18th September 2022 - Les James Cup Sponsored by Boca Teamwear
Bromley Heath United progress at Cheltenham Civil Service
Mark Simpson
A deferred start to the Les James League Cup saw no real surprises at this stage of the season with last
seasons finalists Little Stoke and Ruardean Hill Rangers both edging through on penalties.
But we start in Cheltenham where both teams had 100% records in the League so something had to give and it was
Bromley Heath United who took the honours at Cheltenham Civil Service. It was the visitors who took an
early lead when a long ball was misjudged by the home defence allowing Olly Hanham to side step the keeper and
roll the ball into an empty net. The home side shook this off with Shane Dualeh setting up Paul Smith who shot
over. Bromley’s response was direct with Sam Edwards setting up Cameron Ford whose effort came off the outside
of the post. Civil Service pushed and a long ball from Teejay Hosking found Gareth Jones whose shot was well
saved by Bromley’s Will Ferguson. Services Jones was set up by Brett Blake but Ferguson stood firm for an
important save. The second half started brightly with little goalmouth action to shout about until the 57th
minute when a half cleared Bromley Heath corner was met by Ford whose rasping left foot volley wrong footed Brad
Pittaway in the Service goal for 0-2. With Service chasing the game a triple substitution brought an immediate
impact when a pass played into Adam Loveridge was headed on only for an outstretched arm to intervene and duly
awarded penalty converted by Hosking for 1-2 which, despite a last ditch attempt by Service, was how the score
remained.
Broadwell Amateurs against Frampton United was a difficult one to predict but the home side eased to a 2-0
victory. After a fairly even start Broadwell took control and it was converted forward Kristian Burnard who
reacted quickest to a long ball over a flat footed defence to half volley the home side into a 13th minute lead.
Frampton played attractive cross field football but with little penetration into the home area with their first
chance coming on twenty five minutes with Espada’s effort saved by Ben Reed. It was Kian Skidmore who added the
home sides second after a Frampton player had been sin binned. A long corner from Dan Brain found the alert
Skidmore for the second on 30 minutes. A few minutes later Fishwick hit the Frampton bar. The second half saw
both sides playing keep ball. Frampton had three good chances from free kicks all headed wide. Dan Brain
prompted the home side with his final ball setting up Broadwell on several occasions Espada had the games final
chance but headed over and Frampton were out.
Now to last seasons winners Little Stoke who played in an entertaining 2-2 first half against Rockleaze
Rangers. Little Stoke made a quick start to the game and were in front on eight minutes when a Mike Hardiman
strike from 25 yards flew in to the bottom corner. Rockleaze levelled against the run of play on 17 when a cross
come shot from Boomtam was fumbled by Mason Hawkins. The away side took the initiative and from further pressure
took the lead when a low cross was finished by Hatfield. The home side came back and equalized when a quick goal
kick from Jack Burgess found Jordan Yeo who hit a 50 yard cross field ball to Aaron West who floated the ball
onto Luke Meacham whose header was deflected in. Both sides created further chances with Hardiman narrowly wide
for the home side and Hawkins saving well after a good ball in behind the defence. The second period saw Little
Stoke take more of the game with chances for Jude Scott, Luke Meacham and Hardiman coming close. Further
pressure a pull back from the left found Little Stoke’s John Pugsley whose effort was agonisingly wide.
Rockleaze countered on 80 but Hatfield was blocked by Burgess. Chances continued to be created and mis-control
by the away keeper saw the ball hit the post but he followed with a good save to thwart Alex Hill. So to the
dreaded penalties with the home side edging 4-3. Mason Hawkins made two good saves and his counterpart one.
Wick started brightly in their match v Ruardean Hill Rangers, quickly settling into their passing game on a
beautifully flat pitch. On eight minutes Wick’s eighteen yard free kick went harmlessly over and Ruardean
responded when on 15 Alex Stevens flicked just wide and a few minutes later Ellis Waugh twisted and turned only
to clear the bar. Within minutes Wick were pressing again but the strong Ruardean rear-guard hustled the attack
to prevent any clear cut chances. On the half hour the lively Owen Riddler had sight of the away goal but his
shot was comfortably taken by the imposing Aaron Underwood. Wick continued to press but didn’t trouble the score
sheet. From the restart Wick again looked lively and within minutes Jay Vile had his goal bound shot cleared off
the line. On the hour Ruardean broke down the left but the cross failed to find a touch as it travelled across
the goal. On seventy Wick fashioned two great chances the first headed clear on the line and the second blocked
by Underwood’s feet. Aaron Underwood pulled off a great one handed save high to his right to deny Wick again.
That summed up Wick’s afternoon, plenty of possession but unable to unlock the visitors. With the imposing
Underwood in the Ruardean goal, Wick’s chances in the penalty shootout looked grim, and so it proved to be, 3-1
to the visitors.
An interesting affair as Sharpness entertained Quedgeley Wanderers who pushed the Sharks all the way. The game
started with both sides cautiously feeling each other out, but it was the visitors who broke the deadlock on
fifteen when a through ball found Ollie Curtis who burst through and smashed the ball past Truan Taylor. Five
minutes on and Sharpness were level when Brad Gibbs layed off to Rory Cawkwell who drove home. The Sharks grew
in stature and came close when Brad Gibbs shot was well saved by Derbyshire, but he was beaten ten minutes
before the break when Harry Reynolds was upended in the box and Tom Frankham slotted home from 12 yards. This
was not the final action of the half Quedgeley equalising after Sharpness lost possession out wide, the ball
played into Joe Ash who played over the top to Curtis and hit a great shot for his second and 2-2 at the break.
The second half didn’t produce much goalmouth action but Sharpness had one chalked off when Paterson was
adjudged to have knocked the ball out of Derbyshire’s hands. The winner came for the Sharks when a free kick on
halfway was played in by Paterson and Tom Freeman rose highest to see Sharpness into round two.
A lively affair at the Stoke Gifford Stadium saw the League leaders Gala Wilton through by two to one. Hosts Stoke Gifford United
started well using pace to exploit the Gala defence with Karakus heading on target after a few minutes. Gala
grew into the game and started playing balls over the top pushing Gifford backwards. The momentum shifted back
to the home side when Dan Gayner was sin binned for Gala. Although Gala should have taken the led when a scramble gave Martin Smith
a gilt edged chance. Gifford continued to look threatening but made the wrong decisions while the away side
should have scored – Craig Howell fluffing his lines. Gala took the lead on 47 when Alex Gayner finished at the
back post. They continued to press and Connor Walters was denied by the impressive Josh Stawroski. But it was
the home side who had the next score when Mike Barry’s mazy run and a deflected shot by substitute Liam Whelan
made it 1-1. The game became end to end and was decided by substitute Kyle Gibbs who broke in behind the Gifford
defence for 2-1. A few chances for both teams followed with Rudi Hall close to a leveller but Gala held out for
a place in the next round.
Now the first of two games won at a canter. In the game at Arnall Drive a first half hat-trick from Jack
Guthrie set Cribbs Reserves on their way to a 5-0 victory over Henbury. Guthrie opened the scoring in the first minute when a
clearance from Cribbs Rob Nakielny was flicked on by Tom Headford leaving Guthrie to finish with aplomb. Guthrie
double his tally on 31 when he finished off a well worked move by driving the ball home from just inside the
Henbury box. His hat-trick came in the 41st minute when he was quickest to react to a cross from James
Crossley-John to stab in from close range. The second period was largely uneventful but further goals from James
Clayton and an Andy Forward penalty secured a safe passage into the second round for Cribbs Reserves.
The final game of the round saw Hardwicke rout Patchway Town 9-0. There were only three goalscorers with a
Will Mathews hat-trick, Harry Furniss having the lions share with five and Fred Humphries making it nine. Hardwicke
dominated from the start and took the lead on 13 minutes when Jordan Dowdeswell's superb delivery from a corner was
met by Harry Furniss at the back post. Will Matthews made it 2-0 on 25 minutes, rifling home a shot after a mistake in
the Patchway midfield. Matthews fired in the third with his left foot when Hardwicke regained possession from teh
restart. Patchway pressed hard and did force a save from Hall in the Hardwick goal on 37 minutes.
The second half saw Furniss pick up the ball 40 yards out and jink through the defence and buried it in the corner on
47 minutes. Furniss completed his hat-trick on 57 minutes, Fred Humphries headed home a corner on 57 minutes to make
it 6-0. Furniss added his fourth on 67 minutes and a fifth after 70. Matthews was initially denied his hat-trick by a good save on
71 minutes but he eventually got another chance and Matthews completed the rout on 87 minutes from a Dowdeswell corner.
