11th October 2026 - University of Bristol close gap at the top
Mark Simpson
University of Bristol closed the gap to Quedgeley Wanderer at the top and Broadwell Amateurs dropped their first points of the season at Chalford. Tewkesbury Town still have problems with their pitch with yet another postponement. Totterdown United remain bottom despite some recent encouraging performances.
In midweek at Saw Mills End Longlevens Reserves entertained Tewkesbury Town and Town opened the scoring early doors with Scott Nicholls converting a low cross just three minutes in. Tewkesbury doubled their lead just 9 minutes later with Shea Danter’s effort from outside the box trickling into the bottom corner. Things got worse for Longlevens when the conceded a penalty on 23 minutes converted by Jamie Goodwin. Brad Martin pulled one back for Levens converting a one-on-one. Fin Rankin had a good chance to reduce the deficit to one but scuppered the chance. Tewkesbury got the next goal on 53 minutes when Scott Jordan beat Jack Sergeant with a good finish. For much of the second half Town controlled the game with Levens having to defend many attacks. Leo Marsden-Green pulled another back for the hosts on 85 minutes but it was too little too late and Tewkesbury took all three points in a 4-2 win.
Frampton United welcomed the University of Bristol to The Bellfield for their first meeting and the first chance of the game fell to the students Seb Tolosa who outpaced the defence but his attempted lob was just wide. On 20 minutes after good Frampton interplay the ball was played into Porter who turned and volleyed but was denied by Harwood’s fine save and after a bit of a goalmouth scramble the ball fell to Marks but his shot was just over the University bar. From the resulting long goal kick the Frampton defenders intended back pass fell short and Tolosa nipped in and rounded Kaye to open the scoring. The second half saw both sides attacking but, neither could find the net until the 68th minute when a Frampton free kick was rolled into Halsey who helped the ball on to Billy Curtis to head home for 1-1. The University took all 3 points when from a long ball over the top Tolosa was on hand to slot the ball past Kaye to end an entertaining game 2-1 to the visitors.
On an autumnal day at Arnall Drive Henbury & Rockleaze deservedly beat AFC Mangotsfield Rocks despite making life difficult for themselves against decent opposition. Just 4 minutes in Referee Travis played a good advantage and then pointed to the spot for a second infringement when Harvey Moran was brought down. Kane Mannings stepped up but his low effort was too close to Rocks keeper Luke Baker who turned the ball for a corner from which Moran struck the bar. On 21 minutes Harry Trett saved well from Ash Sims, and with the ball cleared off the line H&R went straight up the other end and Capon found himself one-on-one with Baker but his chipped effort sailed over the bar. On 25 minutes Abdul Bangoura did well to round the full back and his pull back was met by Moran, but his shot from 6 yards was narrowly over. It was all H&R now and on 32 minutes a brilliant Moran cross was met by Mannings whose effort was well saved by Baker and from the resulting melee Capon’s effort was also saved. The last action of the first half saw Moran roll Trai Sackett and his great effort cannoned off the bar. H&R were again on the front foot at the start of the second half and Moran crossed to Capon who fired wide. On 56 minutes the Rocks tricky winger David Okoko hit the top of the bar with a speculative cross come shot. The only goal of the game came on 67 minutes when Bangoura found himself on the wing, he cut inside the defenders and slotted past Baker to the relief of the home faithful. On 73 minutes Moran got free but fired straight at Baker. Rocks started to come into the game and on 85 Jordan Laraway stabbed his effort into the side netting and then in time added on Mangotsfield forced a corner where Ben O’Brien got up well at the back post only to see his header strike the corner of the post and bar. So, three points to H&R with a 1-0 win in a good County League game.
Chalford (Red) v Broadwell Amateurs (Yellow), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Chalford (Red) v Broadwell Amateurs (Yellow), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Chalford (Red) v Broadwell Amateurs (Yellow), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Chalford (Red) v Broadwell Amateurs (Yellow), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Chalford (Red) v Broadwell Amateurs (Yellow) - Images courtesy Peter Langley
Chalford (Red) v Broadwell Amateurs (Yellow), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Chalford (Red) v Broadwell Amateurs (Yellow), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Chalford (Red) v Broadwell Amateurs (Yellow), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Chalford (Red) v Broadwell Amateurs (Yellow), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Chalford (Red) v Broadwell Amateurs (Yellow), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Chalford (Red) v Broadwell Amateurs (Yellow), Images courtesy Peter Langley
Chalford (Red) v Broadwell Amateurs (Yellow), Images courtesy Peter Langley
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In need of a win, Wick entertained Stoke Gifford SGS United at the Owl’s Nest and they started the game positively and were causing problems for Gifford as Ellis Clarke out muscled his defender but his shot fizzed just wide. On seven minutes Max Barker beat two defenders and found Bailey Rudge at the back post and he forced a good save by Ferguson. After a solid ten minutes and with Wick controlling large parts of the game a switch in play caught Wick napping and Gifford’s Zac Cheetham cut inside and forced Gigov in the Wick goal into a good save. Gifford began to grow into the game and on 23 minutes Wick took their foot off the gas and the dangerous Cheetham brought another good save by Gigov. Wick broke after Meacham won the ball and fed Lane who tried to find Densley, but he was beaten to the ball by Ferguson who was quickly off his line. On 27 minutes Cheetham opened Gifford’s account, and four minutes on another lapse in concentration allowed Cheetham to latch on to a flick over the top and he made no mistake in notching his and Gifford’s second. Wick started the second half strongly and went close in the first minute, then Bailey Rudge shot wide on 52 minutes, and then, his dangerous free kick caused mayhem in the box before Gifford cleared. Cheetham completed his hat-trick on 63 minutes and two minutes later Wick almost pulled one back after Barker slid the ball past Ferguson but it was cleared off the line. Wick made a series of substitutions looking to find a way back in and as the game became more frantic the hosts failed to find any sort of a breakthrough and Gifford’s 3-0 win left Wick with growing worries.
Chalford were left frustrated after being denied a first victory of the season, despite an excellent performance against unbeaten Broadwell Amateurs in a thrilling 2–2 draw. The visitors arrived looking to maintain their unbeaten start, but Chalford showed plenty of fight, quality and attacking intent to push them to the limit in a game that could easily have ended with all three points staying at home. The match got off to the worst possible start for Chalford, as a defensive blunder in just the second minute gifted Liam Brain the opportunity to open the scoring for Broadwell. However, Chalford responded brilliantly and were back on level terms just four minutes later. A well-worked corner created the opportunity for captain Luke Bennyworth, who produced a sparkling half-volley to fire home a superb equaliser. The turnaround was complete in the ninth minute as Chalford took the lead in spectacular fashion. Silas Sinclair threaded an excellent through ball into the path of Ryan Harry, who chased it down before producing a superb finish from around 25 yards to send the home side into a 2–1 lead. With the game becoming increasingly competitive, tempers flared after around 30 minutes, resulting in Tyrel Roberts being sent off following a melee. Despite the setback, Chalford continued to take the game to their unbeaten opponents. Both sides looked dangerous going forward, with attacks coming at either end, but Chalford increasingly looked the stronger team and had Broadwell firmly on the ropes. Chalford battled hard throughout the second half, showing determination and attacking ambition as they looked to secure that elusive first win of the campaign. But with just 14 minutes remaining, the visitors found a way back into the contest. After a period of pinball inside the Chalford penalty area, the ball fell to Harry Knight, who managed to toe-poke it over the line to make it 2–2. It was a cruel blow for Chalford, who had worked tirelessly and looked well on course to claim a memorable victory against one of the league’s unbeaten sides. The final whistle confirmed a share of the points, Chalford can take plenty of positives from a performance in which they twice showed their attacking threat and pushed Broadwell to the very limit.
At Elm Park Filton Athletic were held to a 2-2 draw by Totterdown United. Filton started quickly and their early dominance was rewarded by a Trrey Merrett goal to give them the lead. Totterdown slowlt got a foothold in the game and good play by Jack Waldron and Tom Morgan was rewarded when Morgan's cross from the left richocheted off defenders into the Filton net. So 1-1 at the break a fair reflection on the play. In the second half a poor start for Filton as Jack Waldron was allowed to run through and at the second attempt bundle the ball in to give Totterdown the lead. Filton started to dominate the game and had plenty of chances, but a combination of some poor finishing and some resolute defending from Totterdown kept Totts in the game. Only a late own goal in a goalmouth scamble saved a point for Filton.
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