Chairman’s Chat

A warm welcome to Arnall Drive to the players, spectators, and management team of this afternoon’s visitors Quedgeley Wanderers.

After the festive period unfortunately, last week was a washout for the 1st team with the away fixture at Almondsbury falling foul to the horrendous weather. I know the 1st team management team of Peter, Lee and Jason have doubled down in their efforts to turn this season’s form around and this break has enabled them to spend some time on the training field with most of the players. Here’s to a better 2025 for all teams and players with the club.

If you can help with sponsoring a match, player, or pitch side advertising board, or would just like to help and get involved with the running of the club please speak to myself or to another committee member who will be pleased to speak to you about any potential involvement.

Finally, please remember ‘we win together, we lose together but most importantly we stick together’

Andrew

Continued

GFA cup ties not included

TODAY'S MATCHES

Saturday 11th January 2025

Almondsbury v Frampton United

Broadwell Amateurs v Stoke Gifford SGS Utd

Chalford v Ruardean Hill Rangers

Cheltenham C S v Bromley Heath United

Filton Athletic v Hanham Athletic

Henbury & Rockleaze v Quedgeley Wanderers

SATURDAY 28TH DECEMBER

At Bristol Barbarians RFC Totterdown United welcomed League leaders Almondsbury, with the hosts hoping to keep their good run of form going into the new year. Totterdown started the game well on the counter and were in the lead within 5 minutes through Frank Tobin’s strike. Almonds grew into the half but struggled to effectively handle the Totterdown attacks and indeed Ollie Lovell put the hosts two up on fifteen minutes. Ten minutes later Tobin got probably the goal of the season with a strike from his own half which caught Sam Burgess in no man’s land and the ball flew into the back of his net. Totterdown were on fire now and Chaz Hemmings failed with a one-on-one and Lovell hit the bar from 8 yards out. Almonds then pulled one back with a Craig Lancastle tap in which was quickly replied to with Toby Carter’s headed goal making it 4-1. Just before half time Almonds grabbed a second with a good glancing header by Alex Hill giving keeper Ashley Martin no chance. Rather unfamiliar territory for Almondsbury into the second half and indeed it was Hemmings, somewhat against the run of play, who scored Totterdown’s fifth. Almondsbury had a lot of the possession but Totterdown sat back making it hard for the Almonds players to penetrate. Late into the half Almonds pulled two back, first through Omar Alrawi and then a penalty converted by Luke Meacham. So, there we have it, a massive win for Totterdown United 5-4 and a massive shock for Almondsbury

In front of a crowd of 212 at the Bell Field, Frampton United hosted Sharpness and it was the Sharks who got off to a great start when after 5 minutes Alex Gaynor picked the ball up 20 yards out and lifted it over Tom Kaye for 0-1. Frampton’s first effort fell to Mangan but his header was too high, but they equalised on the half hour when Manolo Espada’s free kick was headed clear but Myron Turner was on hand to fire home. It didn’t take long for Sharpness to regain the lead, Tainton scoring from the spot after a foul in the box. On 42 minutes Gaynor shot past Kaye from the edge of the box for the Sharks third. 

The second half didn’t start much better for Frampton when Geddes picked up a second yellow, and Callum Dummelow had a shot blocked by Brown. Driver-Dickerson had a god chance for Frampton from a poor clearance but shot straight at Holder. In the 80th minute Holder made a good save to deny Espada’s free kick before Sharpness were also reduced to ten with Will Payne picking up a straight red for an off the ball incident, but, however, Sharpness held out for three points from a well-deserved 3-1 win.

At Pen Park Filton Athletic took on another title challenger in Wick and an eight-goal thriller saw Filton come out on top. Filton were nearly in front in the first minute with Trey Merrett’s shot deflected over and from the resulting corner Tommy Longhurst headed off the line. On 10 minutes a slip by Kyle Russell saw Trey Merrett through on goal but the defender made a good clearing challenge, Wick then countered but Louis Short dragged his effort wide. The deadlock was broken on 16, when after a great ball to him by Fraser Venables, Liam Dorman found the top corner from outside the box. The Wick reply was almost instant, Jay Rudge’s shot was saved by Barry Phillips but the ball fell to Cory Langdon for a tap in. Filton regained the lead on 30 minutes when Venables free kick caused chaos in the Wick box and the ball fell to Tom Fry who fired into the roof of the net. Two minutes later it was 3-1, after multiple chances to score, Kyle Thomas tapped in after Venables initial shot was saved by Kai Thomas. Three minutes into the second half Rudge volleyed in from a corner to pull Wick back into it. On the hour after good build up down the left by Filton, Fry received the ball and struck a low shot across Wilson into the bottom corner for 4-2. With twenty minutes to go Trey Merrett’s shot from the edge took a deflection past Wilson for Filton’s fifth. On 75 minutes Langdon headed in from close range following a corner for Wick’s third and making the last 15 minutes potentially interesting, but Filton held on for an entertaining 5-3 win.

After breathtaking stuff at the top, we now go mid-table to the Hawthorns where Broadwell Amateurs took on Hanham Athletic on a cold foggy afternoon with visibility challenging for players and spectators. Both teams showed attacking intent from the start with Broadwell creating a couple of early chances but Hanham keeper Dylan McLennon was equal to the task, making crucial saves. The play shifted rapidly up both wings although player identity was difficult in the fog. The second half saw both sides pressing for a breakthrough and Hanham went close on 56, from a corner, with keeper Jack Watkins and his defence clearing off the line. Broadwell made a quick counter down the left but McLennon intercepted the cross. Broadwell’s persistence paid off in the 72^nd minute when a series of well executed passes down the right culminated with Dan Brain’s cross finding Dave Jenkins at the far post to slot in for 1-0. Hanham now had to chase the match with Karim Rendall and Mikey Golding working hard to inspire a response, but it wasn’t to be. Broadwell put on fresh legs and Elliot Potter impressed in the latter stages with his speed and determination. As the light faded and the fog descended once more the Referee’s whistle concluded a 1-0 Broadwell win.

At Pomphrey Hill Pavilion Bromley Heath United took on Gala Wilton and it was Gala, who didn’t look like a team languishing in the bottom two, who started the game really strongly and were rewarded within 5 minutes when, from a corner the ball was cleared wide by the defence, to be played straight back in for Robert Reid to head home. At this point Gala were playing the ball around nicely and looking dangerous, especially when playing channel ball through the Bromley back-line. However, Bromley started to get their act together and create chances at the other end. They dominated the last 20 minutes of the half with Cripps, Noble, Hanham, and Bessell all having good chances saved by Oscar Bignell or cleared off the line. Gala did have the last chance of the half but the ball went over the bar. 

The second half started evenly but Bromley again started to control things with numerous chances all cleared off the line, the woodwork struck or Bignell making a number of excellent saves. The inevitable equaliser came on 65 minutes when a dangerous ball in was headed on by O’Donaghue for Aidan Noble to run onto and slot home. Five minutes later Bromley took the lead with a well worked goal ending with a well-placed Ackerman header. Gala had battled well up to this stage but the rest of the game was played out in their half with Bromley creating more chances. There could have been more goals but Gala fought to the end, and a 2-1 win for Bromley Heath was closer than perhaps it should have been.

Saturday 4th January

Only three matches this weekend and one important game at the top where Wick somewhat dented Frampton United’s title hopes and at the bottom are Quedgeley Wanderers starting their seemingly annual late run to get out of trouble.

Starting at Oldbury Lane, Wick took on Frampton United and despite the frosty conditions the pitch was in great shape for two teams chasing top spot. Wick started lively and two minutes in a great through ball set Cory Langdon away on goal but his shot was well saved by Tom Kaye with his feet. Shortly after Wick were unable to get a finishing touch to a scramble in the Frampton 6-yard area. But, on ten minutes Frampton had a chance with a shot that flashed just wide. 15 minutes in and Frampton were enjoying a good spell of pressure on Wick’s goal with a number of shots ending up wide. The hosts rode the pressure well and had their own good chance but the ball fell kindly to Kaye. It was end to end up until half time with both sides moving the ball about well. Wick were on the front foot for the second half and Langdon was away again and Kaye, again, saving with his feet. Wick maintained the pressure with a good cross fizzing across the box and evading everyone. On 65 minutes great work by Liam McCracken making room to hit a powerful shot, which Kaye half stopped only for Langdon to open the scoring for Wick.

Minutes later Kaye pulled off another great save to deny Wick a second, however, on seventy minutes another great through ball set Langdon away again and this time he found the net for his and Wick’s second. Ten minutes from time a Wick shot was blocked but Langdon was on hand for his hat-trick and 3-0. As the game entered its final stages Tom Mangan pulled one back for Frampton with a header into the top corner and two minutes into time added on Frampton increased the tension when Zac Tyres fired a shot into the bottom corner of the Wick net. With 8 minutes of added time Wick had to endure a final Frampton flourish to hold onto their lead for a 3-2 win and a game worthy of a top of the table clash.

At Waterwells Quedgeley Wanderers were looking to kick-start their season against Broadwell Amateurs and after only two minutes Sean Lawson was fouled in the box for a QW penalty which Jordan Rouse smashed into the top corner for 1-0, and soon after a great ball in by Rio Spencer left Lawson to miss a simple tap-in past Jack Watkins. Broadwell had their chances and a good delivery in was headed just wide, and on ten minutes Quedgeley’s Lawson put a good ball in and Alfie Pledger forced a good save from Watkins. QW were creating chances and another came when Harry Reynolds picked up the ball on the edge, beat two players only to try a chip that was just wide. But when chances are missed the inevitable happens and on 23 minutes a good Broadwell cross into the box left Nathan Davies to knock the ball past Nathan Charnock for 1-1. A period of both teams creating half chances followed and just before the break Spencer tried one from distance which was well caught by Watkins on the stretch. Broadwell had an early chance in the second half with Dan Brain involved down the left but the cross was well blocked for a corner. QW began to create, and a ball across the box by Harry Furniss was well cleared, and on 57 minutes QW won the ball high in the Broadwell half and worked it through the middle for Finlay Jenner to knock it home for 2-1. 

The game became a little scrappy before QW started to pressure without a final product. Ten minutes from time Broadwell had the ball in the box only for Aiden Creighton to knock the ball over and a few minutes later Charnock made a superb save to keep it at 2-1. Broadwell threw everything at QW but failed to break them down and a valuable three points for QW.

Hanham Athletic arrived at Pomphrey Hill with a very strong team hoping to improve on a fairly poor run of recent results against a Bromley Heath United side on a fairly good run of recent results, and within ten minutes Ben Ackerman had them in front with a well-placed header from Aiden Noble’s cross. As the half progressed both sides looked dangerous going forward with Bromley creating plenty of chances but paid for not taking them, when Karim Rendall rattled Bromley’s crossbar from distance, and Jordan Rickman got on to the end of the rebound and his deflected shot hit the back of the net for 1-1. Bromley were not daunted by this and deservedly regained the lead on thirty-five minutes after Ackerman won the ball with a good tackle and from there unleashed an unstoppable 25 yard shot into the bottom corner. The second half was always about the next goal and after starting the half the better of the two teams it was Bromley who grabbed it. A good move down the left saw the hardworking Aiden Noble send a ball into the box for Mason Lewis to appear from nowhere to slot the ball home. Bromley continued to create chances but it was Hanham who thought they should have had a penalty only for an offside decision to go against them before the foul. Hanham battled hard until the end with their best chance falling to Jay Vile who rattled the Bromley crossbar and the game ended 3-1 to Bromley who were on balance good value for their win.

By Matt Badcock RYAN COLE used to sneak into Newmarket Town’s ground to practice his free-kicks – now the EFL-bound starlet will be trying to break in at Wycombe Wanderers! The 19-year-old midfielder has been snapped up by the League One high-flyers after impressing on a recent trial. And with Big Ben’s New Year chime also signaling the opening of the transfer window for League clubs, you can bet he’s not the only one who will be on the move this month. Gateshead have seen talented midfielder Callum Whelan lured away by Carlisle United – while striker Owen Oseni has been snapped up by SPL outfit St Mirren – and fellow north-east outfit, Spennymoor Town, have seen Isaac Fletcher make the switch to Barrow. Non-League isn’t exactly an untapped resource for talented players but any clubs not operating a strong scouting network throughout the pyramid are certain to be missing out on some gems. Peterborough United have long been held as the poster club for the model of giving Non-League’s finest a chance, but Wycombe are enjoying success of their own. Top scorer Richard Kone was unearthed at Athletic Newham, Jasper Pattenden one of many success stories from Worthing. Cole will join the club’s development squad initially but his Newmarket Town manager Michael Shinn believes, in time, he can make the grade. He’s certainly a determined and resourceful player. As a youngster, Cole used to jump the fence – and remove panels – to slip inside the Jockeys’s ground along with fellow youth product Jacob Mingay. “It’s a funny story – as a kid him and Mingay used to break into the football club,” Shinn told The NLP. “I used to find it quite funny because I’d get a 

phonecall on a Sunday night, ‘Coley’s broken into the club, can you speak to him?’ “I’d have to say, ‘If you want to go in just ask me and I’ll give you the code! Stop breaking into the football club’.

“But they’d be in there practicing free-kicks. Last season and this season he’s scored so many free-kicks I always made the joke it was worth breaking into the football club and me getting grief because it’s turning out alright.”

Cole was an important part in the Suffolk club’s promotion through the Thurlow Nunn Premier play-offs last season and a key figure in the side playing at Step 4 football for the first time.

Blessed with a gorgeous left foot, Shinn says his ability made it easy to deploy him in a number of roles from left back, wing-back, the No.10, a front two and his natural central midfield position.

“When I first came to the club seven-ish years ago, I had a bit more time on my hands and I used to watch all the EJA (Eastern Junior Alliance) games – U13s, 14s, 15s, 16s – and he was somebody who stood out,” Shinn said.

“The further he went on – U15s, U16s – you just knew that when got to 16 you were going to put him in because he can do everything really.

“At 16 he was obviously going to make mistakes but we let him make mistakes and grow. He’s got better and better.

“For large periods of last season he carried us in games. It was no surprise teams eventually would show an interest.

“I am really pleased he’s got his opportunity to go to Wycombe and hopefully he can break in there at some point. It won’t happen straightaway, I’m sure, but being around it and improving every day, I’ve got no doubt he can play in the Football League.

“He can defend, he can score goals, he can get out of tight situations, one-v-one he is really good, he’s getting stronger and stronger.”