Page 11 - Almondsbury FC v Broadwell Amateurs 021223

League Review

Top of the table Avonmouth were the visitors to Tewkesbury Road to take
on Cheltenham Civil Service. In a lively start it was Avonmouth who had
the first real opening when Josh Pearce burst down the left wing and his pull
back saw Alfie Taylor shoot wide. Pearce was at it again a few minutes later
this time leaping high to head a cross goalwards, the initial effort blocked but
the ball fell to him to volley in. The game settled until Avonmouth sprung
Pearce through on goal producing a great save from Harvey Need. The game turned
on 2 incidents in 2 minutes firstly a through ball by Services Liam Hope found Lewis Driscoll
one on one but his effort was saved by Tom Bradley, from this Avonmouth countered and
Pearce was caught in the box for a penalty which Alfie Taylor converted. Just before half
time it was 3-0 when a header from Mike Oliver landed at the feet of Pearce who finished
past Need. Service started the second half brightly and got their rewards when a deflection
landed to Paul Smith on the edge, and he shot past Bradley. Service had their best spell,
but a second goal would not come. Instead, a 70-minute-long ball was half cleared only to
fall to Charlie Aldom who slotted past Need. Five minutes on Avonmouth were awarded a
second penalty but Taylor sent his kick high over the top. Pearce, looking for his hat trick
went on a great solo run only to see his shot go wide. On eighty minutes however, he
wasn’t to be denied when a long ball over the top was missed by the Service defence and
was cooly finished by Pearce for 5-1 and Avonmouth seven clear at the top.
At a bright and cold Little Stoke Park Ruardean Hill Rangers got a well-deserved point
away to Little Stoke. The host's had been forced to change the spine of the side due to
player availability and made a slightly disjointed start to the game, with a lot of moves
breaking down on the edge of the area with misplaced passes. The well organised
Ruardean side were content to absorb the pressure and try and utilise the combination of
Sampsom and Clark up front to hit on the break. On most occasions Little Stoke got
through the Ruardean defence their shots went wide or turned into passes to Aaron
Underwood in the Ruardean goal, the shot they got right went hard to Underwood's right
but his arm shot out to push the ball out for a corner. Then disaster for Little Stoke as
Ruardean punted the ball clear, two home defenders missed the opportunity to clear it
leaving the livewire Steve Clark to run onto the ball on the edge of the centre circle, he
drove into the box, drew Gigov in the home goal out and dinked the ball into the corner.
Whatever was said in the home dressing room as half time had a big effect as Little Stoke
got on top, with the visitors reduced to defending and a few counter attacks. Little Stoke
created several clear chances but the shots either went straight to Underwood or wide of
the post. As the game was drawing to a close Stoke got a series of a free kicks in very
dangerous positions. The first sailed over, the second beat Underwood and bounced off the
bar, the final one was cleared but the ball was recycled and a cross deep to the back post
allowed Mike Hardiman to force an equaliser with 30 seconds left on the clock.
In the other match Stoke Gifford United kept up their unbeaten run up away
to Broadwell Amateurs with two goals from Rudy Hill and another from Kerem Karakus,
Jamie Powell replying for Broadwell giving Stoke Gifford a 3-1 win.