Page 10 - Almondsbury FC v Broadwell Amateurs 021223

League Review

Mark Simpson
Nothing much changes at the top with four of the top five winning, all five won if you count
Bromley Heath United’s delayed County Cup victory and at the bottom Quedgeley
Wanderers had a six pointer against Hardwicke.
Better start at Waterwells on a cold day where Quedgeley
Wanderers hosted Hardwicke. There was nothing to write home about until the
19 minute when Quedgeley’s Sean Lawson won a penalty which was dispatched by Kory
th
Taylor for 1-0. Two minutes later Connor Webb missed a good chance when Taylor set him
up. Hardwicke keeper Evan Coombs collected the ball to spare his blushes in a goalmouth
scramble. Other than a few yellow cards the half ended with a stick to the day job bicycle
kick by Lawson wide of the goal. Just after the break Oli Curtis had the ball in the
Hardwicke net but was denied by the offside flag. Some good Quedgeley pressure with
Stanbury denied by Coombs’ good save and some sound Hardwicke defending, Hardwicke
themselves applying pressure and home keeper Nathan Charnock on form from a set piece
and Harley Mustoe missed one on one in the six-yard box. Some huffing and puffing
towards the end by both sides came to nothing and 1-0 to Quedgeley it ended.
To an interesting one at Fairmile Gardens where Gala Wilton towards the bottom
and Rockleaze Rangers towards the top were both needing points. An even start with
defences on top for the first 30 minutes but it was Rockleaze who took the lead slightly
against the run of play Dan Webb scoring at the far post from a corner. As the game moved
towards half time Rockleaze took it away from Gala with two quick fire goals, Drew Sawdon
from close range and Jenson Beard capitalising on a defensive error. The second half
started with defences on top until the visitors ensured the win, Webb scoring from close
range from another productive cross into the box. On 82 Gala scored the goal that their
efforts deserved when Tim Hill volleyed home Antonio Pirelli’s cross, but it was Rockleaze
who had the final say with another close-range goal this time a header from James Goulden
to make it a resounding 5-1 win for them.
To the fringes of the top where Frampton United entertained Sharpness at the Bell Field
and the Sharks opened the scoring on twelve minutes a cross was met by Archie Mears
who fired into the bottom corner. Frampton’s first effort came from Stuart Maule whose
shot was well dealt with by keeper James Russell pushing the ball around the post, the
Jono Willets beat his defender and put in a cross which eluded everyone. Sharpness had a
good chance to increase their lead from a ball over the top but Tom Kaye saved Kieran
Bennett’s shot, but it didn’t take long for them to score their second when a cross into the
box fell to Tom Frankham to score and take the three points 2-0.
To the middle of the table and more good work by the ground care team after a heavy
overnight frost enabled Wick against Hanham Athletic to take place at Oldbury Lane
where the first half an hour was fairly even with Jai Macloed for Wick twice firing over and
Ty Fudgell hitting the post for Hanham, but it was Hanham who scored first when Jacob
Saunders headed home from a corner in a crowded penalty area. Karim Rendall then
doubled Hanham’s lead on the stroke of half time when he volleyed a high defensive
clearance into the top corner. After an even start to the second half a much-improved Wick
were looking for a way back into the game and the opportunity came when Todd Carter
was fouled in the box and Liam Towler made no mistake from the spot. Wick levelled on
73 when Louis Short pounced on a loose ball in the box to fire home. Both sides
then went looking for a winner with the best chance falling to Wick’s Brad Clark
who headed over in the last minute to finish the game honours even.