News and Match Reports

28th December 2024 - Totterdown stun Leaders in nine goal thriller

Mark Simpson

results

What a way to end the year, the leaders Almondsbury come unstuck at Totterdown, Frampton and Wick also slip up and only Sharpness in beating Frampton capitalised in an afternoon of strange results. On Boxing Day a bumper crowd saw Ruardean Hill take the honours at Broadwell. And, a Happy New Year to my readers.

At Bristol Barbarians RFC Totterdown United welcomed League leaders Almondsbury, with the hosts hoping to keep their good run of form going into the new year. Totterdown started the game well on the counter and were in the lead within 5 minutes through Frank Tobin’s strike. Almonds grew into the half but struggled to effectively handle the Totterdown attacks and indeed Ollie Lovell put the hosts two up on fifteen minutes. Ten minutes later Tobin got probably the goal of the season with a strike from his own half which caught Sam Burgess in no man’s land and the ball flew into the back of his net. Totterdown were on fire now and Chaz Hemmings failed with a one-on-one and Lovell hit the bar from 8 yards out. Almonds then pulled one back with a Craig Lancastle tap in which was quickly replied to with Toby Carter’s headed goal making it 4-1. Just before half time Almonds grabbed a second with a good glancing header by Alex Hill giving keeper Ashley Martin no chance. Rather unfamiliar territory for Almondsbury into the second half and indeed it was Hemmings, somewhat against the run of play, who scored Totterdown’s fifth. Almondsbury had a lot of the possession but Totterdown sat back making it hard for the Almonds players to penetrate. Late into the half Almonds pulled two back, first through Omar Alrawi and then a penalty converted by Luke Meacham. So, there we have it, a massive win for Totterdown United 5-4 and a massive shock for Almondsbury.

In front of a crowd of 212 at the Bell Field, Frampton United hosted Sharpness and it was the Sharks who got off to a great start when after 5 minutes Alex Gaynor picked the ball up 20 yards out and lifted it over Tom Kaye for 0-1. Frampton’s first effort fell to Mangan but his header was too high, but they equalised on the half hour when Manolo Espada’s free kick was headed clear but Myron Turner was on hand to fire home. It didn’t take long for Sharpness to regain the lead, Tainton scoring from the spot after a foul in the box. On 42 minutes Gaynor shot past Kaye from the edge of the box for the Sharks third. The second half didn’t start much better for Frampton when Geddes picked up a second yellow, and Callum Dummelow had a shot blocked by Brown. Driver-Dickerson had a god chance for Frampton from a poor clearance but shot straight at Holder. In the 80th minute Holder made a good save to deny Espada’s free kick before Sharpness were also reduced to ten with Will Payne picking up a straight red for an off the ball incident, but, however, Sharpness held out for three points from a well-deserved 3-1 win.

At Pen Park Filton Athletic took on another title challenger in Wick and an eight-goal thriller saw Filton come out on top. Filton were nearly in front in the first minute with Trey Merrett’s shot deflected over and from the resulting corner Tommy Longhurst headed off the line. On 10 minutes a slip by Kyle Russell saw Trey Merrett through on goal but the defender made a good clearing challenge, Wick then countered but Louis Short dragged his effort wide. The deadlock was broken on 16, when after a great ball to him by Fraser Venables, Liam Dorman found the top corner from outside the box. The Wick reply was almost instant, Jay Rudge’s shot was saved by Barry Phillips but the ball fell to Cory Langdon for a tap in. Filton regained the lead on 30 minutes when Venables free kick caused chaos in the Wick box and the ball fell to Tom Fry who fired into the roof of the net. Two minutes later it was 3-1, after multiple chances to score, Kyle Thomas tapped in after Venables initial shot was saved by Kai Thomas. Three minutes into the second half Rudge volleyed in from a corner to pull Wick back into it. On the hour after good build up down the left by Filton, Fry received the ball and struck a low shot across Wilson into the bottom corner for 4-2. With twenty minutes to go Trey Merrett’s shot from the edge took a deflection past Wilson for Filton’s fifth. On 75 minutes Langdon headed in from close range following a corner for Wick’s third and making the last 15 minutes potentially interesting, but Filton held on for an entertaining 5-3 win.

After breathtaking stuff at the top, we now go mid-table to the Hawthorns where Broadwell Amateurs took on Hanham Athletic on a cold foggy afternoon with visibility challenging for players and spectators. Both teams showed attacking intent from the start with Broadwell creating a couple of early chances but Hanham keeper Dylan McLennon was equal to the task, making crucial saves. The play shifted rapidly up both wings although player identity was difficult in the fog. The second half saw both sides pressing for a breakthrough and Hanham went close on 56, from a corner, with keeper Jack Watkins and his defence clearing off the line. Broadwell made a quick counter down the left but McLennon intercepted the cross. Broadwell’s persistence paid off in the 72nd minute when a series of well executed passes down the right culminated with Dan Brain’s cross finding Dave Jenkins at the far post to slot in for 1-0. Hanham now had to chase the match with Karim Rendall and Mikey Golding working hard to inspire a response, but it wasn’t to be. Broadwell put on fresh legs and Elliot Potter impressed in the latter stages with his speed and determination. As the light faded and the fog descended once more the Referee’s whistle concluded a 1-0 Broadwell win.

At Pomphrey Hill Pavilion Bromley Heath United took on Gala Wilton and it was Gala, who didn’t look like a team languishing in the bottom two, who started the game really strongly and were rewarded within 5 minutes when, from a corner the ball was cleared wide by the defence, to be played straight back in for Robert Reid to head home. At this point Gala were playing the ball around nicely and looking dangerous, especially when playing channel ball through the Bromley back-line. However, Bromley started to get their act together and create chances at the other end. They dominated the last 20 minutes of the half with Cripps, Noble, Hanham, and Bessell all having good chances saved by Oscar Bignell or cleared off the line. Gala did have the last chance of the half but the ball went over the bar. The second half started evenly but Bromley again started to control things with numerous chances all cleared off the line, the woodwork struck or Bignell making a number of excellent saves. The inevitable equaliser came on 65 minutes when a dangerous ball in was headed on by O’Donaghue for Aidan Noble to run onto and slot home. Five minutes later Bromley took the lead with a well worked goal ending with a well-placed Ackerman header. Gala had battled well up to this stage but the rest of the game was played out in their half with Bromley creating more chances. There could have been more goals but Gala fought to the end, and a 2-1 win for Bromley Heath was closer than perhaps it should have been.

We lost two matches, the fog prevented Ruardean Hill Rangers from playing Chalford and an unfit pitch stopped Cheltenham Civil Service from playing Stoke Gifford SGS United.

27th December 2024 - Electronic Programmes

Filton Athletic v Wick

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Ruardean Hill Rangers v Chalford

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Totterdown United v Almondsbury

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21st December 2024 - Almondsbury top of tree for Xmas

Mark Simpson

results

Almondsbury maintain top spot, with the advantage that they already have the points in the bag. Frampton United have games in hand as do Wick, but Sharpness slipped up. At the bottom Quedgeley Wanderers and Gala Wilton occupy the bottom two spots. As it’s that time of the year again, Merry Christmas to all my readers.

Where better to start than in the Forest where Ruardean Hill Rangers took on leaders Almondsbury in what usually is a stiff test for any visiting team. Almonds made a great start to the match although Hill had the first chances when a great run by Luke Brown presented Steve Clark with an early chance but he shot straight at Sam Burgess, and shortly after a Charley Mason free kick found Brown who shot from distance over the top. But it was Almonds Omar Alwari who took a shot from out wide, and a deflection taking his effort in off the post for a tenth minute lead. On 16 minutes Luke Meacham ran on to a long through ball before being taken out by Aaron Underwood for a penalty which Craig Lancastle smashed straight down the middle for 2-0. Hill continued to push pegging Almonds back and with a free kick on the edge Clark fired over. Up the other end Underwood tipped a header wide from Mason, his own player. At the end of the first, a long throw from Mitch Griffin was flicked to Brown whose volley was straight at Burgess. The second half had Hill on the front foot and in the 65th minute a through ball found Clark one-on-one with Burgess but he lifted the ball over the keeper and the bar. Three minutes later Hill pulled a goal back, Griffin’s lovely floated ball in was palmed by Burgess to Brown who squared to Alex Stephens who scored off the underside of the bar. Brown got stopped on the corner of the box and Clark smashed the free kick goal bound which Burgess stopped at the second attempt and a few minutes later on 85, Hill’s Alfie Jayne found himself free at the back post but fired over. It ended a good 2-1 win for the leaders in a game that Hill felt they should have got something from.

Frampton United took on Chalford at the Bell Field in their quest to peg back Almondsbury, and it was Chalford who made a bright start and from a quick break George Parker shot wide and a minute later James Keylock fired a long range shot just past the post. Frampton gradually got into the game and Henry Driver-Dickerson had a few half chances. In the 40th minute a Fin Blythe free kick was tipped over the bar, then just before half time Blythe had another free kick which deflected off the wall and Portlock did well to tip over. Just after the break Frampton broke the deadlock when a mis-hit shot by Lewis Vye fell to Tom Mangan to score. On 70 minutes Driver-Dickerson went on a run and squared the ball which was blocked on the line and Mangan was on hand to tap in for 2-0. Chalford almost pulled one back when a long cross to the back post found Ben Minnican but his shot was saved by Kaye leaving the score 2-0 for a valuable Frampton win.

At Pen Park Filton Athletic dented any Sharpness title hopes in what could be said were not favourable conditions. A first minute cross by Filton’s Fraser Venables was kept in by Kieran Cooper but the chance was cleared by the Sharks defence. Sharpness has a chance themselves when Will Payne’s cross found Will Tainton who fired wide. Next it was Filton to miss through Said Hassan after a good cross by Kyle Thomas. The game continued in this manner with half chances from distance until the 31st minute when Venables burst into the Sharpness box only to be brought down for a penalty which was missed by Thomas. Hassan for Filton and Payne for Sharpness were both wide with half chances. Into the second half with both sides evenly matched until the 58th minute when a great half-volley rom Venables flew into the top corner past James Holder for 1-0 to Filton. Sharpness pressed for the equaliser, but the home defence held firm and a great tackle by Chris Hillyer denied Tainton. But it was that man Venables again making it 2-0 tapping in after Hassan’s shot had been saved by Holder. It remained 2-0 until the last kick of the game when Liam Harper’s free kick from distance, which Barry Phillips got a hand to, but it could not prevent the Sharks pulling a goal back and 2-1 to Filton Athletic it was.

At Tewkesbury Road it was Wick the visitors to Cheltenham Civil Service a match that started with Service on the front foot creating plenty of chances with Leighton Blacker closest, hitting the post. But it was Wick on the counter who earned a free kick, Jay Rudge finding the top corner for 1-0. Minutes later the game was turned on its head when Alin Neamtu got himself a red card for an altercation with Wick’s keeper Kai Wilson. Wick took the numerical advantage and earned a corner and from it Louis Short made it 2-0. It was a second half which neither team really threatened but Wick earned a penalty which was scored by Cory Langdon for a 3-0 win to keep them in the title race, and Service still somewhat in trouble towards the bottom.

In testing conditions at Arnall Drive in testing conditions Henbury & Rockleaze took on Broadwell Amateurs who deservedly took the points back to the Forest of Dean. After a cagey start by both teams the first action was on 17 minutes when Jamie Belfitt’s effort was well saved by Jordan Dunning in the H&R goal. It was Broadwell who took the lead on 21 minutes when Jordan Locke tried his luck with a 30-yard free kick, the ball bouncing in front of Dunning wrong footing him and nestling in the middle of the goal. H&R equalised on 37, when Fraser Butt beat the offside trap on the right and crossed for Drew Sawdon to stroke the ball into an empty net. Broadwell started the second half still on top, but it was H&R with the first chance, Sawdon narrowly wide with a back post header. On the hour Broadwell gained a penalty for pushing and Locke stroked the ball home for 2-1. Dunning made up for his earlier error making a brilliant save when one-on-one with Dan Brain. The game became quite fractious and Joe Hodson saw red for H&R for retaliation, but the last action of the game saw Marcus Williams missed a decent chance to level things scooping the ball over from 4 yards and so the points went to Broadwell 2-1.

An important match at The Bristol Barbarians RFC saw Totterdown United and Quedgeley Wanderers both desperate for three points in their quest to escape the bottom two. In windswept conditions Totterdown dominated for large periods with some good football being played, but had to work hard to break down a resilient QW. Multiple efforts were repeatedly thwarted by a superb first half performance by Nathan Charnock in the Quedgeley goal. The deadlock was finally broken just before the break when Jack Millard finished smartly after a lay off from Chaz Hemmings. Home keeper Ashley Martin was called into action late in the first half tipping a strong effort onto the bar. Two quick goals half way through the second half effectively killed the game, George Saunders fired home a crisp finish from the middle of the box and Frank Tobin scored the third. Chaz Hemmings who assisted all the goals was man-of-the -match and completed the scoring with a beautiful curled free kick from the edge of the area to complete a comprehensive 4-0 Totterdown win and leaving Quedgeley with plenty to think about.

At the Hallett Construction Pavilion a rather inconsistent Hanham Athletic took on struggling Gala Wilton in an entertaining six goal match. Hanham started well and were almost in the lead on five minutes but Luke Bryan’s shot was brilliantly saved by Oscar Bignall. Unfortunately it was Bignall’s mistake that allowed Hanham to take the lead on 8 minutes spilling a shot and allowing Mikey Golding to score. Gala, however, equalised on twelve when Ben Sluman finished well after a great save by Bryan. Hanham re-took the lead on 21 minutes Karim Rendall finding himself free in the box his cross shot turned in by the unfortunate Kieran Mace. Mikey Golding was put clean through but put his chance over the top before Gala equalised right on half time when a long ball was flicked on and Harvey Sheridan finished brilliantly on the turn. But, it was Hanham who took the lead for the third time on 52 minutes when Josh Gibbs went past two defenders and hit an audacious shot into the top corner. It was 4-2 on 83, a great ball by Jay Vile was excellently finished by Karim Rendall. So 4-2 to Hanham at the end but when you are struggling it’s such close margins that decide games.

To the Pomphrey Hill Pavilion for mid table Bromley Heath United against a Stoke Gifford SGS United side whose title challenge seems to be coming adrift. The first twenty minutes were pretty even in possession and chances with both sides committed to attacking at every opportunity and defending efficiently when required. But, it was Bromley who broke the deadlock with a well worked opening goal, a spread of play across the pitch had a dangerous cross in evading defenders and there was Aiden Noble to side foot in. SGS were knocked out of their stride a little and would have been further behind but for a couple of smart saves by Evan Healan. SGS pulled themselves together and created a couple of chances but failed to convert them. Bromley started the second period well and had an excellent effort from the lively Ollie Hanham cleared off the line. A few minutes on it was Hanham again and this time just wide. The next goal was going to be important to the result and SGS thought they had it when a fantastic volley from Max Cooper struck the crossbar on seventy minutes, only for Bromley to break to the other end and for Noble to grab his second on the end of Withey’s pinpoint cross. The game was wrapped up for Bromley five minutes from the end when substitute Ryan Ricketts through sheer determination, blocking a defenders clearance, then the goalkeepers, and the ball falling for him to slot home for a deserved 3-0 Bromley Heath United win.

20th December 2024 - Electronic Programmes

Cheltenham Civil Service v Wick

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Filton Athletic v Sharpness

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Hanham Athletic v Gala Wilton

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Ruardean Hill Rangers v Almondsbury

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Totterdown United v Quedgeley Wanderers

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14th December 2024 - Quedgeley Wanderers win first league game

Mark Simpson

results

With only three games due to the County Cup there were important games for four struggling teams with two of them against each other in a real six pointer. In the County Cup Four of our sides progressed into the next round and three biting the dust, although in fairness there were two all County League clashes.

First stop is Waterwells where Quedgeley Wanderers were still looking for their first League win against a Cheltenham Civil Service side who have picked up a bit recently. A seemingly scrappy start with neither side creating anything of worth and it was only at the fifteenth minute that anything of note happened when a good Quedgeley move ended up with a Rio Spencer shot from the edge just wide. Quedgeley opened the scoring on 19 minutes when Connor Webb’s corner was nodded in to the bottom corner. Another close moment for Quedgeley ten minutes on when Dylan Venn’s shot from the edge of the box hit keeper Jon Dix. On a rare sortie by Service’s Cam Blacker who moved well through the middle but was well defended by Jordan Rouse. Near to half time Service had a break but the final shot was blasted over. Civil Service appeared to step things up in the second half and after 67 minutes drew a good double save from Nathan Charnock. Quedgeley almost scored when Alin Neamtu’s back pass almost ended up in his own net, and from the resulting corner Wanderers missed two headers. Quedgeley were trying to kill the game off with a flurry of free kicks, but it was Service who went close 3 minutes from the end when a deflection fell to Service but the ball ended up wide from eight yards. Into time added on Venn’s 18-yard effort for Quedgeley cleared the bar and Quedgeley managed to see the game out for a 1-0 win.

A real game of two halves in the Forest where Ruardean Hill Rangers entertained Totterdown United, and it was Hill in front after fifteen minutes when Fin Jones won the ball off his defender and laid off for Steve Clark to score. Ten minutes on it was 2-0 through Taylor Blaby from Mitch Griffin’s cross. Unfortunately Hill were reduced to ten when Olly Mason received a second yellow. Totterdown pressed their advantage, their best chance forcing keeper Martin Coleman to get down well and palm the shot away. It was Hill on the front foot for the start of the second half and Steve Clark got his second from Alex Stevens cross finishing neatly after a slip from a defender to put Hill 3-0 up.. Totterdown started to get back into the game and pulled one back with Jack Millard’s overhead kick finding the top corner. Further pressure from the visitors resulted with Millard scoring again after an Ollie Lovell flick. And, Totterdown’s comeback was completed with a header from George Saunders. Both sides had chances towards the end with Coleman tipping a shot wide before the final whistle went and 3-3 it was.

On a sunny Saturday afternoon at the Stoke Gifford stadium Stoke Gifford SGS United took on Henbury & Rockleaze and a game largely dominated by SGS from start to finish although H&R sat in a very organised shape. But, it was SGS who took the lead on 12 minutes, Jake Gifford went down the right and crossed in, which was cleared into the unfortunate Cam Tarr and ricocheted into the net for the opener. A defensive lapse almost allowed H&R in but George James 35-yard lobbed effort was just wide. SGS could have had a second but Jordan Dunning denied Ollie Stevenson. H&R began to grow into the game but despite winning a few set-pieces in good positions they never really tested Evan Healan in the Gifford goal. The second half had a similar theme with Gifford having most of the possession but both teams struggled to break each other down, that was until the 70th minute when a corner was well met by Lawrence Mitchell and Abraham pounced to make it 2-0. Two minutes later Abraham turned provider running 40 yards down the right to beat his man and whipping in a delightful cross that tempted Dunning out allowing Stevenson to nod home easily. The SGS win was soured a little when Dan Worton got a second yellow but nevertheless it was a fine 3-0 victory for SGS.

13th December 2024 - Electronic Programmes

Ruardean Hill Rangers v Totterdown United

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