Page 16 - Avonmouth FC v Almondsbury 090923

Hanham Athletic v Avonmouth

Sat 2 September 2023
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The Gloucestershire County League reckoned the game of the day was
Hanham Athletic versus Avonmouth, both clubs being promoted last
season through the play offs when Avonmouth managed to overcome
Hanham after a penalty shoot-out. Avonmouth knew their third County
League match would be the stiffest test so far following two wins.
Both teams started well and Hanham almost scored in the fourth minute
but were denied by Tom Bradley who pushed the ball over the bar
following a 30 yard shot. From the resulting corner Brandon Barnes’ effort
came off the bar and was cleared. Hanham had several chances to score
but were denied by Avonmouth’s resolute defending before Charlie Aldom
had a header saved by Sam Brown in the home goal. This was the spur for
Avonmouth to take control leading up to half-time, again with Aldom
having another header well saved by Brown.

Five minutes into the second half Bradley was once again called into action
to push behind a header. The second half was delivering frantic end to end
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football and in the 63 minute Jack Williams was brought on for Dillan Kerr
who always appeared to have at least two Hanham defenders paying very
close attention. In the 72 minute Tommy Taylor impeded a Hanham
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forward inside the area and referee Sam Thorne awarded a penalty.
Hanham’s star striker Karim Rendall stepped up to take the spot kick but it
was brilliantly saved by Tom Bradley who dived to his right to push out the
shot. This proved to motivate Avonmouth who almost scored straight after
with their next attack. Just two minutes later there were very strong
appeals for an Avonmouth penalty when a defender appeared to handle a
goal bound shot. In the 80 minute the Avonmouth defence held tight
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when Jonal Simms was setting up for a shot and George Brown’s challenge
made him hit his shot well wide. The deadlock was finally broken in the
87 minute, following a great run down the left past three defenders by
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Josh Pearce who calmly passed to Matt Groves and he fired the ball into
the Hanham Athletic goal. The Avonmouth defence, bolstered by the
inclusion of Mark Reid at the back for the final period, still needed to keep
the lively Hanham attack at bay who tried on several occasions to force an
equaliser. But with the Avonmouth forwards also managing to cleverly keep
the ball in the Hanham half for extensive periods, they held on for a
deserved away victory.