Chairman’s Chat

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

Last Saturday witnessed a loss on penalties in the Gloucestershire County Cup away to league leaders Almondsbury, despite the loss there were plenty of positives with a good performances all over the pitch and ones we hope can be replicated in the league matches coming up between now and Christmas.

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

"When we were going through our 'new normal' and attending chemo and hospital appointments, we sat and talked about how you don't realise how many people are affected by cancer, we especially found it hard to know that children were going through this. So the charity has a long term goal of purchasing a caravan- "Nelmer's place" to be able to bring smiles to small faces and their families"

</table

	ADAM PARKES – CENTRE BACK Adam is another strong centre back who has proven during preseason to be equally strong in the air and with the ball at his feet. Adam likes to drive with the ball and maraud forwards. He can also bring a Delap style throw as his party trick.
	CAMERON TARR – CENTRE BACK Back after a lengthy spell on the sidelines with injury, Cam is a great addition to the side, bringing a wealth of experience. A strong, physical presence at back, Cam is excellent in the air and a handful for opposition forwards.
	MARCUS WILLIAMS (VICE CAPT) – MIDFIELD Club stalwart, after starting at Under 6’s with Rockleaze Marcus is equally adept at fullback or midfield. A tenacious player, Marcus is a nightmare to play against, winning a lot of ball, and whose low centre of gravity makes him very hard to dispossess.
	DREW SAWDON – MIDFIELD Hard hitting midfielder hailing from the North, 2023-24 Player’s Player of the Season, Drew enjoyed an outstanding first season in the 1sts, ending up as joint top goal scorer (16) as well as being a dominating presence in the midfield.

GFA cup ties not included

GLOS. COUNTY LEAGUE

Matches 9th November by Mark Simpson

Almondsbury stay top, but there is a chasing pack not a million miles behind and one of those clubs is Chalford who have made an impressive start following promotion from the GNSL, with Sharpness and Frampton United the closest of the pack. At the bottom Cheltenham Civil Service’s recent form has made their position look a lot less hopeless.

Starting at the Hallett Construction Pavilion, Hanham Athletic took on Chalford and indeed it was Hanham who had the lead on 5 minutes when a fantastic cross by Sam Archer was headed home by Mickey Golding. Chalford piled on the pressure and deservedly equalised on twenty when George Parker volleyed in unmarked from a corner. Eight minutes later with Hanham screaming for handball, Ben Minnican thundered the ball past Ashton Trott. It was 3-1 just before the break, when Hanham’s defence was pulled apart for the umpteenth time and Travis Cooke finished well into the corner. A huge mistake by Sam Neil in the Chalford goal let Hanham back in on the hour, letting a hopeful cross by Jordan Rickman through his hands. Chalford would have made it 4-2 but for a great goal line clearance from Sheldon Saunders and 3-2 to Chalford it remained.

To the Forest for the local derby, Ruardean Hill Rangers against Broadwell Amateurs, with Hill dominating early possession, and on 17 minutes a shot from Ollie Mason was palmed out by Jack Watkins and Kane Sampson tapped in. Broadwell began to build into the game and five minutes before half time Aaron Underwood spilled a Broadwell shot but managed to recover the ball. Broadwell started the second period well, with a lot of positive passes going forward. But, on 55 minutes Ruardean broke and earned a free kick 35 yards out which Steve Clark  

fired into the top right corner for 2-0. On 58 both teams were reduced to ten, Harry Knight a straight red Fin Jones a second yellow. On the hour Hill attacked down the left, Mason running past a defender and scoring with the outside of his boot from 7 yards. Ten minutes from time Broadwell crossed in and Aidan Creighton hit the ball on the half volley for 3-1. Five minutes later from a Broadwell corner the headed ball was just wide but in the end Hill took the points 3-1

At Pen Park it was honours even in a one-sided affair between Filton Athletic and Henbury & Rockleaze. Filton were out of the blocks from the off, an early Merrett cross out for a corner but Tom Fry was then caught offside. Moments later Merrett was put in again by Fry but his cross was over the top. The pressure continued and Venables crossed for Jack Cole to head straight at Jordan Dunning. A further Trey Merrett effort was blocked by Jordan Buckett. Still only 20 minutes gone when Kieran Cooper headed over Hillier’s cross. Five minutes before the break Merrett was through again from Jack Cutler but the on-rushing Dunning foiled him. The second half continued in the same vein, Filton having most of the ball and openings. Merrett shot just over, Fraser Venables’ shot well saved by Dunning, and Merrett drew another Dunning save from the resulting corner, Fry then headed another corner straight at Dunning. And after all that, the goal for the hosts came on 63 minutes as Merrett tapped in after Venables shot was well saved by Dunning. On 67 a rare H&R break saw Nick Jones cross go over. And after all the virtually continuous Filton pressure the inevitable happened when keeper Barry Phillips dwelt on the ball too long and allowed Joe Hodson to poke in the equaliser. And there it is! After virtually total domination Filton had to settle for a point at 1-1

Frampton United are probably the closest to Almondsbury at the top and they took on Totterdown United at the Bell Field in their first County League meeting. And, it didn’t take long for Frampton to open their account Myron Turner’s first minute shot from the edge creeping in off the post. Eight minutes later Joe Wilton’s cross beating the defence and George Driver-Dickerson was on hand at the back post to fire past Ashley Martin for two-nil. Totterdown’s Alex Silvester came close heading just wide from a corner. In the 55th minute Zak Tyers beat a couple of defenders, played the ball through to Tom Mangan who slotted past Martin for 3-0. Totterdown came close again, Chaz Hemmings heading on a cross which Jack Moon latched onto but his lob was just too high. Henry Driver-Dickerson was on the score sheet when his shot went through a crowd of players for 4-0. George Saunders was unlucky for the visitors when Tom Kaye pulled off a great save to deny him, and Totterdown finally got their reward when Mike Rimmer pulled a goal back. Frampton finished the scoring in the last minute when Manolo Espada’s shot deceived the keeper for 5-1 to Frampton.

A “six-pointer” at Tewkesbury Road between Cheltenham Civil Service and Quedgeley Wanderers and it was the visitors on the front foot with lots of set pieces and high press. But, it was Service who took the lead, breaking down the left and Cam Blacker with a nice finish, slotting past Nathan Charnock. Service started the second half with better football, creating lots of chances and indeed, Blacker scored his second from some good work in the box, a back heel by Riley Greenwood assisting a comfortable finish. Quedgeley attacked for the final twenty minutes but were unable to break down the home defence and a valuable 2-0 win for Service and a huge amount of work left for Quedgeley.

At Hamwells, Sharpness picked up back-to-back victories (this one against Gala Wilton) and another clean sheet. Sharpness scored all three goals in the first half, the first an own-goal when a James Tainton cross was inadvertently headed in! The Sharks doubled their lead when a goalmouth scramble ensued from a corner and Brad Gibbs was on hand to stroke the ball home. The third came when James Priday played a ball over the top of the Gala defence and Alfie Jones raced through and poked the ball past the advancing Oscar Bignall. Gala did come close to pulling a goal back after a well worked free kick sent Brad Loveridge through one-on-one with Holder who pulled off a smart save to deny him. The second half was a bit of a damp squib, all the damage done in the first half and a 3-0 Sharks win to keep their title challenge alive.

On a dull and grey Saturday afternoon at the Stoke Gifford Stadium a feisty battle ensued between Stoke Gifford SGS United and Wick. Early exchanges were pretty even, but it was only 12 minutes before the deadlock was broken Rudy Hill’s shot was saved by Kai Wilson and Maidment was first to react to score from close range. The rest of the half remained even, with both sides failing to put away some decent chances and second half remained much the same, both sides working hard for a goal. On the hour, Cory Langdon was left free at the back post to tap in the equaliser for Wick. SGS’s Hill had a looping header cleared off the line by Kyle Russell, and in the 72^nd minute that man Cory Langdon was on hand again to run on to a through ball and smash home his and Wick’s second goal. SGS responded, and threw everything at Wick, but Wilson was defiant. Two minutes in to time added on Harvey Moran was through for SGS but Wilson made a great save to keep Wick’s 2-1 advantage intact.

Finally, it was the turn of leaders Almondsbury to visit Pomphrey Hill to take on Bromley Heath United and with them four points clear at the top it looked as though it was going to be another routine win as they were ahead just eight minutes in when a speculative ball into the box was won in the air by Zac Morgan under challenge, and his looping header dropped into the net. Bromley reacted to this setback and created a few half chances themselves making sure Burgess was kept on his toes. The remainder of the half was pretty even with Almonds just edging possession but Bromley creating more. Bromley started the second half the stronger and from an early attacking corner had Burgess beaten but was narrowly over. Within minutes Alex Hill’s long range shot for Almonds was just over. The rest of the half saw both sides cancel each other out but, as in many games between two competitive sides one goal is often enough to decide things and this was no exception and three points to Almondsbury 1-0.

Saturday 16th November

At Bristol Barbarians RFC Totterdown United took on Gala Wilton in the last of the League Cup Quarter-Final ties. Gala started the brighter of the two sides retaining a lot of the possession. They had the first big chance when Jamie Creed took advantage of a short back pass but his finish was well wide of the goal. Totterdown grew into the game after the first 15 minutes and became the more threatening of the two sides hitting the post twice and having a goal chalked off for offside and with Oscar Bignall making a couple of good saves. The second half was much of the same with Totterdown looking threatening with every attack, and the most notable of the missed chances  

was Chaz Hemmings 5 yards out in the centre of the goal, scuffing his shot wide. It seemed like a case of when, and not if, Totterdown would score when Gala anyway, gave them a generous helping hand with one player forgetting he was playing football and turned to wrestling getting himself a red, and with another sin binned in the same passage of madness. Totterdown capitalised and scored a well worked goal ending with Jack Millard slotting the ball into the back of the Galas net. It was all Totterdown for the rest of the half with few more missed chances before Ollie Lovell finished the game off from a Jack Moon pass sealing a 2-0 victory for Totterdown United joining Henbury & Rockleaze, Frampton United and Quedgeley Wanderers in the semi-finals.

YOU know Christmas is approaching fast when the Step 1 sides enter the Isuzu FA Trophy – and the third round draw has thrown up some tasty ties!

Wembley is just five wins away. Just ask Gateshead what that meant last May when, after trading blows with Solihull Moors for 120 minutes, Dajaune Brown fired in the winning penalty in the shoot-out.

Can the Heed get back there again for a third year in a row having lost the previous final to FC Halifax Town?

Time will tell but the competition is already producing great storylines. Not least in the second round where some big Step 2 sides crashed out.

In total there are three Step 4 sides still standing. Brentwood Town pulled off one of the biggest upsets in round two after travelling to National League North Hereford and emerging victorious

.

Benas Vaivada slammed in an 82nd-minute winner for the Isthmian North outfit to secure one of their most famous days.

The reward? A home date with Southend United! It promises to be a full house.

They’re joined by Isthmian South East side Sittingbourne who are writing club history with their run.

In their previous guise of Telford United, the Bucks have lifted the Trophy three times. But it was a bad day for AFC Telford United last weekend as they fell to Southern League Division One Central Hadley 1-0. They’ve been handed a trip to Oxford City as they aim to keep their fairytale run alive.

There are intriguing ties in both the north and south sections of the draw.

Step 3 Chertsey Town – who knocked out Bath City last time out – host Dagenham & Redbridge, Hanwell Town welcome Eastleigh and Biggleswade Town’s run continues with a home clash against AFC Totton.

A real cracker comes in Berkshire where Slough Town face off against local rivals Maidenhead United. The NLP cameras will want to be at that one.

There’s a big derby in the north section too with Robbie Savage’s Step 3 Macclesfield – fresh from beating Curzon Ashton – off to Altrincham.

Stockton Town will be dreaming of an upset at home to Oldham Athletic, while Basford United take on FC Halifax Town.

Last year’s winners? Gateshead will play Farsley Celtic, while Solihull Moors entertain Radcliffe.

Wembley re-match anyone? After last year’s drama it wouldn’t be a bad thing but there will be plenty of others hoping to have a big say of their own.

SOUTH SECTION OF DRAW

Chertsey Town v Dagenham & Redbridge 

Braintree Town v Forest Green Rovers

Barnet v Aveley

Sutton United v Ebbsfleet United

Boreham Wood v Eastbourne Borough 

Aldershot Town v Wealdstone 

Oxford City v Hadley

Woking v Havant & Waterlooville

Sittingbourne v Enfield Town

Torquay United v Horsham

Yeovil Town v Weymouth

Chesham United v Salisbury

Biggleswade Town v AFC Totton 

Hanwell Town v Eastleigh 

Brentwood Town v Southend United 

Slough Town v Maidenhead United 

Worthing v Gosport Borough 

Hampton & Richmond Borough v Hashtag United

                               FRAMPTON UNITED