Page 10 - Almondsbury FC v Rockleaze Rangers 301223

League Review

Mark Simpson
Interestingly it is the bottom of the League that appears to be holding attention with a
crowded group and six pointers nearly every week and bottom place changing hands quite
regularly. Hardwicke and Quedgeley Wanderers were big winners this week. It was also the
completion of the Les James League Cup quarter finals with Hanham Athletic and
Sharpness making it through to the semis.
Starting at Green Lane where Hardwicke and Gala Wilton were joint bottom before
today’s affair. It was a fantastic start for Hardwicke as after only a few minutes Harley
Mustoe played through Harry Furniss who slotted home into the bottom right. Gala
responded well with Ryan Williams skipping through the home defence but alas nothing
came of his hard work. After 23 minutes Furniss thought he was on the scoresheet again
but was ruled offside. Five minutes later Craig Harris beat his man and puts the ball away
only to be ruled offside as well. With Pat Vernall in the sin bin Hardwicke scored their
second, Mustoe played the ball through and Furniss rounded the keeper and tapped in. The
second half started with Gala pressure with Jay Brown saving well from Shamar Thomas.
On 62 more good play from Mustoe rounding the keeper staying on his feet but
unfortunately it fizzled to nothing. After 78 Furniss did well to break away, Mustoe shooting
and Williams putting the ball in the net and guess what – offside again. Two minutes from
the end Alex Stratford went through, kept his cool and wrapped up a 3-0 victory for
Hardwicke.
To Tewkesbury Road where Cheltenham Civil Service who are getting drawn into the
thick of things at the bottom were playing fellow strugglers Quedgeley Wanderers. But
it was Service who started in the best possible way, when 3 minutes in Jackson Dicker
found Ollie Wilkes on the wing where his pace allowed him to find space to cross for Tom
Short to score. The game became quite a scrappy affair until halfway through when a half-
cleared header found Jack Hornsby who volleyed over for Quedgeley. A few minutes later
Service’s Dec Chick threaded a ball through to Wilkes, but his first touch went through to
Nathan Charnock in the Wanderers goal. Just before the break a nice build up down the
left saw Dicker’s cross finding Short who headed over when well placed. Service should
have doubled their lead early in the second half when a neat pass found Driscoll who
dribbled around Charnock but rolled his effort just wide. Service certainly had the upper
hand and were looking for a second when Paul Smith was played through the right channel
and went down under challenge – but no penalty. A sucker punch came fifteen minutes
from the end, Service losing the ball in a dangerous position, conceding a corner from
which Harvey Need made a great save only for the resulting corner to be taken with a deep
inswing and Hornsby guided his header home. Within 2 minutes the game was turned on
its head when a Quedgeley through ball found Hornsby whose shot on the turn beat Need
for 2-1. Service rallied and Wes Little’s long range effort forced Charnock into a decent save
to keep it at 2-1 to Quedgeley and Service rueing the missed chances.
Almondsbury are another club being drawn into the relegation battle and faced a difficult
home match with Stoke Gifford United. The game’s only goal came from the penalty
spot after thirteen minutes when Barry was brought down by Rogers and Spike Weaver
slotted home the resultant kick. Most of the remainder of the half was dictated by the
visitors. On the hour Almonds were close with nice play from Dawes and Pebedy with
Dawes firing into the side netting. With four minutes to go Almonds Clements free kick hit
Dawes and deflected just past the post with everyone beaten. Gifford nearly made it two
in the last minute but were denied by a great save from Burgess.
Let’s go to the top end of the table at the Bell Field where Frampton
United welcomed Rockleaze Rangers and it was Frampton who started brightest and
after only four minutes Stuart Maule tried his luck with a snapshot that crept just past the
post. Ten minutes later home keeper Parker pulled of an exceptional save to tip Sam
Bailey’s long ranger over. The lively Maule had another chance when from Freddie Finlay’s
ball in he turned the defender but shot just high. The visitor’s Webb was unlucky from a
quick break his left foot shot cleared the bar and up the other end Henry Driver-Dickerson