Page 11 - Almondsbury FC v Quedgeley Wanderers 200324

League Review

Abraham charged down a clearance from keeper Sam Brown for
the ball to spin slowly into the bottom of the net. Hanham almost
equalised on the half hour but Karim Rendall’s shot was well saved
by Ashton Trott. Wick started the second half well and it took a
fine save by Sam Brown to deny Micky Goulding a second for the
visitors. Hanham’s equaliser came on 75 minutes from the spot,
Jacob Saunders stepping up to thunder the ball into the top left-
hand corner of the Wick goal. Hanham got an unlikely second goal
on eighty minutes when Richard Wathens flick on was somehow
allowed to go in by keeper Trott. Hanham added another when
Karim Rendall headed home a superb Brandon Barnes free kick
and a final score of 3-1 for Hanham.

To the Les James League Cup first semi final with Stoke Gifford
United taking on Sharpness. The opening half was a cagey affair
with both teams cancelling each other out. On twelve minutes
Devanti McInerny put a marker down against the Sharks defence
flying down the left wing and pulling back for Spike Weaver who
drew a sharp stop from James Russell. Sharpness looked at their
biggest threat from set pieces and on 27 couldn’t quite find the
right finish in a goalmouth scramble as Gifford blocked bravely.
The remainder of the half saw Sharpness testing the Gifford back
line with set pieces that were mostly defended well and Gifford
looking to exploit Sharpness down the flanks but neither team
creating anything much. The second half began with the Sharks
looking the more likely, a Tom Frankham free kick was saved by
Oli Gargett and back-to-back corners caused some panic in the
Gifford back line. The game changed on seventy minutes, Barry
was released down the right wing and looked to have scored but
Russell produced a fine save. The resulting corner ended with
Rudy Hill firing on target, Russell could only parry, but Joe Bridge
was on hand to poke home. On 78 minutes Barry caused mayhem
again drifting in field he teed up Spike Weaver who was taken
down on the edge of the box by James Priday who received his
marching orders for two yellows, Weaver picked himself up and
fired home the resulting free kick in off the post. The icing was put
on the cake when Barry got a deserved goal for a tireless
performance, Weaver held the ball up and released Barry who
finished into the bottom corner to take Gifford through to the final
where they will meet the winners of next weeks second semi
between Gala Wilton and Hanham Athletic.