Page 8 - Almondsbury FC v Sharpness 260823

League Review

Rockleaze Rangers run riot.
Mark Simpson
Firstly to The Field, Almondsbury where Cheltenham Civil Service were the
visitors for last Wednesdays match which was competed with good energy.
The first meaningful attack saw Service filter the ball down the right and
cross to Lewis Driscoll whose shot unfortunately lacked any venom to
trouble Burgess. Almondsbury took the mantle with well constructed
passing and Service were rather exposed down the right and several
crosses came over but Buckland was in commanding form. On 16 an overhit
cross fell to Oakley who fed Knight and his shot was handled – penalty to
Almonds – but Buckland was equal to Knight’s effort. The hosts continued
to press but the final ball was always elusive. Service hooked up well down
the right finding Liam Hope who blazed over. That sparked several Service
attacks with Burgess tipping Chick’s effort away. A series of misplaced
passes and crosses rounded off the first half. Early second half pressure
from Almonds saw Alexander outstrip the visitors defence, his effort fizzing
past the post. This sparked a flurry of efforts on the Service goal. A goal
finally came on 78 minutes when Dawes pinpointed the ball through to
Knight who drew the exposed Buckland and slotted home. Both sides made
several changes and Service laid siege on the hosts goal but found Burgess
in great form and indeed right at the end he pulled off a top draw save
which looked likely to be heading to the top corner. Service frustration
boiled over with Elliot Green received a straight red. Almondsbury shading
it 1-0.

To Saturday, and some of the first week winners brought right back down
to earth.

Firstly to Hillside Gardens where Rockleaze Rangers first home game shook
Almondsbury with a repeat of the scoreline of their last home game. Rocks
made a fast start but it was Almonds who struck first, a mix up in defence
led to a free kick from 17 yards which Knight tapped sideways and Tom
Clements crisp strike gave them a ninth minute lead. This took the wind out
of Rockleaze’s sails but they eventually settled and levelled on 27 when Tate
Shaw drove the ball under Sam Maunder. On the half hour a superb 25 yard
free kick from Nick Jones found the top corner with Maunder rooted. A
minute later Jones was one on one but spurned the chance. Number three
soon came, on 39 minutes good work by Webb sat the keeper down and
squared to Drew Sawdon to tap into an unguarded goal. Sawdon’s second
came two minutes later intercepting a ball and rolling it past an exposed
Maunder. The half ended with Rocks fifth Boontam on the end of Jones’s
byline cross. The second half started as the first ended when four minutes
in, the hard-working Dan Webb scored set up by Shaw and Marcus
Williams. Jon Webb should have made it 7 but dwelt too long and allowed
Matt Davies to block. Substitute Beard did make it seven with twenty