30^th November 2025 - Frampton United and Tytherington Rocks make semis

Mark Simpson

In the Les James League Cup, quarter-final action took place at the Hardwicke Playing Fields with Tytherington Rocks on the back of a poor run of form playing an in-form Filton Athletic. Tytherington started well and put pressure on Filton and in the thirteenth minute a perfectly placed Stuart Nelson free kick was met by the head of Connor Davey who powered it beyond the towering Thomas Bradley. Tytherington continued to build on their good start but couldn’t find a second goal. Debutant Rocks keeper Jordan Schofield made a brilliant save by tipping the ball over from an attempted lob, and then Filton had the ball off the post from a header. The second half continued in the same vein but no further goals came and it is Tytherington Rocks who progress to the semis 1-0.

A welcome break in the weather greeted Frampton United to the Nest to face Wick in what proved to be a competitive Les James League cup game. The opening exchanges saw both teams test each other as the game swung from end to end. However, neither keeper was called into action until the 20^th minute when a goal bound shot from Wick’s Bayley Rudge was brilliantly saved by Tom Kaye diving high to his top left corner. The game continued with both teams committed to the challenge and each looking for the elusive opening. On 30 minutes a perfectly delivered Frampton free kick was met by a head which bounced off the Wick post and safely into the hands of Mason Hawkins. As the half came to an end Wick’s Cory Langdon had his break extended with a ten-minute sin bin. Wick saw the sin bin period out without incident and on 65 minutes great play from Wick put George Lloyd through on goal and with just Kaye to beat he was caught in two minds and fired tamely at him. Frampton enjoyed the majority of possession but failed to get past a dogged defence. As the game neared its end a great snap shot by Wick’s Tommy Lacy was again well saved by Kaye and goalless the game finished. And so, onto penalties which saw Frampton ease past Wick 4-3 as they look to retain possession of the Les James Cup.

9^th November 2025 - Ruardean edge Forest derby

Mark Simpson

At the Hawthorns Broadwell Amateurs hosted close rivals Ruardean Hill Rangers and it was Hill with two first half goals that gave Broadwell a lot to do. The first was from a free-kick from Ollie Mason whipped in and deflected off the unfortunate Aiden Creighton. The second came from a corner with an unmarked Max Telling heading home. Broadwell pulled one back with ten minutes to go from a Kian Skidmore free-kick after which Hill missed a chance to put the game to bed with a two-on one, with Broadwell committing numbers forward, and finally a Rhys MacPherson looping header which came off the top of the crossbar. 2-1 to Hill and a place in the semis.

2^nd November 2025 - Quedgeley Wanderers into cup semi final

Mark Simpson

Quedgeley Wanderers took on Sharpness at Waterwells with the hosts showing strong intent early on and their pressure paid off after 16 minutes when a stunning long-range strike from Tom de Quincy Adams gave them the lead. Sharpness looked to respond but QW stood firm and on 20 minutes Riley Stokes saw a shot deflected wide and further chances followed. Eventually Sharpness began to find some rhythm and tested Kieran Derbyshire in QW’s goal with a strong effort which he handled well. However, QW made it 2-0 when Harry Reynolds smashed home. The second half began rather scrappily and Quedgeley conceded an early free kick which Sharpness took advantage of, Marley Thomas with a fierce strike to bring them back into the game, and moments later Derbyshire made a superb one-on-one stop to keep QW in the lead. But it was an excellent Quedgeley move that ended with a composed finish by Stokes for 3-1. The hosts made a few substitutions; the fresh legs had an immediate impact when Reece Wells was played in by Reynolds and cooly side stepped the defence and slotted past a helpless Adam Clark in the Sharks goal. Sharpness had a late consolation as Kieran Bennett weaved through the defence to finish neatly but it was QW’s day with a 4-2 win.

26^th September 2025 - Les James League Cup Second Round Draw

The Second Round draw for the Les James League Cup sponsored by Boca Teamwear was been made and it as follows.

Second Round

• Quedgeley Wanderers v Sharpness
• Tytherington Rocks v Filton Athletic
• Wick v Frampton United
• Broadwell Amateurs v Stoke Gifford SGS United OR Ruardean Hill Rangers

All games to be played during November with some rearrangements to the league programme.

The Les James League Cup is sponsored by Boca Teamwear

7^th September 2025 - Frampton United start Les James cup defence with Win

Mark Simpson

This week is the Les James League Cup sponsored by Boca Teamwear but, before we start these reports Cribbs Reserves gained their first win of the league campaign with a midweek victory against Ruardean Hill Rangers after Hill had raced into a two-goal lead. Back to the cup and a repeat of last seasons final saw Frampton United beat Henbury and Rockleaze again. And, yet another abandoned match this season this time at Stoke Gifford, it’s starting to become an epidemic.

At Arnall Drive on a pitch that is becoming greener by the day a well-drilled cup holders Frampton United were worthy winners against Henbury and Rockleaze. On only four minutes Frampton thought they had scored when Turner tapped in but, the Referee blew for a foul on Harry Trett. On 10 minutes Parker was well placed but shot high and wide. Frampton deservedly took the lead on 24 minutes when substitute Tyler Jaggers smashed the ball home after H&R failed to clear. On 35 minutes H&R had their first real sight on goal when Drew Sawdon headed narrowly wide from Nick Jones cross. Frampton started the second half strongly and hit the post through Churchley on 50 minutes, and it took just another 10 minutes for them to get their second when Theo Browne cooly slotted past Trett from inside the box. H&R huffed and puffed but apart from a dipping volley from Fraser Butt which was brilliantly saved by Tom Kaye they didn’t create anything of note and Frampton progress to round two by 2-0.

At Waterwells, Quedgeley Wanderers, who’ve had a bright start to the season took on Chalford who in turn have had a rather difficult start, but, both teams started with a strong attitude to try and open the scoring. Unfortunately, injury hit QW early when Billy Osabuiohein had to go off. Chalford’s Dan Carter had a shot on target, but it was comfortably saved by Keiran Derbyshire. QW came close when Riley Stokes shot was cleared off the line by Craig Mills and 32 minutes in Ollie Barnett had a dangerous cross into the box well claimed by Duane Portlock. The second half was much more intense as both teams were searching for the opener but it was QW’s intensity that saw Seb Keith with a great run into box earning a corner and two minutes later Alfie Pledger smashing the ball into the net from inside the box giving them a 51^st minute lead. In the end a close hard fought game saw Quedgeley edge into the next round 1-0.

Having played each other in the League last Saturday it was the turn of Bromley Heath United to host Wick at Pomphrey Hill for this cup match for which a tricky wind was added into the mixture. The game started with both teams trying to find a rhythm without creating anything clear cut. On 25 minutes Wick fashioned a cross which was headed just over by Jay Rudge, and within a couple of minutes an almost repeat move saw the same player head Wick into the lead. As the half played out Bromley started to create more chances for themselves and Jake Millward came closest to getting the equaliser. Bromley started the second period on the front foot, but it was Wick who had a chance to go further in front after Bromley lost possession just inside their box, and a fierce shot by the dangerous Rudge was well saved by Will Ferguson. As the half-progressed Bromley started to create more and were rewarded when a cross from Millward was collected by Harley Lock who cooly laid the ball into the path of Ollie Hanham to hammer home. As it looked like the game might go to penalties to decide it, Wick were awarded an 80^th minute penalty which was converted by the inevitable Cory Langdon. Bromley tried everything for an equaliser and came very close when Luke Bessell rattled the Wick crossbar from range. But Wick saw the game out to progress to the next round 2-1.

Totterdown United welcomed Broadwell Amateurs to Norton Lane and the pitch was in better condition as a result of much needed rain, however a strong wind swept across. Broadwell made the brighter start and were in the lead 10 minutes in – a loose ball on the edge of the box was contested and Broadwell came out on top rolling the ball to Kris Burnard who tucked it away well. The remainder of the half was scrappy with the wind playing a big part although the best chance went to Ollie Lovell who blasted wide for Totts when unchallenged. Totterdown came out of the blocks aggressively for the second half and found an equaliser five minutes in with some slick football down the left Lovell beat his full back and cut the ball back for Jack Thorley to tap home. Almost instantly a Broadwell long-throw was missed by multiple Totts players leaving Burnard to tap home for 2-1 . Still with the bit between their teeth Totts found an equaliser straight away with some quick passing through the middle Lovell was one-on-one with a Well defender and popped the ball through his legs and snuck it in the corner for 2-2. The game somewhat settled down for 10 minutes with the wind getting worse but a poor moment for a Totts defender trying to beat his man, Broadwell’s attack pounced and the ball was squared to Ethan Dunscombe who brilliantly put the ball in off the far post for 3-2. Totts huffed and puffed to find another equaliser and a glorious chance fell to Jack Hearsey at the back post but he unfortunately blazed over and that was that as the scoring went. However, not quite the end as both benches got into a petty argument which led to Isaac Suleyman seeing red for dissent. Broadwell progress 3-2.

At Northway Playing Fields Tewkesbury Town took on Filton Athletic in this first round tie and a competitive first 25 minutes ensued, with chances both ends with Town soaking up Filton pressure and even having a shot off the crossbar themselves. Town got a breakthrough when the ball fell to Tony Hoskings who slotted through a crowd of players for 1-0. Shortly after, however, defensive failings gave Filton the lead at the break. The second half was much the same with Filton scoring two more and although Town pressed Filton absorbed all of the Town attacks and played on the break. The tie ended 4-1 to Filton, their scorers Trey Merrett (2), Yousef Abdulrahman and Dan Payne.

League Cup action at Hardwicke where Tytherington Rocks took on Cribbs Reserves. The game started strongly for the Rocks and on eight minutes Ollie Briggs chased down a loose ball, with keeper Jude Brown trying to shield the ball out Briggs knocked it round and squared to Ali Al Fadhli to score. Rocks had a few chances to double their lead but almost conceded in the last few moments of the half with Jack Pullin clearing off the line. It took only four minutes of the second half for Rocks to double their lead, Briggs heading home from a corner. Briggs doubled his tally on the hour for 3-0. Cribbs eventually got on the score sheet five minutes from time Alex Craig scoring. Rocks progress 3-1.

At Hamwells Sharpness took on Hanham Athletic and it was the home side who broke the deadlock 15 minutes in when George Thomas stooped low to head in a Tainton corner. A minute later it was two – Jack Higgs chased down a back pass to David Taylor whose clearance struck Higgs and deflected into the Hanham net. Just before half time Mikey Bryant found the back of the net from inside the box to give the Sharks a 3-0 half time lead. Sharpness continued to create into the second half and 10 minutes in a deep cross from Priday found Mears unmarked at the back-post and he made no mistake volleying home for 4-0. Just past the hour it was five, Alfie Jones was brought down in the area skipping past his marker and Jones converted the resulting spot kick. Hanham did show some late fight and grabbed a couple of goals, neat build up play down the left resulted in a cross for Cjay Summerlin to score and their second came from a mix-up between Marley Thomas and keeper Dykes and Stryjewski latched onto the ball and tapped into an empty net, however too little too late and Sharpness progress 5-2.

On a sunny afternoon at the Stoke Gifford Stadium, Stoke Gifford SGS United took on Ruardean Hill Rangers for this first round tie. Nothing really happened in the opening minutes as both teams never really got to grips with the game. In the 12^th minute Oscar Sealey broke free for Gifford but his shot was saved by Aaron Underwood. The deadlock was broken in the 18^th minute when a poor throw in by Gifford was seized by Hill and played through to Steve Clarke who ran through to put Hill 1-0 up. The second half was all Stoke Gifford but they couldn’t find a breakthrough. Hill held firm until a dismissal led to an unfortunate melee in the 87^th minute which forced the game to be abandoned.

4^th August 2025 - Les James League Cup Preliminary and First Round Draw

The Preliminary and First Round draws for the Les James League Cup sponsored by Boca Teamwear was made at the League Meeting last week and the full draw is as below.

New boy's Tewkesbury Town host fellow new boys Bishops Cleeve Development. in the preliminary round on August 12^th with the winners hosting Filton Athletic in the First Round

Preliminary Round

• Tewkesbury Town v Bishops Cleeve Development

In the First Round last seasons Finalists meet with Henbury & Rockleaze hosting cup holders Frampton United after their merger.

The other new clubs meet as Tytherington Rocks host Cribbs Reserves.

First Round

• Sharpness v Hanham Athletic
• Tewkesbury Town / Bishops Cleeve Development v Filton Athletic
• Tytherington Rocks v Cribbs Reserves
• Quedgeley Wanderers v Chalford
• Totterdown United v Broadwell Amateurs
• Bromley Heath United v Wick
• Henbury & Rockleaze v Frampton United
• Stoke Gifford SGS United v Ruardean Hill Rangers

All games to be played on Saturday 6^th September