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League Review

Avonmouth win battle of top two

Mark Simpson
With the top two meeting in front of a good crowd of 162, there was also some
interesting meetings involving struggling clubs with bottom side Hardwicke
pulling off a shock win away to Little Stoke in a nine-goal thriller. Hanham make
it through to the Les James League Cup Final setting up a meeting with Stoke
Gifford United. And to recap midweek in the league Almondsbury beat
Quedgeley Wanderers 4-0.

Starting at the top at KGV where Avonmouth met second placed Stoke Gifford
United on a sunny afternoon and Gifford flew out of the blocks with Rudy Hill’s 20
yarder forcing Tom Bradley into a good save. Bradley was in action again saving
from Spike Weaver and Gifford had a goal disallowed for offside after 15 minutes.
But as ever, a minute later, Avonmouth’s Kyle O’Donovan played out wide to Jack
Williams who found Josh Pearce to smash the ball past Oli Gargett for 1-0. Gifford
were sparked into action and Jordan Iwhiwhu’s shot hit the bar. Gifford again hit
the bar with ten minutes of the half remaining from Weaver’s 20-yard shot.
Avonmouth learnt from the first half and pressed the Gifford defence straight away
and three minutes in O’Donovan played in Pearce in who fired into the top corner
via the crossbar. Shortly after the hosts had another chance Williams firing just
wide. However the third was not long away with Rob Allen finding Cody Winkler
and with his first touch shot past Gargett from 20 yards. Weaver had a Gifford shot
blocked by the resolute Mark Williams and with five minutes to go the visitors
Tunposi Fagbure was on target and saved by Bradley. The final action came when
Gargett spilled Maddox Paynes shot on to the post with Matt Groves there to prod
home the rebound. Avonmouth’s 4-0 win but it could be said to be rather fortuitous
after Giffords first half chances.
Little Stoke welcomed Hardwicke to the Park and a hectic match it turned out
to be with Hardwicke in front after 30 seconds through George Ganley. Little Stoke
hit back first through Josh Hull after 20 minutes and then Ethan Moore on 37
minutes. But not to be outdone Callum Blackford levelled for Hardwicke before half
time. Marley Johnson gave the visitors the lead in the 52 minute only for Moore
nd
to get his second on 58 for 3-3. On 63 minutes Sam Hill got Hardwicke’s fourth and
an own goal made it five on seventy-seven minutes. A two-goal cushion for the
visitors but a red card saw them down to ten players to see out the remaining time.
Little Stoke did grab a fourth through Nathan Brown four minutes into time added
on but Hardwicke held out for a 5-4 win and a valuable three points if they are to
have any chance of staying up.

Two more teams somewhat in trouble when Cheltenham Civil
Service met Wick at Tewkesbury Road. The early stages were rather cagey and
both teams were rather wasteful from promising positions. Service had the better