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League Review

Gala Wilton and Stoke Gifford

United into Cup Semis -
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Mark Simpson
Postponements left us with two Les James League Cup quarter final ties
and two League fixtures. The cup had one surprise result in Gala Wilton
defeating Bromley Heath United. In the League Rockleaze Rangers
tumbled to a surprisingly heavy defeat at Little Stoke.
First to the League Cup and to Fairmile Gardens where Gala
Wilton was keen to make amends for their defeat to Bromley Heath
United in the League a few weeks ago. Downpours throughout the
afternoon made playing conditions difficult and it was credit to both
sides for the quality of football played throughout. The first half was
played in a competitive manner with more bookings than goal scoring
opportunities, but it was Gala who took the lead on 30 minutes when a
Jerzy Marszalek free kick from 25 yards skidded past Will Ferguson and
into the bottom left corner of the net. Bromley came close to scoring
after fifty minutes when a cross clipped the top of the bar but were
reduced to ten when Trai Elliston-Sackett was sent off for a second
yellow. Bromley responded well to being a man down and with Gala
unable to score a second goal to secure the win, the inevitable
happened when Bromley were awarded a penalty in the last minute and
Nathan Rose fired past Elliott Jones to take the game to penalties to
decide the result. Gala won the shoot-out with two great saves by Jones
and a winning penalty from Wakib Said for a 3-1 win.
The second League Cup match saw Stoke Gifford
United entertain Quedgeley Wanderers with Gifford on the front foot
and were ahead within fifteen minutes when Mikey Barry jinked inside
and wrong-footed Nathan Charnock in the visitor’s goal. The remainder
of the half led to very little with Quedgeley containing Gifford with a
solid shape until right on half time when the excellent Harry Ikeije
drove in from the left and was upended in the area and Tauren Williams
smashed the penalty home with ease. Gifford started the second half
well and found a third goal on 49 minutes when good team play found
Kerem Karakus who in turn found a yard of space to fire home from the
edge. Quedgeley never stopped and got a deserved goal twenty
minutes from time when Ollie Barnett rose highest to nod a corner
home. Ash Eyles was called into action producing an excellent double
save to keep Quedgeley out, and perhaps Gifford should have extended