Page 17 - Avonmouth FC v Quedgeley Wanderers 030224

stray pass came from the away side and eventually time ran out for them, and Little Stoke’s superb
defensive display earnt them a deserved 1-0 victory.
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.