Page 11 - Almondsbury FC v Hanham Athletic 030224

League Review

Hardwicke were seeking to move off the bottom of the league against fellow
strugglers Almondsbury at Green Lane. They were strengthened by the return of experienced
players Richard Mansell, Jack Twyman and long-term absentee captain Freddie Humphries. The
home side immediately started attacking and dominated the game in the initial 30 minutes. A clear
chance came to them with the ball threaded through to Evan Coombes but was thwarted by
Almonds’ keeper Jack Burgess. Five minutes later Pat Vernall thought he had scored but Burgess
again rescued Almonds. Hardwicke continued pressing and on the half hour Coombes found
George Ganley, but his effort ballooned over. Almonds started to come into the game and went
ahead five minutes before the break, a long ball finding Stuart Alexander who unleashed a fierce
shot from the edge of the box which flew past keeper Cameron Wilce. Two minutes later it was
two, Connor Perbedy heading the ball to Owen Wilton to tap past Wilce. The second half became
a midfield battle with few scoring opportunities. Towards the end Hardwicke started to play like
they had in the opening half hour and were rewarded when Leon Williams crossed for Coombes
to loft the ball over Burgess to make the final score 2-1 to Almonds leaving Hardwicke to rue the
missed chances during the first half hour of dominance.
Up to the Forest to Ruardean Hill Rangers against Rockleaze Rangers, with Rockleaze taking
the game to Hill and Hill were down to ten after 10 with a sin bin for Kane Fellows, and during
this time Aaron Underwood was forced into two great saves in quick succession from a Rockleaze
free kick. On 27 Hill had a shout for a penalty but wasn’t given, and a minute later, with Hill still
not happy, Jenson Beard twisted and turned before slotting home to give Rockleaze the lead. Five
minutes later Rockleaze created a good chance from out wide with a ball into the box, but Sam
Bailey got his header horribly wrong heading wide. On 37 minutes Hill, this time, were awarded a
penalty with keeper Jordan Dunning bringing down Taylor Blaby and Steve Clark scoring the
resulting spot kick. Hill were getting into the game more and an Ollie Mason free kick was saved
by Dunning at the second attempt. On 65 minutes with the game fairly even Kane Sansom took
aim from 30 yards and forced the back-pedalling Dunning to tip over the bar. A few minutes on a
Hill corner fell to Tom Landon whose overhead kick was claimed by Dunning. Quarter of an hour
left and a Hill free kick outside the box had Clark’s initial shot against the wall and the rebound
had Dunning scrambling to collect, again at the second attempt and that was about it and 1-1 it
ended.
To Vicarage Road where Hanham Athletic took on Stoke Gifford United and it was Hanham
who took an early lead when a speculative shot hit Karim Rendall and went in. Gifford came into
the game, and it took a great headed clearance by Tyrone Fudgell to keep it at one-nil. Rendall
should have made it two on the half hour but shot straight at Ollie Gargett in the Gifford goal.
Hanham made it two-nil on 57 minutes when a brilliant flick on by Rendall was hit into the back
of the net by Andy Nash. Gifford pulled one back on the hour with a brilliant strike by Spike Weaver
which Sam Brown could do nothing about, and they equalised on 72 when Jordan Yeo’s free kick
was saved by Sam Brown only for Ben Shepherd to follow up and score. Hanham re-took the lead
on 89 when a ball over the top was brilliantly finished off by Nash for his second of the game
leaving Hanham just 9 minutes of added on time to see out and 3-2 it was.
Finally, to Hamfields where Sharpness took on struggling Cheltenham Civil Service and it was
Sharpness who had the brighter start and had numerous chances in the opening twenty minutes.
Will Payne was the first to test Harvey Need but saw his effort blocked. Kier Bennett then had a
good opportunity when cutting in onto his right foot, but Need was on hand to block his effort.
Payne again found himself in Service’s box from right back, but his attempt was blocked at the
near post when maybe squaring the ball might have been a better option. However, it was Service
who took the lead on 25, somewhat against the run of play, a through ball wasn’t dealt with by
Priday who let it go under his foot and Tom Short was on hand to gather the ball and slot it
excellently into the far corner. One was nearly two when Hale brought the ball down in the box
but keeper Gough was on hand to rush out and block his effort. Service did double their lead just
before half time when Mike Oliver was allowed to advance from the back unopposed and when
he was thirty-five yards out, he let rip a thunderous shot past Gough. The Sharks came out firing
in the second half and gave it a good go to get back into the game. Bennett looked more of a
threat and had a chance when rounding the keeper, but Johnson got back in to prevent his effort.
Sharpness then hit the post with Palmer’s long-range attempt and the ball fell nicely for Need to
gather. Sharpness pulled one back with 15 remaining when a deep Palmer free kick wasn’t dealt
with and ended up in the net. After this point Sharks failed to find that bit of quality and Service
hung on for an invaluable 2-1 win.