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League Review

Here we go again a new season and a goal bonanza to start with 36 goals in the
six matches.

Starting at Fairmile Gardens in an entertaining opening game with Gala Wilton
hosting Hanham Athletic it was the visitors who opened the scoring straight from
the kick off through Karim Rendall. This was followed up with a second on 17
minutes and a third on 23. Another came from the spot in the thirty third minute
Rendall getting his hat-trick. Antonio Pirelli pulled one back for Gala in the 39th
minute but there was no stopping Hanham who scored further goals in the 42nd
and 45th minutes with Gala keeper Curtis Wilkins saving a penalty in between. The
second half started with both sides playing good possession football and Pirelli
scoring for the hosts on the hour, and five minutes on completed his hat-trick direct
from a free kick, game on! But it was Rendall who scored his fifth on 76 minutes
for 7-3 to kill that idea, but still, late Gala goals from Jorell Sanniola and a Tim Hill
penalty made it a somewhat exciting end to an action packed 7-5 win for Hanham.

At Green Lane a youthful Hardwicke side entertained last years runners-up Bromley
Heath United in what proved to be a pulsating affair. The first opportunity fell to
Bromley with Aidan Noble latching onto a through ball but keeper Matt Prosser
made a spectacular save. Will Higgins should have given the hosts the lead but was
denied by last seasons golden glove winner Will Ferguson. Bromley took the game
to Hardwicke and found the net but was ruled offside. The away side deservedly
scored on the half hour with Jack Withey heading home from a corner. Bromley’s
attacking persistence paid off when Joel Mitchelmore threading the ball through for
Noble to cooly slip it past Prosser for another. Noble made it three just before the
break placing a header past Prosser. Hardwicke showed more determination after
the break and Harry Duncan found Marley Johnson whose shot was just wide. But,
it was Bromley who increased their lead on fifty when Mitchelmore crossed and
Noble stroked the ball past substitute keeper Jacob Waddington for his hat-trick.
Five minutes later it was 5-0 with Noble yet again, this time from the edge of the
box. Hardwicke, with the game deemed to be lost, rallied and pulled a goal back
and on 65 Higgins raced down the wing and crossed for Taro Weston to tap in. Five
minutes late came the second Rudy Kyffin tapping in after Ferguson parried Sean
Clarke’s fierce shot. With five minutes left Higgins scored a penalty for Hardwicke’s
third to complete a better second half for Hardwicke, but Bromley Heath took the
points with a 5-3 scoreline.
Avonmouth’s first County League match, in front of a large crowd with
groundhoppers there as well, turned out to be a keenly fought match against
Sharpness well controlled by Simon Turner. Right from the start both teams played
good football on a superb flat pitch. Avonmouth keeper Tom Bradley dealt well with
several high crosses but on 22 minutes it was Dillon Kerr side footing into the
Sharpness net from Josh Pearce’s pull back for 1-0 to Avonmouth. The Sharks
however were back on level terms five minutes later when Brad Gibbs screwed the
ball in. The second half continued to see good passing football with several young
Sharpness players showing great close control. Avonmouth were resolute with
centre back Mark Williams outstanding. However Tommy Taylor got a sin binning
and Kerr a caution but it didn’t deter the hosts who took the lead on 81 minutes
Pearce netting following Matt Groves superb assist. The points were deservedly