News and Match Reports

31st January 2025 - Electronic Programmes

Almondsbury v Chalford

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Filton Athletic v Bromley Heath United

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Henbury & Rockleaze v Wick

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Ruardean Hill Rangers v Gala Wilton

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Totterdown United v Stoke Gifford SGS United

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26th January 2025 - Almondbury salvage late point from Broadwell Amateurs

Mark Simpson

results

Almondsbury drop two points, Sharpness drop two points, Wick and Frampton win, the merry-go-round at the top continues whilst at the bottom Quedgeley and Henbury & Rockleaze both pick up useful points.

At The Field Almondsbury dropped two points against a Broadwell Amateurs side who last week took an absolute battering on their travels. This time the first chance of the match fell to Almonds half way into the first half when Paolo Pali beat his man, shot at Jack Watkins who beat it away Omar Alwari followed up and Watkins pulled off a great save to tip it behind. A few minutes later Tim O’Loughlin’s pass was intercepted by Davies who finished well over Sam Burgess for a Broadwell lead. The rest of the half was rather scruffy but just into the second half it was almost two for the visitors a free kick coming off the crossbar, and that, as they say was that, as far as Broadwell were concerned. On 54 minutes Alwari was put through but Watkins tipped round the post, on 77 minutes Liam Nicholls beat his man and sets up Craig Lancastle who slotted the ball off the post, on 87 Nicholls creates again and puts in Morgan who slipped at the crucial moment, but a minute later the pressure was rewarded when Morgan broke the line and convincingly slotted home from twelve yards. On 89 Almonds had a corner cleared off the line and in time added on had a penalty shout waived away and there it finished at 1-1, a brave point for Broadwell.

Gala Wilton took on Frampton United in a match full of goals at Fairmile Gardens. It was Gala who started brightly with a fifth minute goal when Jacob Eakers put Jamie Creed through to finish well past Tom Kaye. The first 30 minutes were competitive and in that time it was Gala who came closest to a second but were denied by Kaye. Frampton, however, equalised on 35 minutes through Freddie Porter. The key moment of the game came on the stroke of half time when Myron Turner finished well to give Frampton the lead. And they started the second half strongly, scoring early on through Henry Driver-Dickerson from a corner. After this Frampton largely dominated and Henry added their fourth and fifth goals to complete his hat-trick. Gala grabbed a late consolation through Henry Hunt but Frampton ran out well deserved 5-2 winners to maintain their title charge.

To Hamfields where Sharpness and Henbury & Rockleaze were unable to find a goal in a tight encounter. H&R nearly took the lead fifteen minutes in when Fraser Butt saw his free kick effort strike the bar. Alfie Jones nearly broke the deadlock for the hosts when sent through one-on-one but couldn’t beat keeper Harry Trett. Five minutes before the break Tom Palmer had a chance to open the scoring but blasted the ball over from Gayner’s cross. Chances were generally few and far between but when they did come both keepers were in excellent form. Sharks Will Tainton brought a good save out of Trett with a well struck shot from distance and Holder was next to keep his side in it when he made a great save from George James’ header which looked destined to break the deadlock. Sharpness were reduced to ten late-on, Priday picking up a second yellow but this had no bearing on the 0-0 result.

Eager to put last week’s horror show behind them Wick took on Totterdown United at Oldbury Lane and Wick were quick out of the blocks fashioning a number of opportunities, and on five minutes a snap shot from Cory Langdon was taken cleanly by Ashley Martin. Wick continued to create without testing Martin until the 18th minute when his full-length dive to his right pushed a goal bound effort for a corner, which caused a scramble in the goalmouth, the visitors hanging on. Totts were trying their passing game but were continually being pressed and on 20 minutes Langdon was upended in the box for a penalty from which he made no mistake. Two minutes later he was through again but this time found the side netting. Totts first effort on goal 25 minutes in sailed safely over the bar, and ten minutes later they had a great break but were denied an equaliser by Kai Wilson’s feet. On 40 minutes a great ball whipped in found Langdon in the six -yard box to chest home his and Wick’s second. Wick now had their tails up and a sweeping move found Freddie Mogg surging into the box to fire home Wick’s third and on the stroke of half time Liam McCracken’s great ball in found Freddie Taylor-Fox for the fourth.
Wick were on the front foot for the second half and a minute in a cross found Langdon at the far post but he failed with the spectacular. One-way traffic now and on 55 Ben Sayers fired home the fifth and three minutes later Langdon completed his hat-trick and Wick’s sixth. On the hour a great through ball found Langdon away again and his excellent finish took his tally to four and Wick’s to seven. Wick weren’t done yet and on 65 a rocket free kick from McCracken found the roof of the net for eight. Five minutes on Langdon was through again and was denied by Martin, and he was in action again tipping another shot over. Credit to Totts who kept going and a good save was needed from Wilson to prevent them from scoring. Wick did carve out another two good scoring chances but their scoring for the day was done and an 8-0 Wick victory against a Totterdown side who have shown themselves more than capable of living with any side in this League.

Stoke Gifford SGS United really needed a win up at Ruardean Hill Rangers to keep their title hopes alive but, as so many sides have found out this is one of the last places you’d choose to come to when points are needed, but SGS bucked the trend and took early charge dominating possession. However, after 15 minutes it was Hill who won a free kick and Steve Clark forced a good save from Healan. After a drop ball re-start Gifford’s Arthur Furness, in space, crossed and after a goalmouth scramble Ben Shepard put SGS in front. Ruardean upped their performance at the start of the second half with chances falling for Clark, and he equalised from Ollie Mason’s through ball. Another chance then fell to Luke Brown but without success. Hill were now on top although injury affected their last twenty minutes with SGS gaining more possession and following a scramble from another corner the ball fell to birthday boy Aaron Sweete to give SGS the lead. Hill pressed for the equaliser but could not force it and SGS took an impressive three points away by 2-1.

On a sunny day up at Highfield Way, evidently the home of football! Chalford entertained a Quedgeley Wanderers side fighting at the wrong end of the table. Chalford started down the hill but it was QW on top. And a few chances came to nothing but on ten minutes a corner to QW created a goalmouth scramble and Chalford had to clear off the line. Chalford started to make inroads and on 14 Ben Minnican took a free kick which was wasted and Chalford playing some great football with the ball dropping to Andrew Roberts with a quality strike over the bar. On 26 Parker’s turned on the edge of the box, shot, but Nathan Charnock pulled off a great save. Chalford were cranking up the pressure and on 37 minutes Parker back-heeled into Maryon’s path and he made no mistake for 1-0. QW had a good chance just before the break from a free kick but Duane Portlock pulled off a great save. QW started the second half better and five minutes in one-on one Jordan Rouse equalised. Chalford started to get back on top and on 75 minutes a great strike by Locke forced an even better save from Charnock. Maryon headed over from the resulting corner. Parker found himself through on goal but was let down by a heavy touch, a quality corner from debutant Harvey Mullane was headed over by Moore. Five minutes from time another save by Charnock and Chalford couldn’t follow it in. 1-1 it ended but Chalford had plenty of chances.

A long trip for Cheltenham Civil Service to Pomphrey Hill to take on in form Bromley Heath United. And it was the hosts with a dream start when their high press paid off and were in front in the fifth minute from their in-form striker Aiden Noble. They continued to rack up chances in the first quarter of the game but Service were defending well, and with their first real chance of the game they managed to equalise when Mani Singh crossed for Leighton Blacker to slot home. Heath continued to create chances with Cripps, Noble, and O’Brien all close and with Jon Dix in the Service goal making some good stops. Bromley continued in the second half to make chance after chance with Service just content with breaking up play. Noble thought he was in but was thwarted by Dix who got down low to make the ball bounce up and over the bar. Then, Jake Millward thought he had done it but was pulled back for offside. Persistence finally paid off when, deep into time added on Noble finished off a good Bromley move for 2-1 and whilst it could have been more perhaps Service could consider themselves unfortunate not to pick up a point – such fine margins.

To the Hallett Construction Pavilion, where the remarkably inconsistent Hanham Athletic took on in form Filton Athletic, and could they be outside title challengers? Filton were in front on 10 minutes when Haman Tiguri spilled a shot and Yousef Abdulaham scored. Filton extended their lead five minutes later when Tom Fry rose above the Hanham defence. Hanham got one back on 21 when Liam Jenkins corner was headed home by Mark Knapman, but two minutes later Filton re-stored their two-goal lead when a cross from the left was superbly headed in by Kieran Cooper. It was four on 65 minutes when Trey Merrett’s shot went under the keeper. Cooper got his second heading into an empty net following a Tiguri mistake and Merrett made it six running onto a pass to slot home. A fairly comprehensive 6-1 win for Filton and who knows.

24th January 2025 - Electronic Programmes

Chalford v Quedgeley Wanderers

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Gala Wilton v Frampton United

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Hanham Athletic v Filton Athletic

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Ruardean Hill Rangers v Stoke Gifford SGS United

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19th January 2025 - Ruardean hit Wick for Six

Mark Simpson

results

On Friday night Almondsbury set a challenge for the other title contenders with three points at Quedgeley. On Saturday, Frampton and Sharpness took up the challenge but Wick faltered where many teams have done so in the past – the Forest football graveyard at Ruardean Hill.

On Friday night a decent crowd at Waterwells saw leaders Almondsbury at Quedgeley Wanderers, and it was QW who had the stronger start and three minutes in Sean Lawson put Fin Jenner through but the ball bobbled as he hit it and it fell kindly for Sam Burgess. It was still fairly even when half way through the half Almonds Omar Alwari was just wide from outside the box, and on 28 QW broke down the right, Jenner had a shot cleared off the line and Harry Furniss tapped in for 1-0. Almonds upped things and Webb set up Alwari who again couldn’t find the target. QW had an early chance in the second half with Rio Spencer feeding Furniss but his shot was into the side netting. Almonds then began to control things and Nicholls played Hill down the line who crossed into the box for Alwari to finally find the net for 1-1. Twelve minutes on and on the hour, Alwari was there again with a half volley into the net. Two minutes later Nicholls was played through, knocked it round Nathan Charnock but was unable to find the net. In the 72nd minutes Jack Burgess picked up a second yellow but it didn’t stop Almonds sealing the win five minutes from time when Hill fed Craig Lancastle one-on-one with Charnock and he tapped the ball over him for a 3-1 win for Almondsbury.

To the Forest and Ruardean Hill Rangers encounter with title challengers Wick, and it was Hill on the front foot with an early goal, Tom Landon scoring from Steve Clark’s cross. The Hill continued to dominate and fifteen minutes in grabbed a second from leading scorer Clark after a mazy run from Oli Mason. Wick weren’t really in it and on forty minutes Fin Jones intercepted a misplaced pass from the Wick defence to place a lovely shot past Kai Wilson into the top corner. Two minutes from the break a rare Wick foray into the Hill half saw good work by Cory Langdon allowing Jay Rudge to pull a goal back from close range. The second half started fairly evenly with both sides creating chances, but Hill grabbed their fourth when Clark’s corner was only half cleared to centre half Max Telling, on the edge of the box, who decided on an overhead bicycle kick which flew into the back of the net. Wick were continuing to press but were leaving themselves rather exposed at the back leaving Kane Fellows free 25 yards from goal and whose shot deceived Wilson for 5-1. Five became six after a long clearance by the Hill defence was expertly brought down by Clark who rounded Wilson for the final goal of the afternoon, and 6-1 to Hill leaving Wick with a lot to think about.

To Bristol Barbarians RFC where Totterdown United met title challengers Sharpness with both sides in good form. But it was Sharpness who controlled the first period and dominated every first and second ball, and indeed broke the deadlock twenty minutes in after Totterdown defender Frazer Clarke was caught on the ball from a poor pass out by keeper Ashley Martin, which Will Tainton capitalised on. Kier Bennett then made it 2-0 from a corner which the home side failed to clear. Totterdown played some nice football in spells but never really threatened the Sharks goal. The second half turning point came when the hosts Dan Harrison getting a sin-binning from which Sharpness took advantage scoring their third goal with a nice one-on-one finish from Bennett. Totterdown had a couple of chances chasing the game in the final fifteen but never troubled Holder and Sharpness deservedly took the points with a comprehensive 3-0 victory.

At the Bell Field, it was a cagey affair between title chasers Frampton United and outsiders Stoke Gifford SGS United where two decent teams tended to cancel each other out with few clear-cut chances being created. Frampton’s Fin Blythe had his effort from a free kick tipped over, and the only goal of the game came on 42 minutes when from a corner Jacob Geddes beat Evan Healing to the ball and his header crept over the line. Gifford’s Dan Twomey was unfortunate not to equalise when his shot took a slight deflection and came back off the post, then a cross into the box found Arthur Furness whose shot was well saved by Tom Kaye. In the dying moments with SGS pushing forward Frampton had a couple of chances on the break with Healan denying both Fin Blythe and Tom Mangan and a 1-0 win for Frampton to boost their title hopes.

In their first game of 2025 Gala Wilton entertained a Filton Athletic side who have made an excellent start to life in the County league. In a goalless but competitive first 45 minutes, it was Filton who largely threatened more with Fraser Venables looking particularly dangerous, but Gala stood firm and held their own until half time. However, the greater experience of the Filton side made the difference in the second half, and they took the game away from Gala with two goals in a two-minute spell early in the half. Venables opened the scoring on 55 minutes when he converted a free kick from 20 yards, then followed this straight after with a second goal, a deflected shot again, from outside the box. Gala were unable to respond for the remainder of the game leaving Filton to take home a deserved three points.

Up to Chalford who took on Henbury & Rockleaze and a hectic start. After 5 minutes a free kick to Chalford just outside the box and Ben Minnican bent the ball low around the wall and into the bottom right-hand corner for 1-0. A minute later, from the restart, a long ball forward down the right was taken on the bounce by Harvey Moran who lobbed Duane Portlock for 1-1. On 26 minutes Chalford broke down the right with Parker and Minnican, Parker’s cross was blocked, and from Locke’s corner Maryon flicked it on for Bennyworth to bury, 2-1 to Chalford. A few minutes later Maryon shot from the edge but his daisy cutter was easily saved by Jordan Dunning. Chalford continued to press and Portlock went long, Minnican played a cross in but was just out of Martin’s reach. Just past the hour Keylock played a ball through from just inside the H&R half, Dunning came out a long way but Maryon was there first and slid the ball in for 3-1. Twenty minutes from time Maryon cleverly flicked the ball on to George Parker who superbly chipped the advancing Dunning for 4-1. H&R nearly pulled one back when Nick Jones was one-on-one with Portlock who pulled off a great save. Chalford were on the attack again with great play between Roberts and Cooke who broke into the box and shot low to Dunning’s left but he pulled off a good save. So, 4-1 it ended to Chalford with H&R still anxiously looking over their shoulders.

To Pomphrey Hill where Bromley Heath United continued their good form against Broadwell Amateurs. Bromley came flying out of the blocks and started with a number of quick incisive moves which Broadwell did well to defend. On ten minutes Bromley were ahead, Jake Millward controlled the ball on the run and hit a super fierce shot from the edge of the box and although Jack Watkins got both hands to it, he couldn’t keep it out. Five minutes later a quick passing sequence was finished off by Ben Ackerman for 2-0. Before twenty minutes were up Millward and Ackerman combined to set up Cam Ford who cleverly placed the ball over Watkins for 3-0. Broadwell understandably looked a little shell shocked, but continued to play good possession football but without creating anything. The second half started in similar fashion to the first and within five minutes leading scorer Aiden Noble headed in Bromley’s fourth from Liam O’Donaghue’s pin-point cross. Within minutes Noble bagged his second with Millward again making the decisive pass. Although any thoughts that Broadwell had of getting back into the game were long gone, they continued to match Bromley especially in the middle of the park with both sides passing the ball around positively and quickly. Bromley however, finished the game as they had started it when two substitutes Harry Cole and Ted Hill-Nelmes combined to score the sixth goal. Despite the scoreline there were a lot of positives for Broadwell but Bromley Heath are in good form at the moment as the 6-0 scoreline tends to show.

At Tewkesbury Road Cheltenham Civil Service welcomed their opponents from Bristol – Hanham Athletic. Hanham started the better with more possession and control, but it was Service who thought they had scored a well-crafted goal but were denied by an offside flag. But they did take the lead on 40 minutes Sam Jackson finding Leighton Blacker to score. Five minutes later Micky Holding equalised for the visitors scoring with a header from a cross. Hanham continued to control the game into the second half and took the lead on 75 minutes after some poor Service defending at the back post allowing Sims to score. Not long after Hanham scored again after catching Service short of numbers at the back, chasing an equaliser, the ball was cut back for Liam Jenkins to score. A 3-1 Hanham win but frustration for Service who had another goal chalked off for offside, sometimes thing don’t go your way when you are struggling.

16th January 2025 - Electronic Programmes

Chalford v Henbury & Rockleaze

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Cheltenham Civil Service v Hanham Athletic

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Gala Wilton v Filton Athletic

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Totterdown United v Sharpness

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Ruardean Hill Rangers v Wick

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10th January 2025 - Electronic Programmes

Cheltenham Civil Service v Bromley Heath United

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Filton Athletic V Hanham Athletic

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5th January 2025 - Wick climb to third

Mark Simpson

results

Only three matches this weekend and one important game at the top where Wick somewhat dented Frampton United’s title hopes and at the bottom are Quedgeley Wanderers starting their seemingly annual late run to get out of trouble.

Starting at Oldbury Lane, Wick took on Frampton United and despite the frosty conditions the pitch was in great shape for two teams chasing top spot. Wick started lively and two minutes in a great through ball set Cory Langdon away on goal but his shot was well saved by Tom Kaye with his feet. Shortly after Wick were unable to get a finishing touch to a scramble in the Frampton 6-yard area. But, on ten minutes Frampton had a chance with a shot that flashed just wide. 15 minutes in and Frampton were enjoying a good spell of pressure on Wick’s goal with a number of shots ending up wide. The hosts rode the pressure well and had their own good chance but the ball fell kindly to Kaye. It was end to end up until half time with both sides moving the ball about well. Wick were on the front foot for the second half and Langdon was away again and Kaye, again, saving with his feet. Wick maintained the pressure with a good cross fizzing across the box and evading everyone. On 65 minutes great work by Liam McCracken making room to hit a powerful shot, which Kaye half stopped only for Langdon to open the scoring for Wick. Minutes later Kaye pulled off another great save to deny Wick a second, however, on seventy minutes another great through ball set Langdon away again and this time he found the net for his and Wick’s second. Ten minutes from time a Wick shot was blocked but Langdon was on hand for his hat-trick and 3-0. As the game entered its final stages Tom Mangan pulled one back for Frampton with a header into the top corner and two minutes into time added on Frampton increased the tension when Zac Tyres fired a shot into the bottom corner of the Wick net. With 8 minutes of added time Wick had to endure a final Frampton flourish to hold onto their lead for a 3-2 win and a game worthy of a top of the table clash.

At Waterwells Quedgeley Wanderers were looking to kick-start their season against Broadwell Amateurs and after only two minutes Sean Lawson was fouled in the box for a QW penalty which Jordan Rouse smashed into the top corner for 1-0, and soon after a great ball in by Rio Spencer left Lawson to miss a simple tap-in past Jack Watkins. Broadwell had their chances and a good delivery in was headed just wide, and on ten minutes Quedgeley’s Lawson put a good ball in and Alfie Pledger forced a good save from Watkins. QW were creating chances and another came when Harry Reynolds picked up the ball on the edge, beat two players only to try a chip that was just wide. But when chances are missed the inevitable happens and on 23 minutes a good Broadwell cross into the box left Nathan Davies to knock the ball past Nathan Charnock for 1-1. A period of both teams creating half chances followed and just before the break Spencer tried one from distance which was well caught by Watkins on the stretch. Broadwell had an early chance in the second half with Dan Brain involved down the left but the cross was well blocked for a corner. QW began to create, and a ball across the box by Harry Furniss was well cleared, and on 57 minutes QW won the ball high in the Broadwell half and worked it through the middle for Finlay Jenner to knock it home for 2-1. The game became a little scrappy before QW started to pressure without a final product. Ten minutes from time Broadwell had the ball in the box only for Aiden Creighton to knock the ball over and a few minutes later Charnock made a superb save to keep it at 2-1. Broadwell threw everything at QW but failed to break them down and a valuable three points for QW.

Hanham Athletic arrived at Pomphrey Hill with a very strong team hoping to improve on a fairly poor run of recent results against a Bromley Heath United side on a fairly good run of recent results, and within ten minutes Ben Ackerman had them in front with a well-placed header from Aiden Noble’s cross. As the half progressed both sides looked dangerous going forward with Bromley creating plenty of chances but paid for not taking them, when Karim Rendall rattled Bromley’s crossbar from distance, and Jordan Rickman got on to the end of the rebound and his deflected shot hit the back of the net for 1-1. Bromley were not daunted by this and deservedly regained the lead on thirty-five minutes after Ackerman won the ball with a good tackle and from there unleashed an unstoppable 25 yard shot into the bottom corner. The second half was always about the next goal and after starting the half the better of the two teams it was Bromley who grabbed it. A good move down the left saw the hardworking Aiden Noble send a ball into the box for Mason Lewis to appear from nowhere to slot the ball home. Bromley continued to create chances but it was Hanham who thought they should have had a penalty only for an offside decision to go against them before the foul. Hanham battled hard until the end with their best chance falling to Jay Vile who rattled the Bromley crossbar and the game ended 3-1 to Bromley who were on balance good value for their win.

3rd January 2025 - Electronic Programmes

Chalford v Totterdown United

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Cheltenham Civil Service v Gala Wilton

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Ruardean Hill Rangers v Sharpness

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