Page 14 - Shirehampton FC v Quedgeley Wanderers 161021

LEAGUE REVIEW

Shirehampton open up a five-point gap with a win at English Bicknor. Wick lost ground losing at Quedgeley
and Frampton slipped into second place with a win at home to Sharpness.
A surprise result of the day was the Quedgeley Wanderers 1-0 defeat of title challengers Wick. The visitors
had a lions share of the possession throughout the game and Ben Harris went close with a shot from the
edge of the box early on. Walt Greenwood replied for the home side but his shot cleared the bar.
Wanderers broke the deadlock on 30 minutes when Jack Hornsby finished off a great through ball from Sean
Lawson.
Wick had the ball in the back of the Wanderers net on 33 minutes but it was ruled out for offside. Home
keeper Tom Farmer then pulled of a great save to keep the score at 0-0.
Wick had a penalty appeal turned down and home keeper Tom Farmer save well again from Ben Harris on
58 minutes. Wick continued to attack looking for the allusive goal but Farmer managed to keep the ball out
of his net for a great win.
Hanham Athletic took a heavy defeat at home to Little Stoke going down 7-0. Jude Scott gave the visitors
the lead on 31 minutes with a shot from the edge of the box and 4 minutes later it was 2-0 from a 20-yard
shot from Alex Hill. Jaden Holver netted a third with a neat 25-yard drive before the break. The relentless
attack from Stoke continued in the second half when John Pugsley scored from the penalty spot after Phillipp
Kourouma had been felled in the box. John Puglsley then sent over a cross for Henry Newman to head home
number five and then Pugsley crossed again for Phillipp Kouroume to head home the sixth. A great bit of
skill for the final goal as Jayden Holver lifted the ball over the Hanham keeper Brad Price and then dribbled
the ball into the net.
The Hanham keeper Price was outstanding all afternoon and if it had not been for some fantastic saves the
score line could have been much worse for the home side.
Hardwicke entertained Ruardean Rangers in the quarter final of The Les James Cup and were seeking to be
the first club to win this on three occasions.
On a fine afternoon the initial 25 minutes remained evenly contested. It was the away side who had the first
opportunity after 26 minutes when Luke Brown threaded the ball into the path of Steve Clarke but the
Hardwicke keeper, Ollie Hall, raced off his line to thwart Clarke.
This attack gave Hardwicke some impetus and four minutes later Hardwicke’s Shayne Thorpe chipped the
ball to James Ratcliffe but Keeper Arron Underwood raced off his line to prevent Hardwicke taking the lead.
Three minutes later Hardwicke should have taken the lead when Will Mathews crossed to Freddie Humphries
who’s out stretched leg touched the ball over the crossbar.
The game started to come to life after an even half and Ruardean took the lead on 40 minutes; Fin Jones
slotted the ball through the Hardwicke defence for Steve Clarke to fire a shot low past the advancing Hall.
Hardwicke bounced back within a minute to level the score, Pat Vernal carried the ball from his own half and
passed to youngster Ben King whose cross was sweetly headed into the goal by Will Mathews.
The second half started in the same manner as the first half with both sides evenly matched. Hardwicke had
a fine opportunity on 60 minutes when a Glen Gittings strode into the Ruardean half and passed to Will
Mathews whose powerful drive was tipped onto the bar by Aaron Underwood.
With the match looking as though it would be finalised by Penalties Hardwicke’s Scott Eales brought down
Clarke in the 88thminute who put Ruardean ahead from the resulting penalty.
Hardwicke sought to have another quick equaliser and as they pushed forward lost the ball at the half way
line to striker Mike Coleman. Coleman swiftly raced towards the Hardwicke goal with Hall to beat but a fine
tackle by Sean Clarke prevented Ruardean from scoring a third.
Rockleaze Rangers are having a bad run at present and went down again this week to single goal. Henbury
were the visitors and will be well please with this result. The home side were well under par and it was the
visitors who should have taken the lead after just 2 minutes but Kane Manning missed the target from 6
yards. He did however give Henbury the lead right on half time when he fired home a curling shot. Manning
had another good chance on 65 minutes but his shot struck the outside of the post. In the 88 minute
th
Henbury were again unlucky when Ross Jones struck the crossbar.
A close game at Frampton United where today’s visitors were Sharpness. Frampton went close on 20
minutes when Steve Jackson’s long-range shot was turned around the post by keeper Truan Taylor. On 24
minutes the visitor’s saw Tom Patterson’s effort on goal blocked. On 41 minutes Taylor brought of another
great save to deny Manolo Espada’s shot from going in. The home side took the lead when George Blythe’s
shot was only parried by Taylor and Espada followed up to drive the ball home. Tom Patterson went close in
the 67 minute but his header went just wide. Sharpness almost levelled the score on 73 minutes but Ryan
th
Ponting’s header from a corner struck the crossbar.