23rd March 2024 - Avonmouth win battle of top two
Mark Simpson
With the top two meeting in front of a good crowd of 162, there was also some interesting meetings involving struggling clubs with bottom side Hardwicke pulling off a shock win away to Little Stoke in a nine-goal thriller. Hanham make it through to the Les James League Cup Final setting up a meeting with Stoke Gifford United. And to recap midweek in the league Almondsbury beat Quedgeley Wanderers 4-0.
Starting at the top at KGV where Avonmouth met second placed Stoke Gifford United on a sunny afternoon and Gifford flew out of the blocks with Rudy Hill’s 20 yarder forcing Tom Bradley into a good save. Bradley was in action again saving from Spike Weaver and Gifford had a goal disallowed for offside after 15 minutes. But as ever, a minute later, Avonmouth’s Kyle O’Donovan played out wide to Jack Williams who found Josh Pearce to smash the ball past Oli Gargett for 1-0. Gifford were sparked into action and Jordan Iwhiwhu’s shot hit the bar. Gifford again hit the bar with ten minutes of the half remaining from Weaver’s 20-yard shot. Avonmouth learnt from the first half and pressed the Gifford defence straight away and three minutes in O’Donovan played in Pearce in who fired into the top corner via the crossbar. Shortly after the hosts had another chance Williams firing just wide. However the third was not long away with Rob Allen finding Cody Winkler and with his first touch shot past Gargett from 20 yards. Weaver had a Gifford shot blocked by the resolute Mark Williams and with five minutes to go the visitors Tunposi Fagbure was on target and saved by Bradley. The final action came when Gargett spilled Maddox Paynes shot on to the post with Matt Groves there to prod home the rebound. Avonmouth’s 4-0 win but it could be said to be rather fortuitous after Giffords first half chances.
Little Stoke welcomed Hardwicke to the Park and a hectic match it turned out to be with Hardwicke in front after 30 seconds through George Ganley. Little Stoke hit back first through Josh Hull after 20 minutes and then Ethan Moore on 37 minutes. But not to be outdone Callum Blackford levelled for Hardwicke before half time. Marley Johnson gave the visitors the lead in the 52nd minute only for Moore to get his second on 58 for 3-3. On 63 minutes Sam Hill got Hardwicke’s fourth and an own goal made it five on seventy-seven minutes. A two-goal cushion for the visitors but a red card saw them down to ten players to see out the remaining time. Little Stoke did grab a fourth through Nathan Brown four minutes into time added on but Hardwicke held out for a 5-4 win and a valuable three points if they are to have any chance of staying up.
Two more teams somewhat in trouble when Cheltenham Civil Service met Wick at Tewkesbury Road. The early stages were rather cagey and both teams were rather wasteful from promising positions. Service had the better of the chances, firstly a corner delivered in was missed by Charlie Smith with a clear chance up for grabs and then Brett Blake was played through on the angle and his shot was superbly saved by Ashton Trott. A few minutes later Ollie Wilkes ran onto a through pass, and his shot was palmed away at full stretch by Trott. A long throw brought a scramble in the Wick box with Driscoll and Blake seeing bodies being thrown at the ball. Wick then finished the half with Mike Hardiman linking up with Liam Jenkins whose shot was comfortably held by Harvey Need, Hardiman then met a corner only to see his looping effort pushed away by Need. The second half saw a slight shift with Wick now having the wind behind them they forced Service deeper although falling into the trap of over hitting passes. Service were now playing on the counter but lacked any real quality with the final pass. Mikey Goulding saw an effort scuff wide when well placed and from another corner Swift’s header drifted wide of the far post. Wick had a last gasp effort when Hardiman’s free kick from the edge brought loud shouts for handball, nothing was given, and in truth, a fair 0-0 result and possibly a big point for both teams.
At The Hawthorns on a sunny but cold and windy afternoon Broadwell Amateurs met Almondsbury with both teams needing something from the match. Both teams demonstrated talent and determination but it was Broadwell who asserted early dominance and in the 8th minute Kian Skidmore was agonisingly close his powerful shot rattling the woodwork. Broadwell’s persistence paid off when Ethan Wilkins capitalised on an Almonds defensive mistake to round Sam Burgess and put the ball in the net for a 24th minute lead. Almonds made occasional forays into Broadwell’s half and Jack Watkins made some crucial saves to maintain Broadwell’s lead. Nathan Davies then tested Burgess with a well struck effort tipped around the post. Almonds seemed rejuvenated after the break and launched wave after wave of attacks pinning Broadwell back for much of the half, and despite Broadwell’s best efforts to weather the storm Almonds pressure eventually paid off when Matthew Toghill capitalised on a well worked passage of play for a 65th minute equaliser. The hosts then rallied for a winner without creating much and although Almonds Joe Rossiter got a second yellow things ended 1-1 and a good point for both teams.
Two teams in the top few with Bromley Heath United meeting Rockleaze Rangers at Pomphrey Hill for a game played in all weathers, rain, wind, hail and glorious sunshine providing difficult playing conditions at times. The game was played at pace from the start with Rockleaze taking the initiative with some crisp passing and Bromley doing well to hold out for the first 10 minutes. Bromley thought they had scored after 10 minutes when an excellent through ball from Cam Ford set up Ben Ackerman whose goal was ruled out for offside. But, almost straight after a terrible mix up in the Bromley defence left Drew Sawdon an easy chance to put Rockleaze one up. Unfortunately Bromley lost captain and talisman Jack Withey to injury forcing a reshuffle. The rest of the first half was then mainly played out in Bromley’s half with Rockleaze’s Marcus Williams outstanding down the left flank. The second half started with Bromley playing some neat one touch football with good threat coming from both wings. The first chance, however, fell to the visitors Dan Webb whose shot was well saved by Will Ferguson. After 70 minutes a brilliant run and solo goal by James Fenton brought the scores level. Almost immediately Rockleaze had a great chance to retake the lead but were denied by a brilliant save by Ferguson. The game was then end to end for the last twenty but finished 1-1 and on the day a fair result.
The match between Frampton United and Ruardean Hill Rangers at the Bell Field started at a frenetic pace and fifteen minutes in a Frampton free kick on the edge of the box was deflected off the wall for a corner from which Jacob Geddes out jumped the defence to head in for 1-0. In the 32nd minute Fin Jones equalised for Hill scoring from a corner. Three minutes before half time Geddes headed in a cross for his second and a minute later a Freddie Porter cross beat the defender and Will Hawes nipped in for 3-1. On 55 minutes a ball was fed into the box and Henry Driver-Dickerson lobbed Aaron Underwood for a fourth. Hill then pulled one back when Steve Clarke unleashed a screamer from 25 yards into the top corner but Driver-Dickerson was able to finally put the game to bed when a beat a defender and fired into the bottom corner for 5-2 to Frampton.