Category: News Post

Written by Matthew Rockwood

Roman Glass take the 3 points

Hellenic league champions Slimbridge travelled to Roman Glass this afternoon. The home side are coming off the back off a comfortable win against relegation threatened Cribbs on Bank Holiday Monday. Whereas Slimbridge are flying high off securing the league at Tuffley. 

Slimbridge started brightly and enjoyed the better of the opening five minutes, but despite their early dominance they were unable to trouble Roman Glass goalkeeper Alex Kovacevic.

The home side created their first meaningful chance on 15 minutes following a flowing team move, which ended with Neikell Plummer striking the post from 12 yards. Roman Glass made their pressure count four minutes later when they opened the scoring. Chris Lines delivered a floated corner into the box and Loui Ward rose highest to head past Slimbridge goalkeeper Alex Hammond.

Roman Glass continued to push forward and almost doubled their advantage soon after, but Alex Hammond was equal to Laurent Wilson’s effort with a fine save.

The second half began with another opportunity from a set piece from the home side, as Loui Ward headed wide from a Chris Lines corner. However, Roman Glass soon extended their lead. Matt Spiller won possession with a welltimed tackle before playing a lofted ball over the top for LaurentWilson to run on to, and the forward calmly rolled his finish through the legs of Slimbridge goalkeeper Alex Hammond to make it 2–0.

The away side responded almost immediately, pulling a goal back with their first effort on target. Jack W Smith produced a weaving run before driving a shot into the far corner beyond Alex Kovacevic.

On 81 minutes, Slimbridge goalkeeper Alex Hammond received a yellow card and was sinbinned for the remainder of the match, forcing outfield player Hadyn Evans to take over in goal.

The game was settled in injury time when Roman Glass captain Jennison Williams saw his shot saved by stand in goalkeeper Haydn Evans, but the rebound spun into the air. Substitute Joe McClennen reacted quickest, challenging for the loose ball and forcing it over the line to seal the victory for the home side.

Roman Glass line-up:

Kovacevic, Tierney, Spiller, Rudd, Lines, Ward, Stoneman (McClennen), Williams (c), Plummer (Hall), Hartley (Ono), Wilson. Unused: Anthony, Egan

Slimbridge line-up:

Hammond, Bell, Rodgers, Evans, Mara, Ponting (Smith), Shutt (Tainton), Stokes (c), Barnes (Haswell), Smith, Sully (Hitchings). Unused: Kang

Attendance 84

Written by: Matthew Rickwood

Picture credit: Cribbs “X” Account

Roman Glass made it seven wins from seven this afternoon with a 2-0 win against Cribbs. As the home side look to cement their place in the Hellenic league playoffs. Whereas Cribbs are still languishing in the relegation zone with just two games left of the season. Results recently for Cribbs had looked up with nine points from a possible 18, bringing them closer to survival.

No sooner had we took our seats, and Roman Glass had scored after twenty-four seconds. A long ball from Loui Ward over the top of the Cribbs defence allowed striker Elliott Gardener to run through and execute a delightful lob over Cribbs goalkeeper Aaron Greatbanks.

Another chance for the home side quickly followed two minutes later as a free kick gets whipped into the box and a bit of pinball allowed Loui Ward a free shot, but it was well saved by the Cribbs goalkeeper.

In the 6th minute the second goal should have come but Joe McClennen’s effort hit the post for Roman Glass.

The home side’s dominance continued as on 20 minutes when they struck the post again through winger Laurent Wilson.

The game continued a good battle in the midfield for the reminder of the half as Cribbs started to grow into the game.

Cribbs started the second half much better as on 47 minutes they carved out their first chance of the game through Oscar Sullivan, but it was straight at goalkeeper Alex Kovacevic.

Another bit of good play from Cribbs mid-way though the half from substitute Luca Ponsillo as he weaved his way into the Roman Glass box and his cross found striker Trayvion Jackson but again his shot was straight at Alex Kovacevic in the Roman Glass goal.

The game went into a bit of a lull then with Roman Glass having a few set-pieces taken by Chris Lines, but they were well defended by Cribbs.

Cribbs had a good chance to make the game all square with thirteen minutes left when Michael Barry broke free on the left and whipped a good ball into the box. However, there were no red shirts on the end of the cross.

The game was finally over on 78 minutes when Connor Hartley fired into the Cribbs goal from eight yards. It started with good work down the left by Laurent Wilson who cut the ball back to the edge of the box and a few intricate passes from the home side created the chance for the goal.

Roman Glass line up:

Kovacevic, Stoneman, Tierney, Budd (Ono), Lines, Ward, McClennen (Spiller), Williams (c), Gardner (Hartley), Plummer (Egan), Wilson. Subs not used (Hall)

Cribbs line up:

Greatbanks, Farrow, Lock, Smith (c), (Kendall), Davis, (Ponsillo), Sullivan, (Lee), Sweete, Sterling, Barry, Stock, (Scott), Jackson, (Oppong).

Attenance: 57

Matthew Rickwood was in attendance for the recent clash between Slimbridge and Droitwich Spa, offering a grounded, observer’s perspective on a game that turned dramatically on its head. Watching closely from the stands, he had the best view of the night.

Have a read of his report!

Droitwich suffer Slimbridge blues!

Slimbridge continue promotion form.

Slimbridge, on a six-game winning run before start of play and free scoring with a total of 23 goals in total. Currently, they are six points clear at the top of the table ahead of second place Worcester Raiders. 

The visitors, Droitwich Spa, have had an excellent debut season in the Hellenic league. However, they have had mixed fortunes in their last six games collecting 10 points from a possible 18, making them lose ground on the teams around them. 

The two teams played recently in the UHL challenge cup with Droitwich coming away with a 1-4 win. The reverse fixture resulted in a 0-6 win for Slimbridge back in August.

The game started with the visitors showing some early signs of intent with captain James Lemon having a shot over the bar. The first five minutes Slimbridge were struggling to settle as they showed nervous signs on the ball. 

The home side grew into the game over the next five minutes or so to even up to the tempo Droitwich had started with. 

In the 13th minute the away side showed their first good bit of play with James Lemon with a great run and shot towards goal, luckily it was straight at Stephen Sarkodie in the Slimbridge goal.

In the 21st minute the game got stuck in a rut with both teams seeming to turn to the long ball, which resulted in a compilation of head Tennis. However, this resulted in Slimbridge showing their first attack with Jack W Smith having a good run and cutting inside the full back but fired his shot wide of the goal. 

The best chance of the game fell to the visitors in the 33rdminute with a long throw into the box, a miscue header from Slimbridge full back Bogdan Mara, fell kindly for Alex Dugmore who tried an overhead kick but it just went over.

The deadlock was broken in first half stoppage time with Olly Sully. A fantastic individual effort in weaving in and out of four Droitwich defenders to fire past Joe Stockton in the Droitwich goal. 

The second half took a while to get going with the first chance coming from the home side six minutes into the half. That man Olly Sully got free down the right and whipped a great ball into the box but unfortunately there were no takers in the centre.

Just before the 60-minute mark we had a bad challenge on the Slimbridge goalkeeper by Perry Moss which resulted in a yellow card. This seemed to lead to a bit of ill discipline from the visitors and another two yellow cards followed shortly after. 

With twenty minutes left of the game Shiyak Sutherland created a great individually chance with quick feet but he fired straight at the goalkeeper. The home side continued to try and find the second of the game with great play with intricate passing resulting in a volley by Sam Blackie, which was well blocked by the Droitwich defence.

However, the second goal did come in the 84th minute with that man Shiyak Sutherland showing his quick feet to turn the centre half inside out and fire a shot into the goal. No sooner had we kicked of and the third goal followed a minute later. The Droitwich defence all at sea let a through ball from Joe Stokes go unchallenged and Jack Smith runs one on one with the goalkeeper and calmly takes it round him to pass into an empty goal.

Slimbridge line up: 

Sarkodie, Mara, Matthews, Kang (C), Giles, Haswell (Hitchings), Sully (Blackie), Stokes, Smith (Barnes) W Smith (Bell), Sutherland. Unused Rodgers.

Droitwich Spa line up:

Stockton, Brighton, Phillips (Levy), Rudd (Jackson), Saunston, Tilbury, Moss (Taylor-Randle), Tilley, Dugmore (Baldwin), Binner (Dallaway), Lemon (C)  

Attendance: 248.

Slimbridge 3-0 Droitwich Spa 

Written by Matthew Rickwood

@Mattrickwoo1