Page 18 - Avonmouth FC v Almondsbury 090923

Bromley Heath United in the goals
Mark Simpson
Well, we are at week 4 and things are starting to take shape with no real surprises,
generally given where teams were last season and their season form. Some might,
however, have to start pulling their socks up.
Starting at Waterwells Quedgeley Wanderers took on last season’s runners
up, Bromley Heath United, but once again it was the hosts inconsistencies that came to
light. It appears that except for an early dangerous cross from Rory Hunt the match was
mostly controlled by Bromley Heath, with their first goal coming on 21 minutes Cam
Gardiner netting from a near post corner. Three minutes on it was two Nathan Rose
managing what was termed a weak header but-in-any-case found the net. Five minutes
before the break Joel Mitchellmore lobbed Nathan Charnock for 3-0. The second half was
much the same with Bromley in control, but they had to wait for the 61 minute before
st
scoring again through Liam Donaghue. Bromley’s final goal came a few minutes later with
Ollie Hanham’s shot beating Charnock, 5-0 to Bromley Heath.
Arguably the game of the day was at Hanham Athletic playing Avonmouth, both
promoted last season through the play offs. Both teams started well and Hanham should
have scored in the third minute, but Brandon Barnes’ effort came off the bar. Hanham had
several chances to score before Avonmouth’s Charlie Aldom had a header saved by Sam
Brown in the home goal. In the second half both teams were attempting to break the
deadlock and the best chance was for Hanham when in the 72 minute a penalty was given
nd
to them, but Karim Rendall’s spot kick was brilliantly saved by Avonmouth keeper Tom
Bradley. The deadlock was finally broken when a run down the left by the visitor’s Josh
Pearce led to Matt Groves scoring. Hanham tried several times to force an equaliser, but it
wasn’t to be and Avonmouth held on for 1-0.
At the Field, Almondsbury, still finding their feet in the County League were tested by a
notoriously difficult Ruardean Hill Rangers side. Almonds seemed to have the best of
the early exchanges and on twelve minutes Knight took on and beat a few players squared
to Dunnell-Luff whose shot was blocked by the defence. Ten minutes on Harmer played
through and shot early but Aaron Underwood turned it aside. A few minutes on and Harmer
headed narrowly over from a corner. On 36 Almonds Cox received the ball from a corner
and his long-range effort cannoned off the woodwork. Towards half time Dunnell-Luff beat
the offside trap, fired across goal, Underwood pushed it out and his defenders cleared. In
a rare sortie Ruardean fired wide from range but it was Almonds who scored right on half
time, Cox crossed in from the right and Dawes was at the back post to finish. On the hour,
the hosts still pressing, and Dunnell-Luff was played through squared to Knight, but
Underwood saved once again, as he did on 73 from Cox’s deflected cross. Hill’s equaliser,
arguably against the run, came nine minutes from time Walding’s cross eluding everyone
and finding the net for the match to finish 1-1.
At the Hawthorns Broadwell Amateurs welcomed Wick, hoping to bounce back after
last week’s defeat, and both teams started brightly with probing runs and passes. But it
was twenty minutes for the first goal, Jamie Belfitt probing down the right producing a
perfect cross for Fishwick to steer past Ashton Trott. Broadwell turned the heat up and in
the 24th minute following a corner and a couple of defensive blocks the ball fell to
Skidmore whose shot rippled the back of the net. Both teams had chances up to the break.
Wick started the second period at a higher tempo, but it was only two minutes in when
Davies cut in from the right for Broadwell and shot from just inside the box to beat Trott
for 3-0. A few minutes later and despite three substitutions Wick were in even more
trouble, Powell dancing through the defence was up-ended by Osbourne, Powell took the
resultant spot-kick only for Trott to save but Powell made amends with the rebound for 4-0.
A good run down the middle by Knight into the box only to be brought down for another
penalty, this time Knight scoring first time straight down the middle. The game got a bit
hectic into time added on and Towler 93 and Wade 94 scored for Wick giving a final count
of 5-2 to Broadwell.