Page 11 - Almondsbury FC v Stoke Gifford Utd 161223

League Review

After a useful point against Little Stoke last
week Hardwicke made the short trip to the Bell Field to
face Frampton United in their attempt to pull themselves off
the bottom of the league. Frampton had the best chances of the
first half but didn’t manage a breakthrough. Into the second half
the hosts started well and took the lead when a pass from George
Driver-Dickerson found his younger brother Henry where an over-
zealous tackle from a Hardwicke defender came in and led to a
penalty which was dispatched by Henry, making it 1-0 in his first
game of men’s football. The rest of the half was dominated by the
away team and Harry Furniss drew the teams level in the last
fifteen minutes. Hardwicke continued pressing and it took a few
great saves from Tom Kaye in the Frampton goal to ensure things
remained at one all and another useful Hardwicke point.

Cheltenham Civil Service made the trip to Stoke Gifford
United who were looking to get back to winning ways after
Avonmouth took their unbeaten league record last week. The
game started slowly with neither team managing to play any
composed football in difficult conditions. Service had the first
opportunity when Lewis Driscoll forced a smart stop from Josh
Stawroski after 15 minutes. Gifford began to grow into it after a
tactical reshuffle and were ahead on 34 minutes when Henry
Ikeije found Jordan Yeo who found the net from 6 yards. Gifford
should have been further clear before half time; first Mikey Barry
struck the upright and the Ikeije thought he had scored but a
combination of the post and keeper Harvey Need somehow kept
the ball out. Gifford began the second period much better than
the first and had long range efforts from Yeo, Shepherd and Hill
all going close. At the other end an innocuous strike from Liam
Hope almost snuck under the arm of Stawroski but he recovered
well. The game drifted for the last fifteen, but a good 25-yard
strike from Yeo well saved by the impressive Need was the only
real highlight. It was never the prettiest of affairs, but Gifford
were happy to return to winning ways with a 1-0 victory.