rob Sivers saw his 30 yard drive deflected wide by keeper Joe Pople on 57 minutes and Otis Francis saw his shot skim past the upright with the keeper not been able to move. The nearest the home side came to scoring was a cracking 30 yard drive from Mo Rabia that skimmed the crossbar five minutes before the end.

GFA Challenge Trophy Round 2

Henbury’s faced Tytherington Rocks from Hellenic League Division 1 West in this trophy game and go through to the next round with a 3-2 win. The home side were on top for the first 20 minutes when they suddenly, found themselves a goal behind from a Rocks breakaway down the right a cross into the box that the keeper failed to deal with and Nathan Croot was there to tap the ball in. The home side squared the game in the 39th minute from a corner sent over by Jake Hannam for George Loud to head home. A shot from 12 yards on 42 minutes through a crowded box - by Harvey Moran gave Henbury a 2-1 half time lead. A long ball out of defence by the home side on 50 minutes found Moran unmarked and he took the ball around the keeper to slide it into an empty net. The home side squandered a couple of further chances to wrap the game up, then in the 78th minute Tytherington pulled the score back to 3-2 when Brandon Banks shot took a deflection on its way into the net. The home side held out for an excellent win.

A big local derby of the day was AEK Boco v Hanham Athletic with awful conditions 106 spectators turned out to watch this game. The visitors took the lead on 20 minutes when Jack Fry headed home a good cross from the right. The home side managed to level the score in the 40th minute when the Hanham keeper Mason Hawkins could only parry a powerful shot and Kyle Russell was on hand to drive the rebound home. Just a minute later Boco were in front after a great build up Owen McCallum scored with a neat finish. The home side had the assistance of the wind in the second half but failed to make it pay partly due to their finishing and partly due to some outstanding keeping from Hanham’s keeper Nathan Hawkins. On 70 minutes the visitors were awarded a penalty and Jack Baber dispatched it to make it 2-2. The game went to penalties with the home side running out 5-4 winners and progressing to the next round.

Gala Wilton’s visit to Frampton United turned into a heavy defeat by six goals to nil. The home side took 26 minutes to open the scoring when Alex Barrett raced clear of the Gala defence to fire the ball home. Ryan Vincent made it two on 30 minutes beating the offside to round the keeper and slide the ball in. In the 52nd minute a defence splitting pass from Kris Bulley allowed Shaun Lawson to net number three. Gala’s Tom Dunford was unlucky when he saw his shot just clear the bar in the 72nd minute. The home side continued to attack and Ryan Vincent netted his second on 75 minutes. Just a minute later A terrific diving header at the near post from Jonathan Lewis made it five. Gala were then reduced to 9 men when the keeper Lewis Skyers was sent off for handling outside the box and Craig Howell was also dismissed for dissent. From the resulting free kick Nathan Dennis curled the ball into the corner of the net to make the final score 6-0.

Patchway Town faced Broadwell Amateurs and took the lead on 24 minutes when Joe Dolby headed in a cross from the right. The home side made it 2-0 on 32 minutes after they had retained possession for some time before Josh Morris powered a shot home. Joe Dolby netted his second on 38 minutes and by this time the home side were well on their way into the next round. Dolby was also involved in the fourth and final goal in the 52nd minute sending the ball across for Dan Bendall to finish off.

6th October 2018 - Frampton smash seven

Some sad news to report this week as the league has lost Kingswood who have withdrawn their first team from the league.

On the playing side only five fixtures went ahead this week.

Big news of the day was the 7-1 win by Frampton United over today’s visitors Little Stoke. The home side scored steadily throughout the game and went ahead on 5 minutes when Ryan Vincent opened his account when he turned in a cross from Shaun Lawson. Little Stoke were unlucky with the Frampton second on 20 minutes when a Manolo Espada cross was turned into his own net by Jazz Bright. On 30 minutes and from a Little Stoke free kick Nathan Dennis headed the ball away to Joe Wilton and he crossed into the box for Vincent to net his second. Little Stoke pulled a goal back in the 38th minute when Luke Meacham headed in from a good cross. Just before the break Vincent turned provider when he found Sean Lawson to neatly lob the ball over the keeper.

Three minutes into the second half Ryan Vincent completed his hattrick with an overhead kick that went in off the Little Stoke keeper. A lull in the scoring for Frampton before they scored the sixth on 83 minutes Manolo Espada getting in on the act. Then just before the end Nathan Dennis set up Sean Lawson to make it seven.

Stonehouse Town visited local rivals Hardwicke for today’s encounter which came to life in the 17th minute when Stonehouse’s Jamie Martin broke into the Hardwicke box from the right and was brought down by Will Higgins for a penalty. Alex Kibble made no mistake from the spot to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Higgins tried to make up for his mistake a few minutes later but his powerful shot was pushed away for a corner. A break away by the visitors on 26 minutes almost resulted in a second goal as Will Hayward broke down the left flank crossed into Jamie Spring but he drove it hard against the post. On 35 minutes Hardwicke levelled the score when Keiran Brice-Ingles and Will Higgins set up Keiran Tracey to hammer a 30-yard drive into the roof of the net. In the 40th minute Alex Kibble went very close to restoring the lead with a 35-yard scorcher that went just past the post. The home side grabbed the lead a minute before the break when Stonehouse keeper Will Peddrick brought down Will Matthews in the box for a penalty. Will Higgins was nominated to take the kick and planted it past the keeper. Right on half time the home side were reduced to ten men when Keiran Tracey was sent off for a second bookable offence. The visitors continued to press for an equaliser and Kibble went close again on 50 minutes his shot just skimming the bar. On 70 minutes Tim Williams of Stonehouse got his shot on target from 20 yards but home keeper Jacob Hobbs pushed the ball over the bar. Then right at the end Peddrick brought off a great save to deny James Ratcliffe netting a third for Hardwicke.

Hanham Athletic’s trip to Ruardean Hill Rangers nearly brought them another three points but for a very late goal by the home side to earn a point. Hanham went ahead after 10 minutes when Sam Baber’s first shot was well saved by Underwood but rebounded back to him to fire home. Rangers thought they had levelled on 35 minutes from a fantastic 30-yard strike from Jack Knight but it was ruled out for offside. On 55 minutes both Clubs were reduced to ten men. Rangers levelled the score on 67 minutes from a fine strike from Luke Johnson lifting the ball over the keeper’s head. The visitors retook the lead on 75 minutes with a great 25-yard strike from Joe Treasure, then 2 minutes later Johnson almost levelled when clear on goal but shot wide. Rangers got out of jail in the 89th minute when Steve Coombs netted the equaliser.

With Kingswood leaving the league it meant AEK Boco would become the basement side and today’s visitors Patchway Town were an inform side at present. With very little happing in the first 45 minutes the game changed in the 51st minute when Patchway took the lead with a goal from Sam Finn. The home side began to react and pushed town back and were rewarded in the 65th minute with a cracking goal from Will Gregory hitting a screamer into the top corner of the Patchway net. Just 5 minutes later Boco fell behind again and it came from long serving veteran Matt Webb whose shot from the edge of the box eluded the keeper and dropped into the net.

What a come back from Broadwell Amateurs. They were trailing 2-0 after 15 minutes to today’s visitors Gala Wilton who opened the scoring after 5 minutes when James Bowers great cross into the box was met by Danny Knight who drove a low shot into the net. Gala went two up on 15 minutes and again it came from a James Bowers cross that found Jason Littleton to fire high into the roof of the net. The home side stormed back with a great hattrick from Harry Williams who headed home at the far post on 18 minutes. On 37 minutes a mix, up in the Gala defence allowed Williams in again to level the score. The home side grabbed the winner on the hour mark when Williams picked up a loose ball from a free kick. Broadwell are indebted to their keeper Jamie Merry who made a string of fine saves in the second half.