27^th January 2024 - Valuable three points for Quedgeley Wanderers

Mark Simpson

First time in a number of weeks that the full scheduled list of fixtures has been played. Some interesting clashes at the bottom with Almondsbury, Cheltenham Civil Service, and Quedgeley Wanderers picking up useful wins. Avonmouth are now seven points clear of Frampton United and have three games in hand.

Starting at Waterwells where Quedgeley Wanderers hosted Broadwell Amateurs with the first effort of the game a 30 yarder Harry Reynolds straight at Jack Watkins in the Broadwell goal. Broadwell retaliated and broke down the wing but Ethan Wilkes’ shot was straight into Nathan Charnock’s chest, and was quickly followed by an attempt from Liam Thomas. On the half hour Wanderers Rio Spencer worked well with the ball to pass multiple players, went for goal, the ball rebounding off the bar to Finlay Jenner who miskicked and the chance was gone. Broadwell managed a few shots but failed to find the target and it was right on half time that the deadlock was broken, a through ball to Spencer who crossed for Jenner to tap in.
Broadwell came out fighting in the second half but the first chance went to Quedgeley’s James Stanbury whose header was over. Broadwell’s Jamie Belfitt had a cross shot straight at Charnock who also saved well from Wilkes. At the other end Watkins saved well from Jack Bright. Broadwell finally found the back of the net, the packed box somewhat obscuring Charnock’s view, allowing Jordan Locke to head the ball past him. Looking for a winner Broadwell pressed and Nathan Davies’ shot was well saved by Charnock, and another shot rocketed straight off the post. In the 75^th minute Broadwell conceded a penalty but Watkins made a brilliant save from Jenner’s spot kick. Jenner, however, kept his cool and redeemed himself with a one on one where he controlled the ball and lobbed Watkins for 2-1. Quedgeley held off Broadwell and Charnock made an incredible save which held the win for Quedgeley.

At Oldbury Lane Wick took on leaders Avonmouth and after an even start the first half turned out to be a lively affair, Avonmouth took the lead on 18 minutes when Josh Pearce got on the end of a through ball and lobbed the on rushing Ashton Trott. On 29 minutes the visitors doubled their lead when Pearce scored again this time courtesy of a big deflection on his shot from the edge of the box. Wick refused to lie down and got back into the game on 38 when Brad Abraham headed in a cross from Levi Brown. A minute later a brilliant point blank save by Trott denied Pearce his hat trick. Wick had a great chance to level on the stroke of half time when awarded a penalty but Seb Scott fired the spot kick wide. Wick continued to press for a second half equaliser but it was Avonmouth who increased their lead on 67 with Kyle O’Donovan scoring. Wick went on to hit the post, have a goal disallowed leaving them cursing their luck, and Avonmouth’s 3-1 win.

Gala Wilton hosted Frampton United at Fairmile Gardens with both sides desperately seeking three points at either end of the table. It was Frampton who made most of the early running but were denied on 10 minutes with a good save by keeper Aaron Charman and Sam Kelly headed the rebound off the line. Ten minutes later Frampton made no mistake when Stuart Maule slotted home when one on one with Charman. The first half ended with a plethora of goalmouth action. Gala’s first real effort on goal came after 40 minutes when Jamol Dare shot just wide, but Frampton responded and were denied a second by a great Charman point blank save, and they hit the bar with a well struck free kick a minute later. Gala almost scored in time added on but Jerzy Marzsalek, when through, was denied by Tom Kaye’s save. The second half was much quieter but Frampton got their second on 56 when Henry Driver-Dickerson was put through and finished past Charman. This effectively won the game for Frampton who saw the rest of the game out, Gala unable to produce any clear cut chances and 2-0 it finished to the visitor’s.

Little Stoke welcomed high flying Bromley Heath United to the park, the game started slowly with neither side taking control, and that was the story of the first half with very few chances. On 48 minutes Bromley rattled Little Stoke’s crossbar with their only meaningful chance of the game. It wasn’t until the 55^th minute that Little Stoke’s game plan finally paid off, a devastating counter led by Jake Lawrence whose pin point cross found Phil Vice to head home. After the goal the home side were happy to let Bromley have the ball, and many a stray pass came from the away side and eventually time ran out for them, and Little Stoke’s superb defensive display earnt them a deserved 1-0 victory.

Hardwicke were seeking to move off the bottom of the league against fellow strugglers Almondsbury at Green Lane. They were strengthened by the return of experienced players Richard Mansell, Jack Twyman and long-term absentee captain Freddie Humphries. The home side immediately started attacking and dominated the game in the initial 30 minutes. A clear chance came to them with the ball threaded through to Evan Coombes but was thwarted by Almonds keeper Jack Burgess. Five minutes later Pat Vernall thought he had scored but Burgess again rescued Almonds. Hardwicke continued pressing and on the half hour Coombes found George Ganley but his effort ballooned over. Almonds started to come into the game and went ahead five minutes before the break, a long ball finding Stuart Alexander who unleashed a fierce shot from the edge of the box which flew past keeper Cameron Wilce. Two minutes later it was two, Connor Perbedy heading the ball to Owen Wilton to tap past Wilce. The second half became a midfield battle with few scoring opportunities. Towards the end Hardwicke started to play like they had in the opening half hour and were rewarded when Leon Williams crossed for Coombes to loft the ball over Burgess to make the final score 2-1 to Almonds leaving Hardwicke to rue the missed chances during the first half hour of dominance.

Up to the Forest to Ruardean Hill Rangers against Rockleaze Rangers, with Rockleaze taking the game to Hill and Hill were down to ten after 10 with a sin bin for Kane Fellows, and during this time Aaron Underwood was forced into two great saves in quick succession from a Rockleaze free kick. On 27 Hill had a shout for a penalty but wasn’t given, and a minute later, with Hill still not happy, Jenson Beard twisted and turned before slotting home to give Rockleaze the lead. Five minutes later Rockleaze created a good chance from out wide with a ball into the box but Sam Bailey got his header horribly wrong heading wide. On 37 minutes Hill, this time, were awarded a penalty with keeper Jordan Dunning bringing down Taylor Blaby and Steve Clark scoring the resulting spot kick. Hill were getting into the game more and an Ollie Mason free kick was saved by Dunning at the second attempt. On 65 minutes with the game fairly even Kane Sansom took aim from 30 yards and forced the back pedalling Dunning to tip over the bar. A few minutes on a Hill corner fell to Tom Landon whose overhead kick was claimed by Dunning. Quarter of an hour left and a Hill free kick outside the box had Clark’s initial shot against the wall and the rebound had Dunning scrambling to collect, again at the second attempt and that was about it and 1-1 it ended.

To Vicarage Road where Hanham Athletic took on Stoke Gifford United and it was Hanham who took an early lead when a speculative shot hit Karim Rendall and went in. Gifford came into the game and it took a great headed clearance by Tyrone Fudgell to keep it at one-nil. Rendall should have made it two on the half hour but shot straight at Ollie Gargett in the Gifford goal. Hanham made it two-nil on 57 minutes when a brilliant flick on by Rendall was hit into the back of the net by Andy Nash. Gifford pulled one back on the hour with a brilliant strike by Spike Weaver which Sam Brown could do nothing about, and they equalised on 72 when Jordan Yeo’s free kick was saved by Sam Brown only for Ben Shepherd to follow up and score. Hanham re-took the lead on 89 when a ball over the top was brilliantly finished off by Nash for his second of the game leaving Hanham just 9 minutes of added on time to see out and 3-2 it was.

Finally to Hamfields where Sharpness took on struggling Cheltenham Civil Service and it was Sharpness who had the brighter start and had numerous chances in the opening twenty minutes. Will Payne was the first to test Harvey Need but saw his effort blocked. Kier Bennett then had a good opportunity when cutting in onto his right foot but Need was on hand to block his effort. Payne again found himself in Service’s box from right back but his attempt was blocked at the near post when maybe squaring the ball might have been a better option. However, it was Service who took the lead on 25, somewhat against the run of play, a through ball wasn’t dealt with by Priday who let it go under his foot and Tom Short was on hand to gather the ball and slot it excellently into the far corner. One was nearly two when Hale brought the ball down in the box but keeper Gough was on hand to rush out and block his effort. Service did double their lead just before half time when Mike Oliver was allowed to advance from the back unopposed and when he was thirty five yards out he let rip a thunderous shot past Gough. The Sharks came out firing in the second half and gave it a good go to get back into the game. Bennett looked more of a threat and had a chance when rounding the keeper but Johnson got back in to prevent his effort. Sharpness then hit the post with Palmer’s long range attempt and the ball fell nicely for Need to gather. Sharpness pulled one back with 15 remaining when a deep Palmer free kick wasn’t dealt with and ended up in the net. After this point Sharks failed to find that bit of quality and Service hung on for an invaluable 2-1 win.

25^th January 2024 - Electronic Programmes

Gala Wilton v Frampton United

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Little Stoke v Bromley Heath United

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Ruardean Hill Rangers v Rockleaze Rangers

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20^th January 2024 - Six point week for Avonmouth

Mark Simpson

Avonmouth’s lead is now six points and with three games in hand on their nearest challengers whilst the merry go round at the bottom goes on and probably will until the league finishes. Two matches lost this week, Bromley Heath United and Wick both frozen off.

Starting at the top and Avonmouth took a useful three points from Almondsbury at KGV on Tuesday evening, with Almonds having their fair share of the first half and with both defences on top for the first twenty minutes. Avonmouth started to assert themselves but their forwards were unable to hit the target. Almonds best chance fell to Oakley Dawes who was put clean through only to be thwarted by Tom Bradley. Avonmouth came out on the front foot for the second half, and opened the scoring on 50, Matt Groves cross partially cleared and Kyle O’Donovan volleyed into the top corner from 18 yards. On the hour Josh Pearce was put through but the ball got stuck between his feet and the chance was gone. A 73^rd minute freekick by Groves was unfortunately headed over Burgess and into his own net by Ashley Knight for 2-0 to Avonmouth which is how it remained.

To Saturday and it was Hanham Athletic’s turn to visit Avonmouth with both previous games this season decided by the odd goal. The first chance went to Avonmouth on six minutes but was put wide from a rebound. On ten minutes Charlie Aldom played a cross field pass to Matt Groves and his great cross found Josh Pearce whose header was just wide. The hosts continued to press with Pearce played through but Sam Brown made a good save. From Matt Groves corner Aldom headed towards goal and Jack Williams headed over Brown for 1-0. Although Avonmouth were dominating it was Hanham who broke through with Karim Rendall but he was stopped by a great Kofi Martin tackle. Hanham had their moments and were close with a header that Bradley pushed over. Halfway through the half an Avonmouth free kick found Aldom whose on target shot was pushed away by Brown, but Alfie Taylor was there to fire in for 2-0. The first half ended with Avonmouth in control but Hanham always dangerous on the break. At the start of the second half Pearce did brilliantly to latch onto a pass out by keeper Brown, he then found Taylor who picked out O’Donovan who in turn found the net for 3-0. Things soon changed when Rendall scored for Hanham and just seconds later Andy Nash pulled another back. With Hanham’s tails up and straight after Avonmouth had yet another shot cleared off the line things were level the hosts conceding an unfortunate own goal. However it was Groves, under pressure, he swivelled from outside the box and curled an unstoppable shot into the top corner securing another three points for Avonmouth 4-3.

To a freezing afternoon at Hillside Gardens where Rockleaze Rangers produced a devastating first half display to blow Sharpness away. A fast start by Rangers and they were in front on three minutes when Fraser Butt’s cross was headed awkwardly by a stretching Sam Bailey and the ball hit Sharpness defender Will Payne, the deflection wrong footing keeper James Russell and into the net it ended. On nine minutes it was two, Drew Sawdon driving the ball through a plethora of players into the net from ten yards. The game petered out a little until 34 minutes when a Marcus Williams deep cross was serenely brought down by James Goulden on his chest which left him one on one to side foot past Russell. A few minutes later Brandon Boontam saw his long-range free kick clip the bar, but the fourth soon came when Bailey scored with an acrobatic effort from 4 yards after Russell had made a very good save from Bailey’s first attempt. A shell-shocked Sharks couldn’t wait for the break but before that conceded again with Boontam got in on the act after a nice bit of inter play between Webb and Williams leaving him to tap into an empty net for 5-0. Although the second half was not quite a damp squib it didn’t live up to the first half with both teams making a number of changes disrupting the flow of the game. Sharpness created a half chance on 74 but Brad Hewer’s shot was over and Webb shot narrowly wide after Boontam’s superb through ball. And finally on 84 minutes Bailey’s corner clipped the bar with the ball was hacked away off the line with bodies flying everywhere. Another dominant Rockleaze home performance and a 5-0 win.

After a recent cold blitz Tewkesbury Road was fit for Cheltenham Civil Service against Frampton United. It was Service starting brightly and from a long throw a slight touch brought a save from Tom Kaye. But it was Frampton who grabbed the early lead when Service were punished for playing a high line, the ball was played through to Henry Driver-Dickerson who gave Harvey Need no chance. Frampton were the busier side causing Service all sorts of problems and they needed to change shape to get a grip. They did, and a corner for Service swung in by Lewis Driscoll was met by Tom Short who headed into the roof of the net. The game was now much more even, Service having knocked Frampton out of their stride. However, on the half hour Service were left rueing poor defending with Henry Driver-Dickerson beating Josh Ellin to a cleared corner, his pass released Stuart Maule on goal where despite a touch from Need the ball ended up in the net off a post. Good link up from Brett Blake and Short saw Blake towards goal at the angle but his shot was saved by Kaye. The second half brought plenty of threat from both sides but not to the goals. Service were matching their high-flying visitors and with twenty minutes left Blake was through on goal but Kaye’s superb save denied him. Service were now having to play at risk and almost got punished when Driver-Dickerson dragged his shot wide. Both teams fought to the end but again Service fell to clinical finishing and had nothing to show for their level of performance with Frampton holding out at 2-1.

On a cold, blustery afternoon Stoke Gifford United hosted a Hardwicke side in need of points at the foot of the table. The game failed to get going for the first twenty minutes with both teams limited to long range strikes failing to trouble either keeper. Gifford upped the tempo around the half hour mark but both Joe Bridge and Jake Abraham failed to hit the target. It was down To Spike Weaver to show how it was done when he drifted across the area and slid home from 12 yards. The remainder of the half saw Gifford dominate and they should’ve stretched their lead with Jordan Iwhiwhu, Abraham, Weaver, and Mikey Barry all testing Cameron Wilce in the Hardwicke goal. Hardwicke regrouped after the break and somewhat slowed Gifford’s dominance. However on 52 minutes persistence and good link up play between Rudy Hill and Weaver allowed the lively Abraham to cooly strike home from 12 yards. From then on Gifford dominated and it was just a question of how many more they would score. Hardwicke never stopped working though, and it took to the 80^th minute for Iwhiwhu to finally get in on the act, he linked well with Barry before smashing home his first goal for Gifford. Weaver then finished things off with a superb solo goal, drifting past three defenders before slotting home and sealing a good home performance and a 4-0 Gifford win.

Struggling Gala Wilton hosted Little Stoke at Fairmile Gardens and it was Gala who came closest to an early lead after 10 minutes but the goal bound effort was blocked by the Stoke defence. Gala were close again on 35 when a Jorell Sanniola header drifted just wide of the post. Little Stoke’s first real threat on the Gala goal was on 40 a header just wide of the post, but they were in front right on half time when they won possession back in the Gala third and Ethan Moore scored from close range. Little Stoke extended their lead early in the second period on 53 minutes when in strange circumstances when a Luke Meacham cross ballooned off Gala’s Shamar Thomas on the edge of the penalty area and looped over Oscar Bignell. Gala huffed and puffed to get back into the game and were rewarded with a goal on 78 minutes when an excellent Martin Smith strike from the edge of the box found the net. But a red card two minutes later left Gala with ten men, and Little Stoke were able to see the game out and take home three points with a 2-1 result.

Finally, up to Ruardean Hill Rangers who were taking on Almondsbury for a valuable three points in the mix at the bottom. It was a fairly even first half with neither side creating an awful lot. Early on Almonds had the ball in the box and Tommy Coleman cleared. On eleven minutes Steve Clark put one over for Hill. Clark seemed to be the main provider crossing for Taylor Blaby to head wide and the creating his own shot well saved by Sam Burgess. On 25 minutes Ollie Mason put a free kick over the bar before Almonds came more into it, but ten minutes from the break Hill’s Max Telling headed wide from a corner. Into the second half Almonds had a good chance but were thwarted by Aaron Underwood. On 52 minutes Scott Albon broke the deadlock putting Hill one up. Six minutes later it was two, following some good Hill football Clark scored. Almondsbury did have their moments and were close on 65 minutes but, it was Telling who added the Hill third. Almonds pulled one back through young Connor Peberdy but things were over by then, Hill taking the points 3-1.

19^th January 2024 - Electronic Programmes

Avonmouth v Hanham Athletic

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Gala Wilton v Little Stoke

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Ruardean Hill Rangers v Almondsbury

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16^th January 2024 - Electronic Programmes

Avonmouth v Almondsbury

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13^th January 2024 - Almondsbury edge out Broadwell Amateurs

Mark Simpson

A reduced league programme due to the County Cup. Three points separate the bottom eight Clubs so there is bound to be fairly significant changes amongst these clubs in league position each week. In the County Cup only Sharpness were eliminated, the other three progressing.

As good a place to start is at Almondsbury who took on Broadwell Amateurs and early on Jack Watkins made a very good save to his left from Almonds Ashley Knight and a few minutes on Knight played Matt Davies down the line who pulled back to Connor Peberdy who fired over. But it was the visitors who got the early goal, on seven minutes a long ball out of defence picked out Liam Thomas who controlled with his first touch and fired over Sam Burgess with his second. On 25 minutes the ball played through to Oakley Dawes who was one on one with Watkins who saved with his legs and Peberdy’s follow up was blocked on the line. Four minutes later the hosts were level, Harry Greenbury playing in Peberdy on the left, beating his man, pulled back to Greenbury who passed across to Knight at the back post to finish. Shortly after half time Broadwell took the lead again, poor defending from a long ball let in Ethan Wilkins to lob Burgess. On 54 Almonds had a penalty from a handball but Dawes spot kick was saved by Watkins. Twenty minutes from time Greenbury played over to Stuart Alexander who hit a half volley from the corner of the box over Watkins for Almonds equaliser. On 81 Alexander was this time the provider from a pass down the line putting in Greenbury to head over Watkins for a 3-2 Almondsbury win.

On an excellent surface at Fairmile Gardens Gala Wilton hosted Stoke Gifford United hoping to build on positive recent results. But it was Gifford who took the lead quarter of an hour in, Dan Dunt’s close range header from a free kick. Gifford should perhaps have made it two shortly after, but a fine save from Gala’s Oscar Bignell kept out an excellent free kick. Bignell also tipped another free kick around the post on the half hour. It was at this point that Gala got a foothold in the game and on 38 Antonio Pirelli forced a good save from Ollie Gargett. Gala ended the first half the stronger of the two and started the second half in the same fashion and around the hour mark were denied an equaliser by three excellent saves by Gargett within five minutes from a Jacob Eakers volley and two efforts from Pirelli. Gala continued to press and got the equaliser they deserved when on 82 Jerzy Marszalek calmly slotted past Gargett. But there was still time for one last twist and it was provided by Spike Weaver’s 89^th minute header to give three points to Stoke Gifford 2-1.

Up to Ruardean Hill, where Rangers took on second place Frampton United and the first chance fell to Hill’s Ollie Mason out wide but his fierce shot flew just over, Frampton were in front on 11 when a corner in was missed by the defence leaving Steve Jackson a back post tap in. On twenty Jacob Geddes should have made it two but his free header was wide of the mark. But five minutes later Ollie Mason’s weak volley went through keeper Tom Kaye for a red-faced moment and 1-1. Two minutes from the break Hill battled for the ball and Steve Clark put it through to Max Telling who found the corner of Kaye’s net for 2-1. Right on half time great play from Fin Jones to the bye line squaring to Clark to shoot home but Kaye made a great save to keep Frampton in it. On 47 Stuart Maule was through for Frampton but Aaron Underwood made a good save, but only a minute later it was level, the home defence failing to deal with a through ball leaving Freddie Porter to slot home. On 55 Ruardean were almost back in front but Ollie Mason’s fierce shot was just wide with Kaye stranded. Manola Espada tried his luck from distance forcing Underwood to tip his shot wide. With quarter of an hour left Fin Jones forced a save from Kaye who almost made a mess of a fairly routine effort. On 80 the Referee was said to have made a terrible decision to give a penalty to Frampton for a tackle allegedly outside the box and then sending Dave Matthews off for the tackle! Espada duly slotted home the resultant kick. But that wasn’t the end of it, a minute from time Alex Stephens got the ball out of his feet and put in a great shot for 3-3 and probably the least Hill deserved.

A bonus report now, on Rockleaze Rangers County Cup game against a stubborn St Nicholas from the Bristol Premier Combination. Rockleaze started slowly with a much-changed team but it was St Nicholas with the first chance on 5 minutes but Parker drove the ball high and wide when well-placed for what was their only real chance of the half. Rockleaze didn’t fare much better although the managed to break the deadlock on 36 minutes, Fraser Butt broke down the right flank and superbly squared the ball to Kacper Kalkowski who drove in from 5 yards. Rockleaze made three changes for the second half which changed the course of the game but they only managed to spurn chance after chance with Bailey three times, Webb, Boontam, and Goulden all guilty of missing gilt-edged chances to make the game safe, but as so often happens a mix up in the home defence allowed Yohan Rutty-Smith to nip in between Shaw and Dunning to fire into an empty net and so to penalties to decide the tie. The shoot-out started with a fantastic array of kicks with the first eight all easily beating the two keepers, but the ninth by Harding of St Nicholas was brilliantly saved by Dunning, to leave Marcus Williams to strike into the left of the goal and take Rockleaze into the next round.

To the final league match with Cheltenham Civil Service’s visit to Wick on a cold but dry afternoon with both teams positioned at the the wrong end of the table, three points were much needed by both teams. In what was a largely forgettable first half, neither keeper was troubled. Wick did have the ball in the net after 8 minutes but it was ruled offside. Although Wick shaded the possession it didn't look like scoring a well marshalled Cheltenham defence.

The second half began with more of the same. Cheltenham's best chance of the game so far came on 60 minutes when a far post header cleared Wick's crossbar following a corner. Wick made changes reverting to a back three in an attempt to create up the tempo. The game did open up and Cheltenham also became more dangerous. On 75 minutes Cheltenham missed a golden opportunity when heading just wide from close in, and Wick were indebted to Ashton Trott in goal who pulled off a great double save three minutes later to thwart Cheltenham. As the game entered its final stages a flick from Wick's Todd Carter set free Louis Short on the right in a foot race with the Cheltenham defence which Short won and then found the net with a fierce shot with three minutes left on the clock. With 6 minutes of added time Cheltenham pressed looking for an equaliser, which gave the home side a nail biting finish to the match and some respite at the end but leaving Service just above the bottom two.

12^th January 2024 - Electronic Programmes

Gala Wilton v Stoke Gifford United

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Ruardean Hill Rangers v Frampton United

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11^th January 2024 - New Website for League Sponsor - Marcliff

Nigel Meaney

Our sponsors Marcliff have updated their website, check out the site marcliff.co.uk and watch their launch video below.

They can also be found on Facebook Here

6^th January 2024 - Frampton United pass Little Stoke Test

Mark Simpson

Plenty going on to start the new year with five games surviving the weather and Frampton United proving once again to be one of the most consistent teams in the League, always there or thereabouts and certainly a good test for anybody is a visit to Little Stoke, a test they passed with flying colours. Towards the bottom a vital win pulled Gala Wilton out of the bottom two.

To Little Stoke Park where Frampton United passed their stiff test. The game started slowly with neither team creating anything of note. But it was Frampton who opened the scoring on 25 minutes, Dom Brown nodding in a corner. Soon after Frampton got a second, always deadly on the counter, Henry Driver-Dickerson with the goal. Into the second half and Frampton were content to sit on their lead although Little Stoke created many a chance with Luke Meacham, Ethan Moore and Neil Bailey all missing from close range leaving matters 2-0 in Frampton’s favour.

Tewkesbury Road saw high flying Rockleaze Rangers faced a Cheltenham Civil Service side buoyed by their win last time out. Rockleaze put nine past Service in the early season meeting so were no doubt confident of continuing their good form. On a heavy pitch the visitors started brightly in possession and looked to get their strike force in behind, but Service snuffed out any early attacks and grew into the game. It was a bit of a sucker punch when Service were adamant the ball had gone out of play but anyway led to a corner which was met by Drew Sawdon’s head for 1-0. The game went back and forth with both teams working hard without any clear chances being created. That changed just before half time when good link up play down the visitors left led James Goulden to finish from close range. The second period had Rockleaze tidy in possession with Service having to work hard to keep them at bay. A good tackle from Sam Johnson thwarted Sawdon when nearly through, and likewise a good tackle from Jordan Buckett prevented an Ollie Wilkes strike for the hosts. This left things at 2-0 for Rockleaze showing their ruthless touch in front of goal.

Almondsbury who last week slipped into the bottom two had a tough game at Hamfields against Sharpness who started positively and were asking questions of the Almonds from the off with some good balls into the box. The Sharks were on top of the opening exchanges but could not put their chances away. Almonds had to settle for playing on the counter and did cause problems particularly in the wide areas, but they did have their own spell of dominance just before the break and maybe should have taken the lead with two back post shots excellently saved by keeper James Russell. The second half saw Sharpness miss a hatful of chances with Alex Gayner heading over and and Tom Frankham shooting wide from distance. Sharpness had to defend ten of the last fifteen with Ryan Ponting in the bin but even with the extra man Almonds couldn’t find a break through until right at the end they failed to find the target with a one on one, so 0-0 it stayed and despite a good point Almonds have slipped to bottom place.

Yet another six pointer, this time at Waterwells, where Quedgeley Wanderers hosted Gala Wilton both teams coming out strongly with Jack Hornsby pressing well for Quedgeley. Finlay Jenner set Rio Spencer up for a one on one but Gala keeper Oscar Bignell made the save. Connor Webb made an excellent tackle to stop Gala on the edge and Gala were first to strike, Antonio Pirelli scoring a brilliant free kick leaving keeper Nathan Charnock flat footed. Quedgeley had a couple of one on ones with Spencer and Jenner both missing out, and Charnock made a brilliant save to thwart Gala. Into the second half and Gala’s Jordan Molyneux shot just wide but it was Jay Dare who doubled the lead following up on a Charnock save. Quedgeley’s Spencer had a shot blocked but a few minutes later he hit an absolute screamer into the top corner. A great effort by Ryan Hunt was tipped over by Bignell. However Gala got their third, Jorell Sanniola’s cross from the touchline went around Charnock and into the net. A good encounter and both teams fought hard to the end but Gala had it 3-1 to move up a few places.

Up to the Forest for our final report where Ruardean Hill Rangers took on Stoke Gifford United and it was Hill into an early three minute lead, Aaron Underwood’s long clearance caught out the Gifford defence with Ollie Mason taking the gamble to beat keeper Gargett with a first time effort. Mason almost made it two with a carbon copy on ten minutes but found Barrett on form. Hill went toe to toe with Gifford for the first twenty minutes and looked more likely to get a second Tom Landon narrowly wide from a deep cross. On 28 Steve Clark twisted and turned just outside the box and unleashed a dipping shot just over. With Kane Sansom in the bin Hill maybe should have had a second but Gargett made a smart save from Clark. A few minutes into the second half Ben Shepperd tried to get Gifford back into the game but headed over from a corner. Ruardean got their second through Sansom with a Zidane style volley from over his shoulder and his first goal for Hill. On the hour Hill thought they had a third but Clark’s effort was ruled offside. On 68 Posi Fagbure thought he had pulled a goal back for the visitor’s but Underwood pulled off a great save down to his near post. However with fifteen minutes to go Paul Cronin did score for Gifford capitalising on indecisive Hill defending. Gifford were reduced to ten with Cronin seeing red with ten minutes to go, and somehow, a minute later they equalised with Charlie Taylor managing to head past his own keeper for 2-2 which is how it remained.

4^th January 2024 - Electronic Programmes

Little Stoke v Frampton United

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Ruardean Hill Rangers v Stoke Gifford United

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