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Avonmouth FC v Almondsbury
Tuesday 16 January 2024

Avonmouth first team played their first game for 24 days, including the Christmas
and New Year festivities, on a chilly evening where the temperature was below 4°C
and watched by a hardy crowd of 76. Although there had been a cold spell for
several days the pitch was soft and in great condition. Opponents Almondsbury
were undefeated in their previous two matches, including a most recent win
against Broadwell Amateurs last weekend.
For the first 20 minutes of the game both defences were on top with Almondsbury’s
keeper Sam Burgess in good form and Ashley Knight marshalling his side at the
back and starting many attacks in the midfield. It wasn’t until halfway through the
first half that Avonmouth started to assert their dominance but with their normally
free scoring forwards unable to hit the target, firing over the bar on three occasions
and also tamely straight at keeper Burgess.
Avonmouth almost paid dearly for not taking their chances when Almondsbury’s
Oakley Dawes was put clean through on goal only to be thwarted by Tom Bradley
who rapidly cut down the angle, making a great save and deflecting the ball out for
a throw-in. The teams went in for the half time break level with Almondsbury
appearing the happier side with the score.
The sides came out for the second half and Avonmouth immediately went on the
attack following a deserved half time roasting from manager Rob Sage. In the 50th
minute Avonmouth were awarded a free kick on the right and Matt Groves hit the
cross into the Almondsbury box that was only partially cleared and Kyle O’Donovan
spectacularly volleyed the ball into the top right-hand corner of the net from 18
yards to open the scoring for Avonmouth.
After 60 minutes Josh Pearce was provided with a great ball through the
Almondsbury defence but the ball got stuck between his feet and the chance was
gone. Just two minutes later the crowd witnessed an amazing period of play where
the Almondsbury forwards hit the bar and straight after the post before screwing a
shot from just outside the six-yard box wide of the far-right hand post.
Avonmouth regained their composure making two substitutions and were awarded
a free kick after 73minutes again taken by Matt Groves who knocked in a high ball
into the Almondsbury box that was headed over the keeper and into his own net
by the unfortunate Ashley Knight to make the score 2-0 to Avonmouth, which was
the final score.
It was a better second half display from Avonmouth who fortuitously took all three
points and managed to shake off the holiday period rust.