1st August 2026 - University of Bristol start with win as Longlevens Reserves held
Mark Simpson
Here we are again, a new season already, and who knows who is going to set the pace.
Quedgeley Wanderers and Longlevens Reserves played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at Waterwells, in a competitive
encounter that saw both sides create plenty of chances. QW made the perfect start, taking the lead on 5 minutes, when
Harry Furniss played a cross-field pass to Riley Stokes who drove forward and lifted an excellent finish over keeper
Jack Sergeant. Longlevens responded well and drew level in the 14th minute and following a scramble in the box Brad
Martin reacting quickest to force the ball in. Just a minute later Longlevens were in the lead after QW lost
possession in midfield allowing Fin Rankin to calmly slot past Steve Sparrow. Quedgeley looked to respond immediately
playing neat attacking football with Alfie Pledger finding Harry Reynolds who linked up with Fin Jenner who in turn
found Henry Miles whose effort struck a defender before falling kindly into Sergeant’s hands. Quedgeley equalised just
before the break with Miles’ dancing through the defence and firing past Sergeant. Longlevens threatened to score
again after a scramble in the box when Pledger threw himself in front of a goal bound effort before a backheel attempt
went behind for a goal kick. The second half remained closely contested, with Rankin denied by an excellent Sparrow
save. QW created their own opportunities with Jenner seeing one effort well saved and firing over in time added on.
However, in the end strong defences and excellent goalkeeping ensured the points were shared.
Images from Brian Rossiter are available here on Flickr
At Elm Park Filton Athletic went down to League new boys University of Bristol. After having all the play it was Filton who went down after a mistake by Ash Eyles who spilt the ball and Miles Whilby was on hand to tap home. Filton continued to push for a leveller and finally equalised on 22 minutes with Chris Hillyer heading home Fraser Venables corner. Filton were dominating into the break, but not converting their chances and Matt Hoare missed an easy one-on-one. The second half began in the same vein with Filton still well on top, but the game started to become scrappy with the home side snatching at chances and giving the University lads hope, and with 5 minutes left they scored their winner with a breakaway goal from Callum Goon. A final score of 2-1 and a rare home defeat for Filton.
AFC Mangotsfield Rocks produced an encouraging display at Cossham Steet against Bishops Cleeve Development in a hotly contested encounter. The visitors made a perfect start after only six minutes with a defensive mix-up allowing Monty New to capitalise and put Cleeve one-up. Buoyed by the early breakthrough Cleeve looked sharp and dangerous throughout the first twenty minutes moving the ball confidently and earning a number of corners. However, the newly formed Rocks side gradually settled and themselves looked increasingly confident. They continued to compete well into the second half but found themselves two down in the 57th minute when Harry Davis finished another well-worked Cleeve move. Despite the setback Rocks continued to create opportunities, David Okoko coming close from just inside the box, Ash Sims tested keeper Cameron Cheal with a well struck shot and Toby Waterman was unfortunate after a promising attack. Rocks were unable to find the finishing touches with Jack Haynes, Endrit Dosti, and Trai Elliston-Sackett impressive, but it was Cleeve who scored the goals for a 2-0 win.
The opening game of the 2026-27 season saw Frampton United host Wick at the Bellfield with Wick making the better start, and a snap shot by Ellis Clarke was pushed round the post by keeper Harvey Morony, and just 15 minutes in a free kick crossed into the box was headed home by Clarke for 1-0 to Wick. After some good Wick interplay a Freddie Porter through ball found Harvey Cowley but he rolled his shot just wide. A mix up in the Frampton defence allowed Bayley Rudge to nick the ball but he shot wide. From a Wick freekick in the 86th minute Morony made a good save to keep out O’Loughlin’s powerful header and at the other end a poor Wick clearance fell to Stan Shilton, but his shot was tipped round the post by Goradz Gigov, and from the resulting corner George Blythe’s shot went high. In time added on Frampton substitute Kris Bulley volleyed in off the post for 1-1, and in the last seconds an almighty goalmouth scramble saw the ball pinging around the Frampton six-yard box but, in the end they managed to hold out for a 1-1 draw.
Stoke Gifford SGS United opened the season with a hard fought 0-0 draw against Chalford in a cagey encounter at SGS College. The hosts created the first opening on seven minutes when a corner found Tom Manley whose glancing header drifted just over. Chalford enjoyed good possession around the 10–15-minute mark without really creating anything worthwhile. On the half hour an excellent save by Will Ferguson denied Chalford’s James Keylock. The visitors started the second half strongly and Ferguson was called into action again ten minutes in, producing another impressive stop. Two minutes later came the games biggest moment when Cam Adams conceded a penalty but only for Chalford’s Kieran Miller to blaze the spot kick high and wide. Manley fired wide on the hour before Tyler Dunnell-Luft and James Holden both tested the Chalford keeper who responded with good saves and late on Manley struck the crossbar and Mason was unable to convert the rebound. Neither side could find a winner and goalless it finished.
The sun was shining and there was plenty of hype from a good crowd at Norton Lane for Totterdown United’s new look team against Henbury & Rockleaze. The game started as a cagey affair with Totterdown pretty much dominating the ball most of the game, but lacking a cutting edge. H&R broke a few times and put in some dangerous crosses and had shots from distance but never really troubled the Totts goal. After a goalless first half Totterdown dominated again at the start of the second half, but a poor touch in the 55th minute allowed the ball to be squared to Mannings who slotted home to put H&R in front. After this Totterdown huffed and puffed and with H&R camped in Totterdown’s best efforts came from range without troubling the H&R goal. The game fizzled out and the visitors came away with three points from a very robust performance giving them a 1-0 win and back to the drawing board for Totterdown after all the hype.
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