4th May 2024 - Sharpness and Frampton share spoils
Mark Simpson
Nearly there, all League issues decided, Avonmouth champions, Stoke Gifford United runners up, Gala Wilton and Hardwicke relegated. Gala Wilton’s fate was decided last Wednesday in front of 142 spectators and a 5-1 reversal at Sharpness. Other midweek results Almondsbury’s away win at Little Stoke 2-1, Quedgeley Wanderers 3-2 win at Hanham Athletic, Almondsbury 2 Frampton United 2, Avonmouth 2 Bromley Heath United 1 with Hanham Athletic v Hardwicke postponed and will not be rescheduled.
In front of their largest crowd of the season at Green Lane (126), Hardwicke were seeking a home win against local rivals Quedgeley Wanderers. The home side started brightly looking to offset the disappointment of being relegated. They pressed high but after five minutes Quedgeley broke away and Jack Bright whipped in a perfect cross for Harry Reynolds to head firmly against the bar. The first half became a midfield battle with both sides looking to break the deadlock with Hardwicke’s Jack Twyman and Quedgeley’s Sean Lawson leading the way. The only other goal scoring opportunity in the first half fell to Hardwicke when stalwart Pat Vernall volleyed the ball just over the bar with 5 minutes of the half to go. The second half continued as the first without providing too much excitement for the expectant crowd. The game started to fizzle out, when the away crowd thought they were to take the lead 20 minutes in when Reynolds provided a cross for Oliver Barnett whose shot flashed past Cameron Wilce’s post. Both keepers were relatively quiet with the final result of 0-0 rather inevitable.
Another big crowd (123) for Sharpness v Frampton United at Hamfields, where the game started slow with both teams feeling their way into the match. Frankham had the first real Sharks effort on goal when he played a one-two with Gibbs on the edge of the box but his shot was straight at Kaye. Frampton went close midway through the half when Espada played Harper-Emerson down the channel who sent over a cross to the back post but Clayson headed over. Sharpness broke the deadlock on the half hour when a sliced clearance was latched onto by McKinnon who smashed the ball into the bottom corner. The lead didn’t last long as Frampton equalised two minutes later. Harper-Emerson once again latched onto a ball down the left channel and this time Clayson was on hand to tuck his cross home from inside the six-yard box. The second half was much the same as the first with a slow start. Frampton had a good chance on the hour when Harper-Emerson broke away from the halfway line evading both Hewer and Gough in goal, before passing the ball back to Porter who skied his effort over. The Sharks restored their lead on 65 minutes when McKinnon’s cross was met by Bennett who sent a looping header back across the goal which dropped in at the far post. The game lacked chances but Frampton managed to find an equaliser with five minutes to go when Jackson was fed the ball on the left and sent in a cross which found Clayson all alone in the six yard box and he made no mistake for 2-2.
It's bumper crowd day with 147 at The Field for Almondsbury v Bromley Heath United for a game which started slowly with both teams showing signs of a long end to the season and had an equal share of the ball, most of which was in the air. Bromley won most of the aerial battles and were able to create a couple of chances as the half progressed, with Burgess saving well down to his right midway through the first half. At half time Almonds made a change, bringing on Alexander which helped them further up the pitch. Almonds made changes as the half went on bringing on Young and Perberdy down the right. Bromley could have won it in the 85th minute , a free header from an out-swinging corner straight into the hands of Burgess. It was Young and Perberdy who combined with some slick passing football down the right before switching to Ward on the left, whose cross found Alexander in the box who managed to turn and poke the ball home with the last kick of the game for 1-0 to Almonds.
The final match saw Broadwell Amateurs visit Hanham Athletic and come away with a surprising 4-0 victory. With a depleted side due to injuries and fixture congestion Hanham tried to match Broadwell's youth and energy to no effect and Broadwell scored from a fine free kick on 30 mins from Dan Brain. Hanham looked lethargic and conceded again on 39 minutes when Jordan Lockes shot was fumbled over the line. It was 3 nil on 60 mins when Jordan Locke lobbed the keeper from a great pass by Frankie Johnson. Frankie Johnson made it 4 nil on 80 minutes.
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