30^th December 2023 - Vital three points for Gala Wilton and Hardwicke

Mark Simpson

Interesting end to 2023, with almost half of the League being drawn into the relegation battle. Almondsbury not playing this weekend now find themselves in the bottom two, and despite winning Gala Wilton still occupy bottom place. Top team Avonmouth were postponed.

At Fairmile Gardens Gala Wilton hosted Wick with both sides desperate to claim three points. Gala made a dream start with a goal in the first 30 seconds, a flick on found Jorell Sanniola whose cross fell to Jerzy Marsalek who hammered home from close range. Gala doubled their lead on 15 when another Sanniola cross was half cleared, but was hooked back into the box by Alex Pritchard and Ryan Dobbins poked the ball home. There were no further clear-cut chances from either side in the first half but in the second Wick had greater possession as Gala sought to defend their lead and try to score a third on the break, and almost did when Dobbins’ curling effort was well saved by Ashton Trott. The game came to life near the end when a superb Wick header was matched by an even better save by Elliot Jones. In time added on a fantastic free kick from Liam Towler for Wick curled into the top corner off the post to give Gala a nervy last couple of minutes but they held on for a valuable 2-1 win.

To the Bell Field where Frampton United took on Quedgeley Wanderers in front of a large crowd of 112, and it was Quedgeley’s Ryan Hunt who had the first effort but his shot was wide. Frampton opened the scoring on 35 minutes when good interplay between the Driver-Dickerson brothers led to Henry cutting inside the defender and placing the ball into the bottom corner. He had another chance just before the break when he rounded Nathan Charnock but the ball was cleared off the line. Just after the start to the second half Frampton’s Stuart Maule should have done better but dragged his shot wide. On the hour Maule played a good ball out wide to Driver-Dickerson whose cross was helped in by Freddie Porter for 2-0. Quedgeley pulled a goal back when the ball broke to Finlay Jenner to score. The dangerous Jenner had another chance but keeper Tom Kaye pulled off a good save. Kaye also denied Hunt saving with his feet. The games final chance fell to Frampton’s Porter but his shot came back off the inside of the post, but in any case, Frampton won 2-1.

The final match to avoid postponement was at Broadwell Amateurs who faced off against Hardwicke in a tense and closely contested match. The first half saw both teams creating chances but failing to break the deadlock. Hardwicke looked dangerous on the counter with Harley Mustoe and Pat Vernall causing problems for Broadwell’s defence which remained resolute helped by keeper Jack Watkins who made several crucial saves to ensure the first half remained goalless. Hardwicke took the initiative in the second half and their pressure paid off on 63 minutes with Harley Mustoe looping a shot over Watkins leaving most of the 100 crowd stunned. Broadwell responded strongly and were awarded a penalty on 70 minutes after a push in the area on young Belfitt. Liam Thomas dispatched the resultant spot kick. It was only five minutes on when Hardwicke were back in front, Mustoe’s powerful shot could only be parried into the net by Watkins. The hosts pushed hard for an equaliser in the closing stages and came close on a couple of occasions but Hardwicke held firm and emerged as worthy 2-1 winners.

24^th December 2023 - Electronic Programmes

Ruardean Hill Rangers v Broadwell Amateurs

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23^rd December 2023 - Rockleaze fight back to beat Stoke Gifford

Mark Simpson

Plenty going on again towards the bottom and with teams trying to pull clear and others being drawn in to the battle. At the top Avonmouth remain well clear but an interesting scrap is on for second place.

Starting at Hillside Gardens where Rockleaze Rangers took on Stoke Gifford United for the third time this season. It was a bitterly cold afternoon with the visitors making the better start and Mikey Barry giving Rockleaze problems. It was a bit of trickery by Barry that created the first real chance and indeed Stoke Giffords goal, when on 22 minutes he tormented the home backline before rolling the ball to Spike Weaver to crash home from 6 yards. A minute on and Jenson Beard appeared to be away but the covering defence forced him to shoot wide. On 25 minutes Nick Jones beat two defenders and crossed for Dan Webb who fluffed his shot with the ball rolling to keeper Stawroski. A piece of brilliant last ditch tackling from George James prevented Weaver from getting Gifford’s second. Rockleaze started the second half piling on the pressure and Dan Brown’s goal bound effort from the angle drew a good save from Stawroski. Rockleaze did draw level on the hour when Webb scored from a similar position following great work from Brandon Boontam. On 77 minutes Webb was at it again, turning from 20 yards out unleashing an unstoppable shot into the top corner. Stawroski had 10 minutes in the sin bin but Rockleaze couldn’t take advantage. After 5 of the 10 minutes added Weaver found himself through on goal but his weak shot was easily dealt with by Jordan Dunning, and Rockleaze saw out the remaining minutes for a 2-1 win.

Avonmouth’s visit to Hamfields to take on Sharpness saw them into a 90 second lead with lacklustre defending allowing Kyle O’Donovan to rifle home from six yards. Sharpness settled well and responded well, earning a corner which was excellently dispatched by Callum Dummelow for 1-1. The Sharks had a great chance for the lead when Kieran Bennett was through one on one but couldn’t find the target. Some uncharacteristic defensive errors from Sharpness allowed Avonmouth to retake the lead with Jack Williams firing home from the edge of the box. Sharpness had a chance to level Tom Frankham getting his shot away and looking destined for the net but was magnificently blocked on the line. Another defensive error let in Josh Pearce for Avomouth and a 3-1 win.

Tewkesbury Road, for Cheltenham Civil Service with a big game against fellow strugglers Almondsbury. And after a few minutes Service almost took the lead when Sam Johnson’s through ball found Ollie Wilkes whose shot drifted wide. On 9 minutes a Dec Chick shot was pushed around the post by an already busy Sam Burgess. On seventeen great build up saw Wilkes shot saved, Driscoll’s shot blocked and Liam Hope’s follow up wax superbly dealt with by Burgess. Almonds countered and Stu Alexander’s header drifted wide. A mazy run forward by Johnson saw Driscoll’s prod straight to Burgess. Then Kerry Hale’s through ball found Driscoll whose toe end was wide. Driscoll was involved again this time Hope’s cross was met by him but his header was straight at Burgess. Almonds started the second half well with Oakley Dawes played in from a long ball but his shot was well saved by Harvey Need. Service eventually got the breakthrough when Hope found Driscoll whose shot eventually got past Burgess. Dawes was played in from a long ball and Need was on hand to preserve the lead. Service doubled their lead when a lo0ng throw was headed out only for Hale to drill past Burgess. With 25 minutes left Almonds gave themselves hope whe good link up play led to a cross by Harry Greenbury who found Alexander to head home. Almonds now had the momentum and threw everything at Service but didn’t really create anything and Service held on for2-1 and a much needed victory.

To Waterwells and a convincing win for Quedgeley Wanderers over Little Stoke and a little look behind the scenes reveals to some extent how it happened. The first chance went to Stoke with a header that sailed over. Quedgeley followed and Jack Bright found the end of a corner but missed the target. Harry Reynolds protected the ball well and led Wanderers forward and the first goal came on 11 minutes when Finlay Jenner was played through, turned his defender, and found the net. Then Devon Morgan forced a save by Jarrett . A couple more chances followed for Jenner who was through on goal multiple times but Stoke were saved by Jarrett. A tackle by a home player resulted in him leaving the field of play followed by two Little Stoke players for second yellows. With another Stoke player in the sin bin Quedgeley responded with Jenner squaring to Morgan who sailed the ball over. The hosts started the second period well and Jenner fired one past Jarrett for 2-0. Looking for a hat trick Jenner continued to make good plays and eventually found the net again. Harry Reynold got the fourth after a box scrap with Alfie Pledger and Little Stoke were reduced to eight with another second yellow, bad day at the office for them but Quedgeley moved up a few places with the 4-0 win.

A difficult trip to Vicarage Road for Gala Wilton to face Hanham Athletic. Gala started well and were almost in front on 29 minutes but for a great challenge by Tyrone Fudgell. Hanham went in front on 35, Jacob Saunders chesting the ball the ball down, swivelling and shooting into the bottom corner. Leon Clarke almost made it two just before the break but his free kick was well saved by Oscar Bignall. Gala came more into the game in the second half and equalised on 65 minutes through Sam Kelly’s left foot shot. Hanham took the lead on 85 minutes when Bailey Rudge went on a fine runand his cross was brilliantly headed in by Andy Nash for a 2-1 Hanham win leaving Gala at the bottom.

At the Bell Field Frampton United welcomed Wick and it was the hosts George Blythe firing an early long range effort, with Ashton Trott making a good tip over. Blythe had a better chance soon after when through one on one with Trott but failed to finish. It was Wick’s Seb Scott who broke the deadlock on 42 minutes when he cut inside and fired past Tom Kaye. Frampton’s equaliser came on 68 when Steve Jackson headed in from a Fin Blythe corner and 1-1 it ended.

Bromley Heath United kept up their battle for second place at Pomphrey Hill against improving Hardwicke and ended 1-0 winners. Bromley Heath were slightly quicker out of the blocks than Hardwicke on a sticky, but very playable pitch at Pomphrey Hill. After just a few minutes Bromley's frontman Aiden Noble was very unlucky not to score when he saw his shot hit the post. But once Hardwicke got into the game they created two or three good chances themselves, the best a rasping long range shot from Ellis Rurnerford which was well held by Ferguson, Bromley's keeper. Bromley thought they had broken the deadlock on the half hour when Noble was again unlucky to have a well worked goal disallowed for an offside in the build up. A very competitive first half ended with Hardwicke being awarded a free kick on the edge of Bromley's box. Calum Blachford stepped up to fire an excellent effort goal bound but Ferguson was equal to the task and made an outstanding save to deny him.
Hardwicke came out fighting in the second half and started much the better with Bromley having to rely on Ferguson in goal to make a couple of good saves and Ben Ackerman also clearing one off the line. But as the half progressed Bromley started to show more of the form that has been keeping them in the top three or four all season. They created numerous chances in the last quarter of the game with captain Withey going very close on a number of occasions as well as providing a couple of dangerous low crosses which everyone missed. Full back Fletcher Cripps was also getting in on the act when he went past defenders to fire just wide. Hardwicke's keeper was kept very busy during this spell and made some very good stops. The deadlock was broken 15 minutes from time when a dangerous cross into the box was met by the left foot of Ted Willoughby to grab a deserved winner.

Ruardean Hill Rangers take on Broadwell Amateurs on Boxing Day 1.00pm kick off.

16^th December 2023 - Hardwicke lift themselves off the bottom of the table

Mark Simpson

Interestingly it is the bottom of the League that appears to be holding attention with a crowded group and six pointers nearly every week and bottom place changing hands quite regularly. Hardwicke and Quedgeley Wanderers were big winners this week. It was also the completion of the Les James League Cup quarter finals with Hanham Athletic and Sharpness making it through to the semis.

Starting at Green Lane where Hardwicke and Gala Wilton were joint bottom before todays affair. It was a fantastic start for Hardwicke as after only a few minutes Harley Mustoe played through Harry Furniss who slotted home into the bottom right. Gala responded well with Ryan Williams skipping through the home defence but alas nothing came of his hard work. After 23 minutes Furniss thought he was on the scoresheet again but was ruled offside. Five minutes later Craig Harris beat his man and puts the ball away only to be ruled offside as well. With Pat Vernall in the sin bin Hardwicke scored their second, Mustoe played the ball through and Furniss rounded the keeper and tapped in. The second half started with Gala pressure with Jay Brown saving well from Shamar Thomas. On 62 more good play from Mustoe rounding the keeper staying on his feet but unfortunately it fizzled to nothing. After 78 Furniss did well to break away, Mustoe shooting and Williams putting the ball in the net and guess what – offside again. Two minutes from the end Alex Stratford went through, kept his cool and wrapped up a 3-0 victory for Hardwicke.

To Tewkesbury Road where Cheltenham Civil Service who are getting drawn into the thick of things at the bottom were playing fellow strugglers Quedgeley Wanderers. But it was Service who started in the best possible way, when 3 minutes in Jackson Dicker found Ollie Wilkes on the wing where his pace allowed him to find space to cross for Tom Short to score. The game became quite a scrappy affair until half way through when a half cleared header found Jack Hornsby who volleyed over for Quedgeley. A few minutes later Service’s Dec Chick threaded a ball through to Wilkes but his first touch went through to Nathan Charnock in the Wanderers goal. Just before the break a nice build up down the left saw Dicker’s cross finding Short who headed over when well placed. Service should have doubled their lead early in the second half when a neat pass found Driscoll who dribbled around Charnock but rolled his effort just wide. Service certainly had the upper hand and were looking for a second when Paul Smith was played through the right channel and went down under challenge – but no penalty. A sucker punch came fifteen minutes from the end, Service losing the ball in a dangerous position, conceding a corner from which Harvey Need made a great save only for the resulting corner to be taken with a deep inswing and Hornsby guided his header home. Within 2 minutes the game was turned on its head when a Quedgeley through ball found Hornsby whose shot on the turn beat Need for 2-1. Service rallied and Wes Little’s long range effort forced Charnock into a decent save to keep it at 2-1 to Quedgeley and Service rueing the missed chances.

Almondsbury are another club being draw in to the relegation battle and faced a difficult home match with Stoke Gifford United. The games only goal came from the penalty spot after thirteen minutes when Barry was brought down by Rogers and Spike Weaver slotted home the resultant kick. Most of the remainder of the half was dictated by the visitors. On the hour Almonds were close with nice play from Dawes and Pebedy with Dawes firing into the side netting . With four minutes to go Almonds Clements free kick hit Dawes and deflected just past the post with everyone beaten. Gifford nearly made it two in the last minute but were denied by a great save from Burgess.

Let’s go to the top end of the table at the Bell Field where Frampton United welcomed Rockleaze Rangers and it was Frampton who started brightest and after only four minutes Stuart Maule tried his luck with a snap shot that crept just past the post. Ten minutes later home keeper Parker pulled of an exceptional save to tip Sam Bailey’s long ranger over. The lively Maule had another chance when from Freddie Finlay’s ball in he turned the defender but shot just high. The visitor’s Webb was unlucky from a quick break his left foot shot cleared the bar and up the other end Henry Driver-Dickerson tried an outrageous over the shoulder shot from 30 yards that had keeper Jordan Dunning back peddling to tip the ball onto the bar. Frampton took the lead on 42 minutes when Maule guided the ball in from Finlay’s cross and just on the stroke of half time it was two, Maule turning in Fin Blythe’s cross. Driver-Dickerson was unlucky to see his shot come back off the inside of the post. The last fifteen saw Rockleaze pile on the pressure but Frampton stood firm. Rangers Drew Sawdon had the last chance when he rose highest from a corner but his header was just wide and 2-0 to Frampton it remained.

A goal fest in the Forest where Ruardean Hill Rangers entertained Bromley Heath United. And only two minutes in Bromley took the lead, a long shot rattled back off the bar and Cam Ford reacted quickest to hit the rebound home with Aaron Underwood on the deck. Hills Ollie Mason went on a mazy run and struck from 25 yards bringing a good save from Will Ferguson. Hill equalised after 21 minutes after Charley Taylor’s free kick was sliced into his own goal by Luke Bessell. The first half petered out with neither side able to find the target. After 51 minutes Bromley got a soft penalty and Nathan Rose sent Underwood the wrong way. Five minutes later Max Telling gambled on a defensive mix up but unfortunately snatched at his shot. Another Hill chance came as Alex Stephens spun his defender before smashing his shot into Ferguson’s midriff. Bromley got their third on 69 with a deep cross into Hill’s box headed back across goal for Ford to tap in his second. On 75 the fourth came for Bromley when indecisive defending allowed Aidan Noble to stroke home. Five minutes later Hill puled one back, Telling expertly controlling a long throw before swivelling and volleying home. On 82 minutes Hill almost got a third when Ollie Mason’s great cross was met by Steve Clark’s head, only to rattle the post. Hill did get their third two minutes from the end when a deep free kick broke to Tom Landon to lash home but it wasn’t quite enough Bromley holding out at 4-3.

Breaking from the League to the League Cup and potentially a good game at Vicarage Road where Hanham Athletic took on current League leaders Avonmouth who took the opportunity to field some fringe players but did start the stronger of the two with an early penalty shout but play was waved on. Hanham went close on ten minutes Leon Clayton making room for himself in the box but narrowly shot over. Hanham almost took the lead on 62 minutes when Paul Coles shot from the edge the ball cannoning off the bar. Hanham were beginning to dominate and Coles was close again just past the post. Avonmouth went close on 82 minutes when Josh Pearce’s run and shot was brilliantly saved by Sam Brown. Hanham’s winner came in the last minute when Joel Halls shot came off the bar and hit keeper Tom Bradley on the back for an unfortunate own goal, and a 1-0 win to take Hanham Athletic into the semis.

To Sharpness for their delayed cup match against Broadwell Amateurs and a repeat of last seasons final. Sharpness took control in the first half but were unable to put any of their chances away. Broadwell opened the second half well and almost took the lead when Thomas lobbed keeper James Russell but his effort came off the crossbar. This was a warning that Sharpness needed to raise their game and some great forward play from Kieran Bennett earned the Sharks a penalty when he was upended in the box, Will Tainton’s spot kick was well saved by Watkins but Brad Hewer was on hand to bury the rebound. Sharpness continued to create from wide areas but couldn’t find the elusive second. The final 10 minutes saw Broadwell increase their efforts but resolute Sharpness defending kept them out and 1-0 it remained for a semi final spot.

In the final league match of the day Little Stoke visited Wick. After weeks of bad weather it was great to have match days back, with both teams contributing to an even start. The first half chance of the game fell to Little Stoke when a crossed ball was headed wide at Wick's far post. A better chance fell to Wick on 20 minutes when failure to connect when in front of goal left the opportunity begging. A minute later Little Stokes keeper saved well at his near post, but the ball was kept alive by Wick who squandered another golden opportunity when blasting wide in front of goal. Wick were enjoying a prolonged period of pressure, however multiple corners brought them ¹no success, and it was Little Stoke on 30 minutes who showed Wick the way when the unmarked Danny Lane found space in the box to find the net from their corner. Wick's heads appeared to drop and a minute after the restart Wick lose the ball in midfield and Little Stoke break down the right which draws a great save from Trott in the Wick goal but the parried save falls to an onrushing Little Stoke player who blasts over to spare Wick. The half continued with Little Stoke looking dangerous going forward, and Wick unable to find an end product for their efforts.

It was Little Stoke who started the second half the brighter, creating a chance on 50 minutes with a cross shot just wide of Wick's far post. Little Stoke doubled their lead on 55 minutes after good work down the right found Phil Vice in the box to stab home. Following the goal Wick spurred into life with a shot agonisingly just wide of the post. Little Stoke were reduced to 10 men on the hour mark when their player received his second yellow of the afternoon, however it was Little Stoke who increased their lead shortly after following what appeared to be an innocuous free kick into the box, which Wick failed to deal with allowing Luke Meacham to nudge the ball past Trott. A great effort from Wick's Louie Short on 85 minutes was well saved by Little Stoke's keeper, which summed up Wick's day.

15^th December 2023 - Electronic Programmes

Ruardean Hill Rangers v Bromley Heath United

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