28^th September 2024 - Sharpness go top, Totterdown United gain first win

Mark Simpson

Back to the League and Almondsbury lose top spot to Sharpness who won 2-0 Friday at The Field thanks to two own goals! and Totterdown United break their duck with a win at Gala Wilton. Also watch out for Frampton United, creeping up the table.

In front of over 200 spectators at The Field, Almondbury, it was Sharpness who came out at a high tempo and press and continued in that vein for the first 45. During the first 30 minutes both teams created half chances without troubling the keepers. Sharpness then started to apply more pressure and right on half-time a long throw into the box created a scramble on the Almonds line and an attempted clearance deflected off a defender for an own-goal. Almonds started the second period at a better tempo and created a great chance from Hill’s free kick with Meacham heading just wide. Five minutes later Sharks keeper James Holder made a poor clearance but Meacham failed to hit the target from just outside the box. With 25 minutes to go a mix-up between Sam Burgess and Jack Burgess in the Almonds area ended with the ball in the net for another own goal. Almonds made two changes with Nicholls and Morgan having a positive impact from the wings but only a few half chances were created and nothing to trouble Holder. Sharpness saw out a deserved 2-0 win.

Next to Waterwells where Quedgeley Wanderers fell apart against Wick. After a fairly lively start the first chance fell to Quedgeley’s Rory Hunt whose attempt from distance was just over and soon after Wick broke down the left, the cross off the post and Ollie Barnett cleared off the line. Further chances went to Wick with blocked shots and then Nathan Charnock pulling off a good save. From the eventual Quedgeley goal kick Connor Webb fed Harry Furniss who put Rory Hunt through and he forced a good save from Kai Wilson. Plenty of chances created and on 15 Wick’s Harrison Kyte forced another good save from Charnock. A few more for chances fell to Wick before a through ball to Cory Langdon who shot, Charnock got something on it but not enough to prevent the opener for the visitors. At the other end Wilson made a good save before Wick’s second on 32, Langdon reacting fastest to a long ball rounding Charnock for a tap in. His hat trick came two minutes later after a looped ball left him through again to lift over a stranded Charnock for 3-0. On 39 minutes a long ball from Wilson was met by Barnett but Langdon hit on the down for it to bobble into the far corner for his and Wick’s fourth. A few minutes on and Langdon was at it again breaking through forcing Charnock into a save, the rebound coming off the post. The second half was quieter with chances for both teams before Freddie Mogg won the ball in the Quedgeley half and ran straight through to knock the ball past Charnock for 5-0. Sustained pressure from the hosts near the end had no final product and Wick went away with an impressive victory.

Up to the Forest for Ruardean Hill Rangers home match with Hanham Athletic and the visitors made a strong start with their first effort blocked by Troy Morgan and soon after a free kick saved by Aaron Underwood. A mistake at the back By Hill let in Mikey Golding to open Hanham’s account, but five minutes later Steve Clark brought the scores level from a direct free kick. Twenty-two minutes saw Hanham back in front after some good football leading to Liam Jenkins scoring. Five minutes on Clark had a goal knocked off for an offside. Unfortunately for Hill another mistake at the back gave Brandon Barnes a goal for 3-1. Just after the break a free kick from Hill’s Ollie Mason was nearly poked home by Luke Johnson, and a few minutes later Twaine Plummer put one over for Hanham from five yards. A somewhat disputed penalty saw Brandon Barnes make it 4-1 to Hanham and on the hour Mark Chapman got on the scoresheet for their fifth. Ten minutes from the end Hill pulled one back, Taylor Blaby sweeping home from close range and then a great chance for Tyler Adams was saved by Ashton Trott, leaving Hanham with a very good 5-2 win.

At Fairmile Gardens Gala Wilton took on Totterdown United with both sides looking for three points after a poor recent run of league results from both sides. Gala were largely on top for the first half but a resolute defensive set up by the visitors meant they couldn’t make their dominance pay. The second half was a lot different with Totterdown coming much more into things and they made this count on seventy minutes with the best move of the match down the right leading to Ollie Lovell finishing off for 1-0. Gala were unable to make any inroads into this lead and Totterdown held on to take home their first three points of the season.

Broadwell Amateurs welcomed Chalford to the Hawthorns on a cool but bright day setting the stage for an intense contest. Both sides started cautiously testing each other out with Chalford’s physical presence evident, their two towering fullbacks dominating the aerial battles. Broadwell coped with Chalford’s ground play and looking to strike on the break. The breakthrough came in the 22^nd> minute with a swift move down the right that saw Harry Williams deliver a low and pacy ball across the box for Ethan Wilkins to slot past the on-rushing Portlock. Chalford responded by increasing the tempo but were unable to break Broadwell down. In the second half Chalford came out looking to put the hosts under pressure with long balls and aerial attacks, but, again, Broadwell held firm. And on the hour Broadwell doubled their lead, Williams, in space, whipped a dangerous cross in, Jamie Belfitt met it with a clever flick, parried by Portlock and rebounding off Belfitt’s chest for two-nil. Broadwell were forced into a couple of changes, which rather unsettled their rhythm and Chalford took advantage and were rewarded in the 85^th> minute when a chaotic scramble in Broadwell’s box saw Ben Minnican force the ball in for 2-1. However, Broadwell’s resilience and ability to handle pressure kept a frustrated Chalford out for an excellent victory over a previously unbeaten side in the league.

At Pen Park Filton Athletic were looking to get back to winning ways against struggling Cheltenham Civil Service. The first effort on goal was with the visitor’s with Micolaj Rewczuk shooting just wide of Barry Phillips goal. Trey Merrett was then put through by Kyle Thomas but the on-rushing Service keeper Jon Dix was first to the ball. In the 13^th minute Merrett skipped past his marker sliding the ball across to Kieran Cooper whose shot is saved by Dix with Jack Coles firing the rebound over. The game carried on in this fashion but Filton never quite having the answers, a Fraser Venables free kick evading everyone and also the goal. The deadlock was finally broken on 35 Cooper finishing from close range, 1-0 to Filton. It was two almost straight away, Merrett sliding the ball across for Cooper to finish well. Service pushed to get something back before the break Ameer Khan shooting narrowly wide and then had another shot blocked by Chris Hillyer. Service looked to get back into the game after half time replacing Sam Powell with Ilie Silviu, but it was Filton who got the next goal Fry scoring after a head back across the goal from Hillyer. It was nearly four but Liam Dorman’s shot was well saved by Dix, but, it soon after became four when Thomas finished neatly past Dix from a Venables cross. A dominant 4-0 Filton win against a side who have it all to do.

As I said above keep an eye out for Frampton United, who welcomed Bromley Heath United to The Bell Field. The first real chance was to Frampton from a Fin Blythe corner Jacob Geddes headed onto the bar. Geddes made amends in the 40^th minute heading in from a free kick for 1-0. Archie Myatt went on a mazy run and his ball into the box was flicked just wide by Henry Driver-Dickerson. It took a great save by keeper Tom Kaye to deny Bromley’s Aiden Noble’s close-range header. From the second half kick-off Frampton had a free kick on the edge of the box and Olly Amos in the Bromley goal got down well to push Espada’s shot around the post. In the 65^th>minute Bromley equalised Noble headed in Fletcher Cripps cross. Frampton scored the winning goal when the ball was cleared off the Bromley goal-line but Max Harper-Emerson was on hand to fire in. It was Kaye who saved the day for Frampton, pulling off a great save tipping a long-range effort on to the underside of the bar to keep the score at 2-1 to Frampton.

At Arnall Drive Henbury & Rockleaze took on Stoke Gifford SGS United and for a change H&R were on the right end of a dramatic finish! SGS started brightly with lots of energy and crisp passing and after looking the better side deservedly took the lead on 21 minutes when good work by Even Maidment crafted a chance for Jake Abraham whose effort was well saved by Jordan Dunning only to see the ball squirm to Rudy Hill who made no mistake from a yard out. It was almost two a minute later, Abraham’s shot from the edge just wide. This was a wake-up call for H&R who became the better side for much of the remainder of the match. On half time Jordan Dent rose highest from a left wing cross to head narrowly wide and then Nick Jones forced a good full-length diving save by Oli Gargett. The second half was a good spectacle for County League football both sides getting the ball down and playing football on a decent surface. Dent should have scored on 55 but his back post header was badly mis-directed and then on 70 Jake Abraham could have sealed the points for SGS one-on-one with Dunning, but his lob was well over. There were long periods of H&R pressure but Gargett was rarely called on to make any saves, however, these long periods of H&R pressure took it out of SGS and on 90 minutes a Brandon Boontan through ball found Drew Sawdon who took the ball in his stride and from 8 yards blasted past a bewildered Gargett. Both sides forced corners in the 9 minutes added time but couldn’t find a winner and 1-1 it ended.

27^th September 2024 - Electronic Programmes

Almondsbury v Sharpness

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Filton Athletic v Cheltenham Civil Service

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Gala Wilton v Totterdown United

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Henbury & Rockleaze v Stoke Gifford SGS United

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Ruardean Hill Rangers v Hanham Athletic

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27^th September 2024 - Les James League Cup Quarter Final Draw

The Quarter Final draw for the Les James League Cup sponsored by Boca Teamwear is as follows

• Totterdown United v Gala Wilton
• Henbury & Rockleaze v Hanham Athletic
• Frampton United v Bromley Heath United
• Quedgeley Wanderers v Sharpness

All games to be played on dates to be arranged

14^th September 2024 - Chalford and Almondbury share points

Mark Simpson

The most anticipated match this week was the clash between Chalford and Almondsbury, both unbeaten, and both remaining unbeaten in the league along with Sharpness.

First to Highfield Way where Chalford played their first County League home match against 100% Almondsbury. Chalford were straight out of the blocks and a first minute Harry header was wide. Chalford kept up the pressure and in the fifth minute Sam Burgess made a good save and Andy Maryon’s follow up was cleared off the line. After 12 minutes Ryan Outram broke free of the Almonds defence and was brought down in the area and Ben Minnican sent Burgess the wrong way from the resulting spot kick for 1-0. Both sides then cancelled each other out but right on half time a strike by Luke Brunsdon was cleared off the Almonds line. A fairly even start to the second half, but it was the hosts who went closest when Brad Moore’s shot from outside the box was well saved by Burgess. On 72 minutes Chalford had a penalty appeal waved away and from the goal kick Almonds took the ball into Chalford’s half and Alex Hill hit a wonder strike with Portlock well beaten for 1-1. Two points dropped for Chalford who edged the game both teams remain unbeaten.

Totterdown United visited Stoke Gifford SGS United and it is not getting any easier for them. The pattern of the game was set in the first few minutes when it became clear that SGS would dominate but, Totterdown had a good structure and posed a threat on the break. Gifford had plenty of moments around the box but lacked the final ball and it was Totterdown’s Josh Hemmings with the first chance of the game saved by Oli Gargett. George Sanders also tested Gargett on the half hour. A few minutes on Gifford could have been in front with Jake Abraham denied by Ashley Martin but in the ensuing scramble the ball couldn’t be forced in. Just on half time Dejuan Tulloch drove forward from right back and shot from 20 yards, Martin parried and Abraham finished off for 1-0. Totterdown got themselves back into it and on 52 a breakaway led to Ollie Lovell squeezing a shot in from a narrow angle for 1-1. Following a mix-up where SGS thought they had an attacking set-piece Totterdowm thought quickly and released Jamie Godfrey who brought a smart stop from Gargett. That was Totterdown’s last chance as SGS dominated from thereon in, with Totterdown’s Mike Rimmer seeing red for a second yellow. Gifford were in front on 65 with a back post finish by Rudy Hill, and a few minutes later Max Cooper wrapped up proceedings from close range. Rudy Hill got his second on 80 and the impressive Evan Maidment’s free kick set up Harrison Murdoch-McCormack for a header and a 5-1 Stoke Gifford victory.

A surprisingly poor start for Henbury & Rockleaze continued at Wick on a glorious afternoon on an immaculate pitch. Wick started the better creating two great chances in the first five minutes the first cleared off the line and the second a fluffed shot from close range. H&R settled and on 14 Kai Wilson in Wick’s goal saved well. Wick opened the scoring with a great break down the right and a driven low cross was met by Adam Campbell to slot home, and a few minutes later an almost identical move ended up over the top. On 26 good work by Jordan Dunning in H&R’s goal prevented a second. H&R came back and a lunging deflection by a Wick defender preserved the lead and the ball ping-ponged about in front of the Wick goal from the resulting corner. Wick immediately attacked the visitors goal but Dunning was on form again. H&R dominated the late stages of the half but Wick held on. H&R continued pressing after the break and Wick were living dangerously and on 55 minutes H&R had a shot come crashing off the post. A minute later, however, they were level with Brandon Boontam’s header giving Wilson no chance. H&R continued to ask questions as Wick dug deep to stay in the game. But on 80, against the run of play, Wick retook the lead when Archie Parry found the net from the edge of the box low into the corner. H&R pressed to level matters but on the counter Parry sealed a 3-1 Wick victory with a great finish.

On a bright afternoon at Fairmile Gardens, Gala Wilton took on Ruardean Hill Rangers in a rather scrappy first half, but it was Hill who took the initiative and were in front on ten minutes when Oliver Mason’s shot beat the Gala keeper Oscar Bignell. It was two on 37 minutes when a Steve Clark free kick from the touchline somehow evaded the Gala defence, bounced through and found its way into the net. The second half followed a similar pattern to the first with Ruardean winning the 50/50 challenges and the aerial battles, and the next goal was going to be crucial. It eventually went to Hill ten minutes from time when Steve Clark scored directly from a corner for an afternoon Gala will want to forget. A deserved 3-0 win and the first of the season for Hill.

At Hamfields a local derby with Sharpness v Quedgeley Wanderers, and it was the Sharks on the front foot with a good chance on five when a through ball put Bennett in and his cross finding Will Tainton’s head but just wide. Bennett was causing Quedgeley problems and this time his run and cross found Gayner but his effort was saved by Nathan Charnock. Sharpness made the breakthrough minutes later when James Priday’s long throw found Tom Frankham in the area who crossed to Tainton who controlled and slotted into the bottom corner. It was almost two when Tainton’s corner was met by Gayner forcing Charnock into a good save. Ten minutes before half time Tom Palmer had two efforts in quick succession, the first, Brad Hewer’s cross was headed out to him and his 25 yarder was tipped over, and from the resulting corner his header hit the bar. Quedgeley’s threat in the first half was mainly to come from set-pieces but with five minutes to half time Lawson broke behind Sharpness and his cross found Furniss who shot over, and nearly on half time a corner found Furniss but Holder saved his effort on the line. And right at the death the lively Bennett nearly doubled the Sharks lead Tainton playing him in but his chipped shot struck the far post. Quedgeley started the second half better and were close when Barry played Jenner in but he shot straight at Holder. Sharpness were struggling to find any rhythm but were two up when a corner pinged around the box and Palmer eventually steered home. Quedgeley were the better side in the second half and came close when Barry picked the ball up in midfield and drove forward but his 25 yarder was pushed round by Holder. Quedgeley did break through midway through the half when a free kick was initially blocked by Sharpness but the second ball in found Spencer in acres of space and his shot took a slight deflection off Brad Gibbs into the corner of the net. Minutes later it was 2-2, Webb’s free kick found Rouse’s head for the equaliser from 6 yards. Ten minutes from time a bit of handbags led to Priday and Frankham from the Sharks and Quedgeley’s Spencer being dismissed. Nine-man Sharpness, however, almost took it, Gayner’s shot well saved by Charnock and 2-2 it ended.

At Pomphrey Hill Bromley Heath United took on Filton Athletic who showed exactly why they were unbeaten in the league with a quick confident star to the game and they were in the lead on five minutes with a well taken goal from Treydon Merrett who used his pace to evade the Bromley defenders and the advancing Ferguson. Bromley were shaken by this and they worked hard to gain possession creating a couple of half chances but Filton continued to have the better of the exchanges with Merrett using his pace to come close to getting a second. Midway through the half Bromley realised that they needed to raise their game and after a really good move were unlucky not to equalise when Ben Ackerman hit a post, but a few minutes later he turned a defender outside the box and this time his long-range effort sailed into the net for 1-1. Bromley continued to press and Aiden Noble’s shot was well saved by Matt Barry only to rebound for Noble to score for 2-1. Bromley were then awarded a penalty which was well saved by Barry. On 35 Bromley scored again when a gorgeous cross from Ackerman was forcefully headed home by Noble for his second. Although this had been a disastrous spell for Filton they picked up the mantle and were rewarded when a looping high ball come off the bar and fell for Kieran Cooper to head home from close range. The second half was no where near as exciting with both defences tightening up. Although possession was fairly even Bromley created more chances and were rewarded on 75 when Noble determinably won a 50/50 and quickly hit a pass to Ollie Hanham who scored the only goal of the half to give Bromley Heath a 4-2 win.

Today’s other match at Vicarage Road saw Hanham Athletic take on Frampton United with Frampton coming well out on top with a remarkable 7-2 win.

13^th September 2024 - Electronic Programmes

Gala Wilton v Ruardean Hill Rangers

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Hanham Athletic v Frampton United

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7^th September 2024 - Les James League Cup sponsored by Boca Teamwear

Nigel Meaney

A break from the League programme today with the first round of the Les James League cup sponsored by Boca Teamwear. Holders Stoke Gifford SGS United’s defence of the Trophy ended at Frampton United. Totterdown United gained their first win of the season on penalties at Broadwell Amateurs. There were also first wins of the season for Henbury & Rockleaze and Quedgeley Wanderers who downed the league leaders Almondsbury on penalties after a 1-1 draw in normal time. Sharpness, Hanham Athletic, Bromley Heath United and Gala Wilton complete the second round line up.

Gala Wilton took on Filton Athletic at Fairmile Gardens keen to respond following their defeat to the same opponents in the league a fortnight ago. After a fairly even first 30 mins in which both keepers were rarely troubled, it was Filton who took the lead with a smart first time finish from inside the box by Frasier Venables on 30 mins. Filton were then on top for the next 15 minutes but couldn’t make their superiority tell on the scoresheet and it remained 1-0 at half-time.

But whatever the Gala management said at half-time had the desired effect as Gala came out strongly and they drew level on 50 mins with an excellent lobbed finish from Henri Francis following a through ball. Both sides then saw efforts go narrowly wide as both teams threatened, but it was Gala who got what turned out to be the winning goal on 77 mins when an excellent Junior Kpowosa cross was met at the far post by Jamie Creed. Gala were then able to see the game out and earn the win to safely go through to the next round.

Frampton United hosted cup holders Stoke Gifford SGS United on The Bellfield and it was Frampton who created the first chance after good build up play George Driver-Dickerson had a glorious chance but skewed his shot wide, 10 minutes later Gifford's Cosmo Browne went through the Frampton defence but Tom Kaye thwarted him with a fingertip save, On 22 minutes Frampton had another chance but shot wide, then Gifford's Paul Cronin had a chance but Kaye saved well with his feet, Frampton opened the scoring from a corner played in and Craig Mills poked the ball home.

After the break the game ebbed & flowed with the best chance falling to Gifford's Jake Abraham but again Tom Kaye was there to pull off a good save. The last 20 minutes Gifford began to exert pressure on the Frampton Defence but this was brought to a sudden halt when in the 86th minute a long clearance from the Frampton keeper was headed on by Jamie Martin for Henry Driver-Dickerson to increase the lead to 2-0 then a couple of minutes later Driver-Dickerson put the result to bed when he was bundled over in the box & picked himself up to slot the resulting penalty home for a 3-0 win for Frampton.

Henbury & Rockleaze defeated Chalford to gain their first win of the season and first win in the Les James League Cup for 7 years! The game started very fast with two evenly matched sides, Duane Portlock in the Chalford goal was the first called into action when he turned a Sam Bailey effort away to safety on 9 minutes, whilst the game was end to end Henbury & Rockleaze took the lead on 15 minutes when Dan Webb got behind the defence and cut the ball back to Bailey who was there to side foot the ball into the net from 4 yards out. Jamie Lock then struck the cross bar with a fierce drive on 20 minutes with Harry Trett well beaten in the Henbury & Rockleaze goal, fortunately the ball was hacked away to safety. Chalford had lots of pressure at the end of the 1^st half and forced several corners all of which were dealt with by the Henbury & Rockleaze backline.

Henbury & Rockleaze started the 2^nd half on top and went 2-0 up on 49 minutes when Drew Sawdon struck a great shot past Portlock from the edge of the area after good build up play by James Goulden and Dan Webb. On 65 minutes Henbury & Rockleaze thought they sealed the cup win when Dent fired home from a Dan Webb cross but was adjudged to have been in an offside position and then on 73 minutes Dan Webb perhaps should have done better when one on one with the Portlock, although the keeper spread himself well and saved with his legs. Chalford did manage to get on the scoresheet when skipper Johnny Davis scored with a thunderbolt header from a corner on 88 minutes to setup what could have been a nervy ending for Henbury & Rockleaze although they managed to soak up the pressure to secure their first win of the season.

At the Hawthorns, Broadwell Amateurs faced off against Totterdown United in a tightly contested match that went down to the wire. Broadwell started the game with great intensity, immediately putting pressure on Totterdown with a series of attacks. They created three solid chances within the first five minutes, the best of which fell to Ethan Wilkins. After breaking through the defense, Wilkins found himself one-on-one with Totterdown’s goalkeeper Ashley Martin but failed to convert, steering his shot wide of the post. Totterdown weathered the early storm and began to grow into the game, especially down the left flank where George Saunders surged forward, cutting inside and forcing Broadwell keeper Jack Watkins into a sharp save, turning the ball around the post for a corner. As Broadwell struggled with misplaced passes, Totterdown capitalized, and confidence began to build within their ranks. Chaz Hemmings dominated in the air, winning the majority of aerial duels for Totterdown, and they gradually gained control. Against the run of play, Totterdown opened the scoring in the 40th minute. A quick move down the right wing saw the ball threaded through to Isaac Sulyman, who appeared to be in an offside position. Despite the linesman raising his flag, the referee waved play on, and Sulyman coolly slotted the ball past Watkins to give Totterdown the lead. Broadwell felt hard done by, but the halftime whistle blew with the score 0-1 in favor of the visitors.

The second half began somewhat disjointedly, with both teams struggling to find rhythm. Broadwell tried to play out from the back, but their passing continued to let them down, while Totterdown stuck to their aerial gameplan, with Hemmings continuing to dominate in the air. Broadwell had a golden opportunity to equalize on 50 minutes when Kristian Burnard found himself in space, but his effort sailed over the bar. The breakthrough finally came in the 70th minute when a Broadwell attack resulted in a shot striking a Totterdown defender’s arm inside the box. The referee pointed to the spot, awarding a penalty to Broadwell. Jordan Locke stepped up and confidently converted, placing the ball into the bottom left corner to level the score at 1-1. Both sides pushed hard for a winner in the closing stages, with Broadwell goalkeeper Jack Watkins pulling off a series of superb saves to keep Totterdown at bay. The best chance of the game came in stoppage time when Ethan Wilkins unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box that was destined for the top corner, only for Ashley Martin to make an incredible save, tipping it around the post.

With no winner after 90 minutes, the match headed to a penalty shootout. Totterdown were clinical from the spot, while Broadwell struggled to convert so it ended 4-1 to Totterdown when Alex Silvester netted their fourth penalty. Despite a valiant effort from Broadwell’s keeper, Jack Watkins and a late resurgence Totterdown United advance to the second round, leaving Broadwell to reflect on missed opportunities and the cruel nature of penalties.

At Waterwells Quedgeley Wanderers welcomed league leaders Almondsbury. Early exchanges were fairly even , with a Rio Spencer shot for Quedgeley the most notable effort. On 13 minutes Omar Alrawi gave Almondsbury the lead, when he broke through the Quedgeley defence and rounded keeper Nathan Charnock to slot home. Quedgeley had their chances as the ball eluded Luke Holder for what would have been tap in, and Sam Burgess in the Almondsbury goal was forced into a good save by Finley Jenner after he spun away from his marker. Almondsbury had one strike ruled out for offside and other chances dealt with by Charnock.

In the second half both keepers and defences were kept busy as both teams looked for the next goal. Charnock was forced into a good save from Alrawi after Matt Harmer broke though the Quedgeley defence. Charnock gathered an Almondsbury free kick and set Nathan Payne on his way but the Almondsbury defence covers well. Almondsbury keeper Burgess clears long on 62 and the resulting cross finds Craig Lancastle but his hearer comes back off the crossbar. Josh Page clears the ball off the line for Quedgeley, then on 81 a good move across the pitch for Quedgeley finds Sean Lawson on the edge of the box and he chips the keeper to equalize. There are a couple more chances for both sides with the last right at the end when Almondsbury keeper Burgess comes out to gather butt misses the ball Abiodun Odewale runs through but can't catch the ball in time. So it finishes 1-1 and on to the penalty shootout which finished 5-4 to Quedgeley after 7 kicks each.

Sharpness hosted Ruardean Hill Rangers for the second time this season. The game was a very scrappy affair in the first half with neither side creating many opportunities. The second half was following the same pattern until the last 15 mins where all the action took place. The visitors went close to breaking the deadlock when Steve Clark's free kick hit the post. Ruardean tested the woodwork again with 5 mins remaining, Alex Stephen's intercepted a pass from the Sharpness defence & let loose a strike which struck the bar. Sharpness were the side though to break the deadlock in the last couple of minutes. Great play from Will Lacey down the wing who beat his man & found Alex Gayner with his cross & he made no mistake with his finish. Gayner made it two a minute later to seal the result finishing with aplomb when set through one on one.

After a week of continuous heavy showers the flat was pitch at Pomphrey Hill was in amazingly good shape for its first game of the season as Bromley Heath United hosted Wick and both teams made the most, playing some really good football throughout the game. Wick started the game the stronger, edging the possession in the first quarter of the game and came close to scoring when a long range free kick effort rattled the cross bar on 20 minutes. Bromley came into the game much more in the remainder of the fist half with the lively Aiden Noble having to good efforts saved by Kai Wilson in the Wick goal. Wick's Cory Langdon looked also looked lively during this period trying to create chances for himself and the rest of the team. The first half ended 0-0 but this didn't really reflect the quality of football and the effort of both teams.

In the second half again, Wick started with more possession and the better chances with both Tommy Lacey and Cory Langdon coming close. Bromley to their credit responded well and took the lead on 60 minutes when a dangerous cross was headed on by Jack Withey under a lot of pressure from the Wick keeper for Ben Ackerman to eventually head home. It was Bromley’s turn to have the better of the play and create more chances as they pushed for another during this middle period of the half with Bromley's Aiden Noble looking dangerous in lots of areas. Kai Wilson was the busier of the two keepers in this period, making several good stops. However, Bromley did manage to beat him on 30 minutes when a penetrating free kick form Luke Bessell was headed home by Jack Withey, Bromley's impressive captain. Wick continued to play good football and finished the game well but couldn't get the goal that would have made the remaining minutes very interesting. A good game of football to watch, played in the right way and with a great attitude. Credit must go to both sets of players and management.

In the remaining game Hanham Athletic were clinical in seeing off Cheltenham Civil Service, goals from Jamie Fry, Mikey Golding, Karim Rendall and a Brandon Barnes penalty securing a 4-0 win for the hosts.

6^th September 2024 - Electronic Programmes

Gala Wilton v Filton Athletic

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Hanham Athletic v Cheltenham Civil Service

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Henbury & Rockleaze v Chalford

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