Page 14 - Shirehampton FC v English Bicknor 050222

LEAGUE REVIEW

Shirehampton and Wick both won on Saturday, maintaining their challenge for the title.
Playing in front of a crowd of 63, Shirehampton secured three more points at home against
Patchway Town in their quest to become this year’s champions of the MGCFL. Playing some
attractive football at times It took only five minutes for Shirehampton to open the scoring with a 20-
yard strike from prolific goal scorer Scott Bamford striking the ball above Sam Burgess and into the
Patchway net. Only a minute later Patchway were awarded a penalty following a foul, only for
Patchway’s Phil Vice spot kick to be saved by Shirehampton’s custodian Matt Turner. Shirehampton
kept the pressure on and in the 30th minute were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Patchway
penalty area following a foul on Charlie Pollinger, Town keeper Sam Burgess comfortably saving the
Rich Brightwell effort on target.
Shirehampton started the brighter of the two sides with Sam Burgess making a comfortable save
but it was Patchway who came close seconds later forcing Turner to palm the ball around his right
post. The home side then went close to a second when Jamie Horgan was denied by the quick-
thinking Burgess who was quick of his line to smother the ball. Jamie Horgan got Shirehampton’s
second when the ball ran lose in Patchway penalty area leaving Horgan to slot the ball home in the
64 minute. with 26 minutes still left in the game Patchway’s Paul Noyes handled the ball right on
th
the goal- line giving the referee no alternative but to issue a straight red card Bamford secured his
second of the game from the penalty spot. Patchway kept working at the game until the final whistle
but to no avail with the game ended 3-0 to the home side.
A sunny but windy afternoon at English Bicknor who were entertaining second in the table Wick.
With Bicknor parting company with their manager in the week and several players leaving it looked
as though it was going to be a tough afternoon. However, the home side did manage to get some
new recruits to take the place of the departing players and what a good show they put on. Wick
had much of the possession, but the home side fought hard with Wick having the first attempt on
goal that cleared the bar on 10 minutes. A free kick 25 yards out on 23 minutes for Wick was taken
by Mike Hardiman but it cleared the bar. A few minutes later another shot this time from Joe
Thomas went well wide. The visitors had a great chance to take the lead on 38 minutes from the
penalty spot and Wick keeper Jamie Powell was called upon to dispatch the 12-yard shot on goal
but his shot struck the upright and it was cleared. Towards the end on the half Wick forced several
corners but the home defence held out. Bicknor forced an early corner in the second half, but
nd
nothing came of that effort on goal then in the 52 minute Wick broke away down the left and Mike
Hardiman found the back of the Bicknor net for a 1-0 lead. On 68 minutes the home side surprised
Wick when they broke away and George Riley scored from the edge of the box to make it 1-1. Just
5 minutes elapsed before the visitors got their noses back in front from a cross in from the right by
Mike Hardiman headed back across goal by Rob Moore and Ben Weaver hit the ball high into the
net. Right at the end Bicknor won a corner but the Wick keeper Powell was able to punch clear and
the ball was then fired wide.
Quedgeley Wanderers v Ruardean Hill Rangers, nine minutes into this game, Aaron
underwood saved a great volley from Sean Lawson. The 21st minute brought the first goal for
Quedgeley, Jack Hornsby finishing from close range after Pat Freeman had sent over a great cross.
On 40 minutes Walter Greenwood set up Sean Lawson to make it 2-0 In the 51st minute Jimmy
Thomas saw his effort saved on the line. Rangers first real chance on 55 minutes was well
kept out by keeper Ben Holborough. Good inter play between Kyle James Bryan and
Henry Birkett on 80 minutes saw Henry's header cleared off the line. A third goal for
Quedgeley on 83 minutes a great turn and lay off by Dan Lander with Henry Birkett hitting
the top corner of the net. Then right on time a fourth goal for the home side Henry Birkett
slipped past a defender and squared the ball to Walter Greenwood for a tap in.
On a bright and blustery afternoon at Hardwicke it was the away side, Little Stoke,
who took an early lead after 12 minutes a corner was swept in but unfortunately was not
cleared by the home defence and Jaydon Holver tapped the ball in from five yards. Little Stoke
increased the lead after 25 minutes when a free kick from 30 yards was struck high but hard and