Page 11 - Almondsbury FC v Little Stoke 281023

League Review

continued to press and were unable to net from a goalmouth scramble and good build up
play gave Sean Lawson a sight at goal but hit it straight at Burgess. Almonds had a good
spell towards the break, a 20-yard free kick went straight into the wall, Dawes ran into the
box but his soft effort failed to trouble Charnock and a big chance for Cox came but he
poked his shot wide from the angle. Right on half time a Charnock save flying to his left
from Harry Greensbury shot kept out a “certain” goal. Into the second half and Curtis’s side
footed finish from the edge made it 2-0 barely a minute in. Almonds attempted to come
back, and Matt Davies shot straight at Charnock. On 56 minutes Lawson broke free for the
hosts but Burgess saved with his legs. But, a minute later Harry Reynolds made it three
with a fine finish from the edge. On the hour Curtis had a shot blocked for a corner.
Almonds kept at it but Joseph Weare’s shot went into orbit. On 73 Connor Webb made it
four after a great cross from Rory Hunt and it was Hunt scoring two minutes from time
after a mistake by Burgess to make it 5-0 to Quedgeley.
Little Stoke welcomed a somewhat strengthened Stoke Gifford United to the Park in
front of 120 spectators and Gifford started excellently putting the Little Stoke defence
under constant pressure and eventually got the breakthrough on 22 minutes when Paul
Cronin broke the Little Stoke line and slotted home. It wasn’t long before it was two, this
time Spike Weaver capitalising on a defensive error. It wasn’t until the final minutes of the
half that Little Stoke found their stride, Aaron West smashing home after an error from Ash
Eyles in the Gifford goal. Little Stoke came out a different side in the second half,
aggressive and on the front foot, when Gifford committed a foul 25 yards out and Lewis
Hughes stepped up to drive a low shot under the wall and beating Eyles for 2-2. There were
more chances for Little Stoke with Vice going close late on. The game ended up with a red
card for Mike Hardiman perhaps summing up a good strong competitive game and Stoke
Gifford still unbeaten in the League.
To Tewkesbury Road, Cheltenham where Cheltenham Civil Service took on strong
League contenders Bromley Heath United. The game started at quite a pace with plenty
of hard work and on 10 minutes Bromley created the first chance when Olly Hanham was
played in down the right wing and his ball in found Aiden Noble who side footed wide. On
23 minutes a Bromley corner found Cam Gardiner who headed wide. The game was
becoming a real dogged affair, but Bromley pounced on a Service error with Cam Ford
going through and bringing a good save from Harvey Need. Both sides were cancelling
each other out with lots of endeavour and as things wore on a goalless draw seemed on
the cards. But that inevitably changed in the dying minutes with Bromley attacking at pace,
they were halted on the edge but were awarded a penalty, the foul adjudged inside!
Nathan Rose stepped up and his kick squeezed under Need. Perhaps a harsh result on
Service who matched Bromley all over the park but 1-0 to Bromley it was.
The free scoring Rockleaze Rangers were at it again this time at Wick and were quick
out of the blocks firing wide after just 4 minutes. A minute later an under hit back pass
gave them another chance but Ashton Trott saved well with his feet. Wick then settled and
had a series of corners but failed to convert. On 24 minutes a great cross field ball by Wick’s
Will Osbourne found Jai MacLeod who beat his marker to drive into the Rockleaze box and
pull the ball back for Liam Towler to drive home. Trott saved well with his legs again rushing
from his goal. As the half came to an end a great save from Dom Oakes stopped MacLeod
from increasing Wick’s lead. Rockleaze started the new half on the front foot forcing
another good save from Trott and Wick’s Louis Short fizzed just wide, but on 52 minutes
Jenson Beard burst through the middle for Rockleaze and powered his shot past Trott for
1-1. On 58 minutes Wick’s lively Short was bundled over in the box for a penalty converted
by Towler to restore Wick’s lead. Wick were cursing their luck on 75 minutes when a cross
from Beard from the right flank found the top corner of the Wick net to level the scores.
Shotly after Wick lost a player to the sin bin which proved very costly. As time ticked away
Trott saved well low to his right but can only push the ball into the path of Dan Webb who
found the Wick net. In stoppage time with Wick pushing for an equaliser Rockleaze hit
them on the counter and the luckless Trott saved well only for the ball to loop over him for
Fraser Butt to score Rockleaze’s fourth and a 4-2 win.