Gloucestershire County League

18^th January 2026 - Tewkesbury Town end Sharpness unbeaten run

Mark Simpson

The top and bottom of the League has opened up into very interesting times. In the big clash of the day Tewkesbury Town inflicted Sharpness with their first reversal of the season and putting some pressure onto the leaders. At the bottom Hanham’s win at Ruardean Hill has drawn the Forest side right into the mix to stay up.

At Northway Rec. Tewkesbury Town hosted Sharpness in a top of the table clash where there were long unbeaten runs on the line. The home side started brightly going down the slope and were on the front foot for the first ten minutes making a couple of half chances but nothing more. Sharpness grew into the match with Kieran Bennett causing the back three problems and Mikey Bryant being a constant threat from set pieces. The pitch did not allow any flowing football but a fantastic midfield battle ensued that looked likely to be the key to winning the game. Town got the all-important opener with a lovely delivery from Lee Llewelyn finding Mike Oliver at the back post who directed his header back across the goal with a great finish. With the momentum of the opening goal Town pushed on and great link up play between Goodwin and Scott Jordan allowed Jordan to go through one-on-one and finish past Dykes for 2-0. Knowing there was going to be a reaction from the Sharks Town defended stubbornly for the opening ten minutes of the second half and although Sharpness had the ball in the net twice, both were over-ruled for offside. This was a warning to Tewkesbury that things were far from over and they regained control and duly got their third goal when a poor clearance from Dykes found Goodwin who slid Jordan in to shoot from distance, the ball squirming in under Dykes. Sharpness got a consolation in the last minute through Marley Thomas, but it’s a 3-1 win for Tewkesbury which keeps the title race alive.

At the Ruardean Rec. Hanham Athletic were the visitors against Ruardean Hill Rangers and it was Hanham who made the most purposeful start and an early free kick whipped into the box was met by Paul Coles who smashed the ball over. Hanham were in front on 19 minutes from a corner delivered to the back-post and met by Lewis Williams. On the half hour it should have been two after a poor pass by Charlie Mason let Coles through on goal but Underwood made a great save. Shortly after Mason put a free kick into the box for Fin Jones to head just wide. On 40 minutes a lively Hanham cross in from out wide was met by Williams for his and Hanham’s second. Hill came back into the game right near half time after a lovely corner by Clark saw keeper Taylor get under the ball allowing Mason to tap in at the far post, but a minute later Hanham restored their two-goal advantage after a ball floated into the box saw Twain Plummer take the ball down, and being given too much time, slotted past Underwood. Ten minutes into the second half an innocuous free kick from Nathan Hall skidded up off the surface and over Underwood’s shoulder for 4-1. On 75 minutes Hanham should arguably had a fifth but Liam Maggs somehow screwed wide from six yards. So, a comfortable win for Hanham which draws Ruardean Hill right into the relegation scrap.

Ruardean Hill Rangers (Yellow) v Hanham Athletic (Green/White), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Ruardean Hill Rangers (Yellow) v Hanham Athletic (Green/White) - Images courtesy Peter Langley

Ruardean Hill Rangers (Yellow) v Hanham Athletic (Green/White), Images courtesy Peter Langley

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At Waterwells Quedgeley Wanderers took on Totterdown United and largely controlled the early stages of the contest but clear-cut chances were hard to come by. QW’s Riley Stokes produced a fine through ball for Tom De Quincy Adams but his angled shot failed to trouble Kieron Bull in the Totts goal. Totterdown’s response was limited to a few long-range efforts sailing harmlessly wide. Quedgeley’s Stokes was again influential with some excellent flank play though his final effort lacked composure but the breakthrough soon followed when De Quincy Adams delivered a dangerous cross which was met by Fin Jenner’s head for 1-0. QW continued to apply pressure and a swift attack ended with Jenner’s ambitious effort flying over and shortly after Pledger picked out Stokes with a long diagonal ball but the attack ended with De Quincy Adams firing over from a promising position. Despite QW’s domination Totterdown equalised just before the break with Dale Ellis running through on goal and squeezing the ball past Kieran Derbyshire. Quedgeley soon regained the lead in the second half when Alfie Pledger found De Quincy Adams who slipped a clever pass to Fin Jenner who showed composure to slot home. The game became scrappier as the half progressed and Totterdown found an equaliser from a loose situation in the Quedgeley box with Dale Ellis again finding the back of the net. Quedgeley responded positively with Riley Stokes clipping a precise ball into the area for Billy Osabuohien to knock the ball into the path of Jerzy Marszalek to calmly finish past Bull putting QW 3-2 up. However, the lead was short lived when a Totterdown free kick was headed back across goal for Jack Millard to make it 3-3. Late on QW had a golden opportunity to claim all three points when Sean Lawson found himself through on goal but Bull produced an excellent save to deny him. A frustrating result for Quedgeley who dominated a good deal of the match but only to be undone by lapses in concentration and a valuable point gained for Totterdown.

Cribbs Reserves hosted Broadwell Amateurs at the Lawns with confidence from their victory last time out and started the game well taking a deserved twentieth minute lead when Alex Craig blasted home from 12 yards out. Cribbs were much the better side for the first half but were undone when they failed to clear their lines enabling Kris Burnard to equalise right on half time. The momentum swung and the visitors started the second half much better and took a 55^th minute lead when Jamie Belfitt found the top corner from the edge of the box. Shortly after a free kick was blocked by the Cribbs defence and Kian Skidmore fired home the rebound to extend Broadwell’s lead on 61 minutes. Cribbs weren’t done and made the game interesting when Dan Monk noticed Jack Watkins off his line and found the net from 40 yards. A penalty for Broadwell on 77 minutes and a scrappy injury time goal made the final score a rather flattering 5-2 to Broadwell and perhaps a little harsh on the home side.

Frampton United hosted Henbury & Rockleaze the Bellfield and the first chance went to H&R with Harvey Moran played through but Tom Kaye saved his shot. Frampton’s Lewis Vye had a long-range effort but was high. Moran had another good effort but again Kaye saved. A Frampton corner followed but Billy Curtis’s header was saved by Harry Trett. The deadlock was finally broken in the last couple of minutes of the game with a H&R attack cleared out but the ball falling to Drew Sawdon who fired the ball in from close range and a 1-0 H&R win.

16^th January 2026 - Electronic Programmes

Cribbs Reserves V Broadwell Amateurs

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Filton Athletic V Wick

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Ruardean Hill Rangers V Hanham Athletic

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Tewkesbury Town V Sharpness

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11^th January 2026 - Cribbs Reserves climb off bottom

Mark Simpson

Another weather affected week, but Cribbs Reserves did themselves a power of good in their bid to pull out of the bottom two by overcoming Tytherington Rocks. Sharpness remain in command at the top.

A day to forget for the home side as Tytherington Rocks took on Cribbs Reserves at Hardwicke Playing Fields. The groundsman did a good job to get the pitch playable and Cribbs started fast and after some pressing outside the Tytherington box the ball was won and crossed for Dan Monk to give Cribbs a tenth minute lead. The game was tightly contested but Cribbs doubled their lead in the 35^th minute when Liam Clayton scored inside the box. Tytherington started to pick up a bit towards half time but never tested Jude Brown in the Cribbs goal. Tytherington tried to bring more physicality to the game in the second half but Cribbs worked hard and held out for the point in a 2-0 win.

At the Bellfield Frampton United hosted Tewkesbury Town and the first half was a rather scrappy affair with few attempts on goal until just before half time when a Tewkesbury cross into the box was deflected in for an unfortunate own-goal. The second half proved to be slightly better, Tewkesbury’s Alex Roder was played through but shot high and Frampton’s Theo Browne beat a couple of defenders but he also shot high. Tewkesbury increased their lead on 77 minutes when Scott Jordan headed in from a corner. A couple of minutes later Frampton were awarded a penalty when Browne was brought down in the box and Henry Driver-Dickerson scored from the spot. Tewkesbury should have scored after a mix-up in the Frampton defence Nathan Newland-Gallaway nipped in but shot wide and in the last few minutes with Frampton pushing for an equaliser Roder ran through from the halfway line but Tom Kaye saved his effort. So, Tewkesbury consolidate second spot with a 2-1 win.

Frampton United (Blue/White) v Tewkesbury Town (Yellow), Images courtesy Peter Langley

Frampton United (Blue/White) v Tewkesbury Town (Yellow) - Images courtesy Peter Langley

Frampton United (Blue/White) v Tewkesbury Town (Yellow), Images courtesy Peter Langley

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Sharpness played their first game of 2026 and first home match since November 22^nd against a spirited Stoke Gifford SGS United. Sharpness started brightly and created opportunities for both Payne and Thomas but neither could find the finishing touch. Stoke Gifford grew into the game and came close to opening the scoring but Dykes was on hand to save the free kick. The hosts scored early in the second half, good interchange passing created a chance for Bennett who beat Sheppard with an excellent finish. Stoke Gifford drew level when poor defending and weak tackling saw Kosciolek go through one-on-one finishing well past Dykes. Both teams gave it their best efforts to win the game and Gifford came close from a free kick which Dykes was on hand to push it away. Sharks found a winner with good build up play involving six players an ended with James Tainton being put through on goal and he made no mistake to ensure a Sharks 2-1 victory and a valuable three points to stay clear at the top

Henbury & Rockleaze started their game at Bromley Heath United in confident mood creating a number of flowing attacking moves which Bromley did well to defend with Ferguson in goal making a couple of very good saves. They were rewarded on 25 minutes when Drew Sawdon latched onto a ball to hit a fierce shot into the back of the Bromley net. H&R kept up the pressure and almost doubled their lead a few minutes later when Harvey Moran went very close. Bromley, in response, started to create chances of their own with Ben O’Brien heading just over from a set piece and Trai Elliston-Sackett hitting the bar from a cross. But it was H&R who scored the next goal with the dangerous Moran scoring from a breakaway move. The second half brought more of the same with H&R missing a number of good opportunities in the first ten minutes to move further ahead. On the hour they capitalised on their dominance when Sawdon grabbed his second for 3-0. With the game essentially won H&R began to sit back and Bromley started to have more of the ball creating a number of good chances only to be denied by keeper Harry Trott. They did bag a consolation goal with a header from O’Brien and had their chances to get something out of the game but were just not as clinical as the visitors. A good three points for H&R by 3-1.

9^th January 2026 - Electronic Programmes

Broadwell Amateurs V Hanham Athletic

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Chalford V Filton Athletic

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Tytherington Rocks V Cribbs Reserves

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Ruardean Hill Rangers V Quedgeley Wanderers

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4^th January 2026 - Quedgeley Wanderers start year with win

Mark Simpson

Not a good start to 2026, a bit of frost and six games off. Only Quedgeley v Broadwell survived.

At Waterwells, Quedgeley Wanderers produced a strong all-round performance to secure a convincing 4-1 victory over Broadwell Amateurs. The hosts started the match brightly and almost took a ninth minute lead when Fin Jenner latched onto a Dylan Venn clearance, rounded Jack Watkins but dragged his effort wide. Broadwell responded with physical intensity but it was Quedgeley who continued to press, with Stokes and Jenner both forcing corners. The breakthrough for QW arrived on the half-hour mark from a corner superbly delivered by Riley Stokes with Henry Miles rising highest at the back post to head Quedgeley into a deserved lead. However, the advantage was short-lived as a sloppy touch at the back left Broadwell’s Jamie Belfitt through on goal and he calmly lifted the ball over Kieran Derbyshire for 1-1. Quedgeley responded well and after Fin Jenner had pulled a good chance wide of the goal he made amends, when picked out by Alfie Pledgers excellent 40-yard pass, rounding Watkins to confidently finish and restore the lead. And, it was only moments later when Henry Miles was fouled inside the box allowing Venn to cooly convert the resultant spot-kick. After half time Broadwell looked to get back into the game and had a free kick narrowly wide and forced a good save by Derbyshire from a goalmouth scramble. But as the game wore on Quedgeley generally remained in control and despite ten minutes in the sin-bin for Venn and Broadwell picking up a couple of yellows in frustration they were able to see the game out. The result was sealed in the 86th minute when Oli Barnett’s cross was headed back into the danger area and Miles showed great footwork to twist and fire the ball into the top-corner for 4-1, giving Quedgeley a comfortable and deserved victory.