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Matches played 12th April 2025 by Mark Simpson
Wick continue chase at the top
The first thing decided this season is that Gala Wilton have been relegated following their midweek defeat at Cheltenham Civil Service who themselves look likely to follow them after this weekends defeat at Wick and with Quedgeley winning at home to Totterdown. At the top no real change, although, Frampton, Sharpness, and Filton all dropped points the latter two against each other.
Wick hosted Cheltenham Civil Service at the Nest where both sides had plenty to play for. The first half was a fairly low-key affair as both sides struggled to make the ball stick. Wick had the first chance on fifteen minutes, a Liam McCracken strike well saved by Jon Dix. Service’s first attempt five minutes later was a Leighton Blacker shot which was routine for Kai Wilson. The first big chance of the game came for Service at the start of the second half when Alin Neamtu was one-on-one but Kai Wilson saved Wick. The deadlock was broken in the 55th minute when a Cory Langdon lay-off was smashed in by Freddie Mogg. Wick finally found their rhythm and on-the-hour a short corner played by Bayley Rudge found Langdon who rolled it back to Rudge who expertly finished into the far corner via a post. Wick’s persistent pressure once again paid off in the 67th minute when Freddie Taylor-Fox played a one-two with Langdon and his fantastic back-heel allowed Taylor-Fox’s to toe poke in for 3-0. On 75 minutes Langdon was brought down in the box and he stepped up and smashed the penalty kick home. Not finished yet, two minutes to go, McCracken found Langdon with a fantastic pass and Langdon finished it expertly. Right at the end Service were down to ten with Blacker seeing red. So, 5-0 to Wick keeping the pressure on up at the top. |
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Almondsbury are into final straight and this time at The Field against Ruardean Hill Rangers. On 13 minutes a long free kick for Almonds from Hughes found O’Loughlin who headed just wide, and Hill fed Holver on the left of the box but he smashed his shot into the side netting. Almonds made the break through on 22 minutes, and what a goal it was! Lancastle with a half-volley into the top corner from 30 yards. There were a few half-chances for both sides but neither keeper was really troubled. On the hour Almonds were two up, a long free kick into the box from Hughes and Meacham rose above the defence and placed a pin-point header past Underwood. On 65 minutes Nicholls 25-yard shot was beaten away well by Underwood. Almondsbury managed the game well through to the end and a valuable 2-0 win to stay top.
Down at the bottom end of the table Quedgeley Wanderers played Totterdown United at Waterwells, a game that the home side made the stronger start with Nathan Payne playing a one-two with Harry Reynolds whose cross was turned away for a corner. Nathan Charnock then played a long ball to Rory Hunt in acres of space, who flicked it through to Fin Jenner whose shot was well stopped by Ashley Martin. Hunt had a couple of well-worked plays resulting in shots that were well defended by Frazer Clark and Jack Millard. Totts had a couple of chances with shots by Toby Carter and Jack Hearsey both saved by Charnock. QW finally broke the deadlock when Dave Cummings won a free kick in a dangerous position with Payne taking the kick, and powerfully hitting the ball around the wall and into the net. In the last attack of the half Payne dinked the ball to Jenner whose shot across the goal had no one to finish it off. QW started the second half positively and Reynolds had a 20-yard shot off the crossbar. Totterdown’s Jamie Godfrey was put through on goal but Charnock forced him wide for a corner. Issac Sulyman was a threat all game for Totts in the air had a header off the crossbar. However, in the last ten minutes. QW managed to double their score, a well taken corner by Hunt found its way to Cummings who found the net with a powerful header for 2-0 to Quedgeley, an invaluable win in light of Cheltenham Civil Service’s result at Wick |
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Stoke Gifford SGS United hosted Bromley Heath United at the Stoke Gifford Stadium, wanting to avenge a 3-0 reversal at Pomphrey Hill and continue to keep pressure on the other title candidates. And, after just 7 minutes SGS should have been in front, Jake Abraham firing wide when one-on-one. After 15 minutes he went close again, denied well by Will Ferguson after a slick Gifford attack. In terms of chances it was one way traffic, and Gifford found their opener from a set-piece, Ollie Stevenson rising highest to head home Aaron Sweete’s corner. Bromley’s first chance came 33 minutes in with Ben O’Brien heading over when free 8 yards out. Gifford found their second on 36 minutes when Patryk Kosciolek cut in from 25 yards and unleashed an absolute peach of a strike that bent into the top corner. It was almost three just before half time, when the energetic Josh Rees was denied by the feet of Ferguson. Gifford flew out of the traps at the beginning of the second period and extended their lead 90 seconds in, Kosciolek jinked inside and found the bottom corner of Ferguson’s net from 20 yards. On 50 minutes it was 4-0, Sweete found space from 22 yards out to curl into the bottom corner for end of the contest. Bromley did, however, continue to fight and Cam Ford drove over on the hour mark, and Olly Hanham fired across goal a few minutes later with no one to apply the finishing touch. Even with changes Gifford still looked potent in attack and substitute Logan Heyns was somehow denied, when he burst clear, by an excellent double save by Ferguson. The cherry on the cake came on 78 minutes when a rash challenge gave SGS a 30-yard free kick and Froilan Stella Lopez (Diego) curled in a majestic shot into the top corner giving Ferguson no chance. Bromley managed a consolation on 87 minutes with Aidan Noble heading in Ben Ackermann’s cross after an excellent break. A comprehensive 5-1 Stoke Gifford win, with some cracking goals keeping the pressure on up at the top.
At Hamfields neither side could find a scoring touch in a top of the table encounter between Sharpness and Filton Athletic. Both sides had their chances but both the keepers and the woodwork were on hand to deny them.Filton had a chance midway through the first half but Abdulrahman saw his effort off the post. Sharpness then had a chance to take the lead when |
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Frankham turned and hit an effort goal bound but Bradley pulled off a good diving save. Into the second half and Filton had a chance to break the deadlock when Thomas was sent through one-on-one with Holder, but the Sharks keeper pulled off a great save to deny him. Sharks captain Dummelow thought he had secured a late winner when he struck a curling effort towards the top corner but, somehow, Bradley got across and pulled off a wonder save to deny him and ensure Filton left with a point in a goalless draw which hasn’t really enhanced either sides title chances.
On a warm sunny day Chalford welcomed Frampton United to Highfield Road and it was Frampton who started off strongly with Chalford keeper Sam Neale making two very good saves inside fifteen minutes. Chalford settled into the game and both sides pretty much cancelled each other out for the first half. Chalford started the second half the stronger coming straight out after the hairdryer treatment from Buckland and Powell and on 65 minutes broke through, Locke passed a through ball to Maryon and with Locke sprinting forward, he got the return, and smashed it into the far corner. For the next 20 minutes the sides cancelled each other out again, but in the last five Frampton stepped up the pace and a free kick delivery set up Geddes who hit the ball home for 1-1 and a fair result from a good game.
Broadwell Amateurs suffered a frustrating afternoon at the Hawthorns as visiting Henbury & Rockleaze capitalised on early dominance and defensive lapses to take all three points. The game couldn’t have started in a worse fashion for the hosts as H&R scored in the opening minute with a swift move down the flank and a pinpoint cross finding Drew Sawdon unmarked in the box to head home giving Jack Watkins no chance. Shaken by the early setback, Broadwell almost responded in spectacular fashion when Jamie Creed unleashed a powerful strike which struck the crossbar. An enforced Broadwell substitution along with a couple of unforced errors allowed H&R to control much of the first half. The visitors doubled their lead on 38 minutes when Moran, who displayed impressive pace and composure outpaced the Broadwell defence down the right and cut in to |
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fire a rocket into the top corner for 2-0.The second half offered little change in tempo or fortune for Broadwell and despite periods of promising play, clear-cut chances were elusive. On 52 minutes Dan Brain’s curling effort from range did beat Harry Trett but struck the post and bounced away. Just five minutes later, Brain was involved again setting up Jamie Belfitt with a cross which was headed wide. H&R scored a third on 74 minutes, Broadwell’s misjudged attempt to play out from the back and a miscue followed by a slip from Watkins led Toms to slot into an empty net. Neither side managed another shot on target after that and 3-0 it ended for Henbury and Rockleaze who continue their good form.
Gala Wilton took on Hanham Athletic in their final County League game at Fairmile Gardens. The first half saw both sides play some good football on a hard surface, and it was Hanham who broke the deadlock on twenty minutes when a break down the left was squared to the far post for Liam Jenkins to score at the far post. Whilst Gala would have been keen to end their home league season on a positive note with a second half comeback, Karim Rendall was the scourge of Gala once again to ensure it didn’t happen. He made it 2-0 on the hour with a 20-yard lob over Curtis Watkins in the Gala goal. This was followed with a strike from inside the box on 70 minutes and completed with a late penalty just before full time for a comprehensive three points for Hanham Athletic. V |
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It’s that time of year again where we dust down the famous National Game Awards glass decanters and prepare to celebrate the big winners of the 2024-25 season – and we need your votes and nominations!
With plenty still to play for, of course, this year’s NGAs are very much up for grabs but our inbox is starting to fill up with some great suggestions and piks.
The NGAs will be held at AFC Wimbledon’s Plough Lane Stadium on Wednesday May 14. Once again, we are delighted to confirm that Isuzu UK have agreed to become title sponsors again, adding The NGAs to their current sponsorship of Non-League’s two premier cup competitions, the FA Trophy and FA Vase.
Isuzu UK continue to be a driving force behind grassroots football in the community with a large number of dealerships from all over the country becoming actively involved in their local clubs.
We remain proud and hugely grateful for their support and look forward to working closely with the Isuzu UK team when it comes to selecting the winner of our much-loved Unsung Hero Award.
The NGAs have become a Non-League institution over the years – and that’s thanks largely to the strong backing it receives – without this, we simply couldn’t honour the great and good of the Non-League game with our now iconic decanter, provided once again by our friends at Supreme Engraving . This year, we introduce to you a brand new award. With social media having an ever increasing presence in bringing football clubs closer to their communities, we have created a Digital Media Award to honour those who have provided the best content over various media platforms. |
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We are also delighted to welcome The Sports Circle to this year’s event. They will be honouring the Player of the Year for their outstanding contribution this year
UK teamwear and clothing company Moving Forward Sports are back for a second season; Community Club of the Year award is their category.
Huck Nets have once again put their name to the Goal of the Season accolade, while Reusch are also back — they couldn’t wait to once again get their hands on the sponsorship for this season’s Goalkeeper of the Year award.
Sports Ground Development are back to present the Manager of the Year award, while the Team of the Year Award will be as hotly contested as ever.
Our friends at Sportsbeat sign up once again – they didn’t need asking twice to support the Young Player of the Year, while SK Kits will honour Non-League’s top goal getter with the Golden Boot award.
The NLP Lifetime Achievement award is one of our personal favourites, while The Football Supporters’ Association Away Day Experience of the year recognises the efforts clubs make to cater for travelling fans . The FA are also back on board to acknowledge the winner of the Cup Run of the Year, judged on the FA Cup, Trophy and Vase. Tamworth and Sittingbourne, in particular, will fancy their chances there.
The Step 3&4 Player of the Year will be hotly contested as well with so many in so many staking their claim across those divisions.
The full list follows, let us know your choices at ngavotes@greenwayspublishing.com |
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Team of the Year Isuzu Unsung Hero Moving Forward Sports Community Club of the Year Sports Ground Development Manager of the Year The FA Cup Run of the Year Reusch Goalkeeper of the Year Step 3&4 Player of the Year Huck Nets Goal of the Season SK Kits Golden Boot The Sports Circle Player of the Year The FSA Away Day Experience Sportsbeat Young Player of the Year Digital Media Award The NLP Lifetime Achievement
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