10th August 2025 - Bromley Heath win at Tewkesbury Town
Mark Simpson
Here we go again, summer still with us, stiflingly hot, and grassroots football underway. Some interesting matches to start with none of the new Clubs able to win, showing the strength of the League. Wick started looking ominously good as did most of last seasons’ challengers.
At Northway Playing Fields Tewkesbury Town met the challenge of Bromley Heath United. It was a close game with few chances at either end for the first 40 minutes. It was Bromley Heath who took the lead with Mason Lewis given a bit too much space and shot over Isaac Parry’s head. The equaliser wasn’t long coming when a Lee Llewelyn corner picked out Tony Hosking to head in at the back post. Shortly after the interval a mix-up in the Tewkesbury box saw Mitch Greenaway put the visitors in front. From then on Bromley stifled Tewkesbury’s play and held on for a good first win by 2-1.
At the Bellfield Frampton United hosted Stoke Gifford SGS United in a rematch of last weeks Ron Holpin Trophy game, and it looked like it was going to be a similar result as well, with Stoke Gifford starting brightly and they were in the lead within five minutes through Patryk Kosciolek. Frampton slowly got into the game and equalised on 32 minutes, Theo Brown chasing a through ball down, beating the keeper to the ball and crossing for Manolo Marquez to tap home. After a good spell of play from the hosts a Freddie Porter shot was cleared out to Harry Churchley who fired home for 2-1. On 77 minutes Tyler Jagger was brought down outside the box and from the resulting free-kick Marquez sealed a 3-1 Frampton win.
At Hardwicke Playing Fields Tytherington Rocks played their first game back in the County League against Hanham Athletic. Both teams started slowly looking not to concede early on. Hanham created the first chance but were denied by a good save by the home keeper Billy Pullin. Tytherington made chances but strong Hanham defending kept chances to a minimum. Rocks were denied two goals from Toby Waterman firstly for a foul on the keeper and the second for offside. Hanham thought they had scored but were denied by a Jack Pullin goal-line clearance, but overall neither side did enough to win the game and a 0-0 draw was a fair result.
Filton Athletic’s first game back at Elm Park against Henbury and Rockleaze was arguably the match of the day. The first big chance of the day fell to Filton, Fraser Venables winning a header in midfield finding Kieran Cooper who fired wide of Harry Trett’s goal. Shortly after Venables’ free kick caused Trett a few problems but he cleared for a corner. In the 24th minute H&R’s Kai Elliott cut in from the right and shot over Tom Bradley’s goal, then Cameron Tarr had an effort from distance narrowly over. The home side finished the half strongly with Cooper playing Dan Payne in who tried to lob Trett who made the save and the same two combined again but Payne couldn’t finish. The second half had both teams cancelling each other out. H&R had a couple of chances Elliott’s shot saved by Bradley and the Tasman Rook was denied by the keeper. On 71 minutes Fraser Venables had a free kick in a good position but Trett saved well, and then Kyle Thomas came on to try and win it, and in the last few minutes Venables found him but he shot straight at Trett. A good game ended 0-0.
The seasons opener saw Wick welcome Cribbs Reserves to the Nest. Wick started brightly with their passing game, keeping Cribbs on the back foot for long periods. Despite having a lot of the ball it wasn’t until the 15th minute that Wick had a shot on goal which was well saved by Corey Weir, and a minute later Weir was lobbed and a great clearance kept the scores level. On 30 minutes Keeper Kai Wilson punted long for Cory Langdon who laid back to Louis Short to shot over. Just after Wick got their reward for their possession when George Lloyd fired in from an acute angle for 1-0. Cribbs were still very in touch with things at the break but Wick started the second half as they had done in the first pushing forward and two minutes in Short was away down the middle but shot wide. A minute later the goal machine Langdon latched on to a loose ball to put Wick two in front. On 65 minutes Langdon made no mistake in front of goal for Wick’s third. Wick were now full of energy and a great ball pit Freddie Mogg through on 75 minutes but his effort was well saved. Wick got their fourth when Kai Shellard scored on his debut. Cribbs never gave up and forced Wilson into two fine saves to keep the score 4-0 to Wick.
Totterdown United welcomed Bishops Cleeve Development to Norton Lane for the League opener. Both teams started in a positive manner but it was Totts who took an early lead when George Saunders made a run in behind and cut the ball back to Ollie Lovell who danced through a few Cleeve defenders before slotting home. Shortly after Totterdown doubled their lead with a well worked short corner and Lovell’s shot was directed in by Aaron Thorn. Cleeve hit back ten minutes later with a scuffed shot falling at Dan Beasley’s feet who dispatched it well. Two minutes later Cleeve were awarded a penalty for a challenge by Frazer Clarke. Kian Gardiner dispatched the spot kick for 2-2. The second half saw both sides huff and puff in the heat on a very dry pitch. Totts edged it missing three great chances and 2-2 it finished and Cleeve happy with their point on the road.
In yesterdays other match at The Hawthorns Broadwell Amateurs slipped up against Quedgeley Wanderers by 2-1. Very little action in the first 15 minutess, both sides cancelling each other out, 17 minutes in a penalty to Quedgeley following a challenge from behind, excellent save low to the left by Jack Watkins. The deadlock was broken from a free kick 20 yards out, well struck low and around the wall by Dan Brain to give Broadwell the lead, Broadwell going in at HT 1-0 up. The second half was even with few chances until the 73rd minute with Quedgeley equalising after Broadwell failing to clear their lines, deep cross from the right and a good header fron Henty Miles for 1-1, shortly after on 85 minutess, Quedgeley took the lead with the ball breaking in the centre of the pitch, a through ball and cut back, there was a scramble in the box with the ball being poked home by Finlay Jenner for 2-1 to Quedgeley.
