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  • Weekly update 27/03/26

    Weekly update 27/03/26

    A full fixture list completed over the past weekend, mainly in glorious sunshine!

    The Isuzu FA Vase semi-finals are taking place tomorrow with pride of place for the UHL in the hands of Hallen. These games are played over two legs with Hallen at home v AFC Stoneham in the first leg and away next Saturday in the second leg. AFC Stoneham play in the Velocity Wessex League Premier Division and currently sit top of the table having only lost two league games. Hallen have raised their game in this competition so far and we wish them all the very best to do the same over the two legs. A day out at Wembley Stadium is very much within their grasp. 

    In the UHL Premier Division last Saturday the league leaders and the chasing pack all maintained their places although Cirencester Town swapped places with Corsham Town to move into the last play-off place. Current leaders Slimbridge won 2-0 away at Thornbury Town with the 2ndgoal coming in the 94th minute.  Droitwich Spa hosted Highworth Town and won 1-0, Worcester Raiderstravelled to Royal Wootton Bassett Town and won 2-0 with two first half goals. Cirencester Town travelled to play Hereford Pegasus and led 1-0 at half time. A second half triple with goals in the 61st, 64th and 67th minutes saw them win 4-0. Corsham Town travelled to Mangotsfield Unitedand drew 2-2 with a healthy 305 in attendance. Fairford Town were held to a 1-1 draw away at Hallen and Cinderford Town continued their good form with a 2-1 home win v Westfields. Longlevens v Cribbs ended 1-1. In midweek Slimbridge continued in pole position with a Jack W Smith hattrick to thank in the 5-goal thriller at home v Corsham Town. Worcester Raiders travelled to Cinderford Town and won 3-1 to continue in 2nd place and 3rd placed Droitwich Spa were held at home 2-2 by current bottom of the table Lydney Town. Fairford Town drew 1-1 at home v Pershore Town, Tuffley Rovers travelled down to play a resurgent Hallen and lost 3-0. Mangotsfield United and Hereford Pegasus shared a 2-2 draw. Games are now catching up and it is still very much in the melting pot as to the Divisional Winner position and the play-off positions. 

    In UHL Division One on Saturday, leaders, FC Stratfordhosted Ludlow Town who were mid-table and the game finished 1-1.  2nd placed Wantage Town travelled to fellow play-off placed Cheltenham Saracens and won 2-0. Bewdley Town hosted Thame United Reserves and won 4-1. Stonehouse Town travelled to Clanfield 85 and won 2-0. Newent Town travelled down to Chipping Sodbury Town and regular goal scorer Dylan Hart scored two goals in the 3-0 win. Malmesbury Victoria travelled up to Alcester Town and won 1-0 with an 8th minute goal. Redditch Borough hosted Carterton and the game was evenly poised at 2-2 at half time. The game ended 4-3 to Carterton with an 89th minute own goal settling matters. Brimscombe & Thrupp won 4-1 at home v Woodford United with 3 of their goals coming in the 2nd half. Shortwood United continued their climb up the table with a 2-0 away win v Wellington. In Midweek, only Cheltenham Saracens of the current top 5 played. They travelled to Redditch Borough and won 3-1, Newent Town travelled across to Carterton and drew 2-2, Malmesbury Victoriatravelled to play Shortwood United and drew 0-0, Alcester Town hosted Woodford United and won 6-0, Brimscombe & Thrupp travelled to Clanfield 85 and after their 4-1 win on Saturday, they hit another 4 to win the game 4-0. Woodford United made the long trip to Shortwood Unitedon Thursday evening and won 3-2. 

    In the Batemans Sport Alliance Chairman’s Challenge Cup on Saturday, we had wins for Marlow Res, Easington Sports Dev, Banbury United Dev and Wantage Town U23. 

    In the Alliance East on Saturday, Ardley United Res won 4-3 v Eversley & California Res. In midweek, Hungerford Town Res v Ardley United Res finished 6-1. 

    In the Alliance West in midweek, Bourton Rovers Dev v University of Bristol ended 0-1. 

    In the Vets Premier Division we had wins for Didcot Town Old Boy and Watlington Town Wanderers. 

    In the Vets Division One, we had wins for Bicester Town, Henley Town and Watlington Town Old Boys.

    In the GFA Challenge Trophy in midweek, the all UHL Derby between Stonehouse Town in D1 and Longlevensin the Premier ended 2-0 to Stonehouse Town. The other UHL team playing in midweek; Roman Glass St Georgeone 2-0 away v Bitton of the Western League. 

    Great to see Westfields winning their midweek HFA Challenge Cup Semi-Final v Bromyard to progress into the Final. 

    We have chosen Brimscombe & Thrupp FC to host our Chairman’s Cup and Presidents Cup Finals on Saturday 25th April. These games will kick off at 1.00pm and 4.30pm. Thanks to all clubs that made the offer to host, we do try to move the Finals around to different venues to give all clubs the opportunity to host. 

    Finally, it is of course the UHL Challenge Cup and Supplementary Challenge Cup Finals this Sunday. They are being hosted at Hereford Pegasus. The Supplementary Challenge Cup Final kicks off at 1.00pmand features Shortwood United v Newent Town. The Challenge Cup Final kicks off at 4.30pm and features Hereford Pegasus v Droitwich Spa. Come on down for what will hopefully be two really good games. 

    There is so much football going on at the moment, I apologize if I have missed anything. 

    Time to catch my breath, 

    Regards, 

    Ian

  • Weekly Update – 20/02/26

    Weekly Update – 20/02/26

    From what looked like being a complete washout last weekend, things actually turned out far better than expected. If we end up with a hosepipe ban this summer, perhaps it’s time for the Hellenic Lawyers to take on the water companies! Cheltenham today has delivered what feels like four seasons in one day, so let’s hope for a return to some settled, dry weather.

    In the Isuzu FA Vase 5th Round last Saturday, Hallen produced an outstanding performance, beating Gornal Athletic 3–0. Harrison Fairman grabbed two of the goals in a superb display that sees Hallen progress to the quarter-finals. They have another home tie on 28th February, which I’ll highlight again in the coming weeks — a great occasion for the club.

    In the UHL Premier Division, with several sides involved in cup action, we had three league fixtures last weekend. Corsham Town travelled to in-form Cinderford Town and were beaten 3–1. Tuffley Rovers made the trip to Pershore Town and came away with an impressive 3–0 win, with the ever-reliable Karnell Chambers once again finding the net. Royal Wootton Bassett Town hosted Westfields and continued their steady climb up the table with a convincing 3–0 victory. Longlevens v Cribbs fell victim to Friday’s downpours despite Longlevens’ best efforts to get the game on.

    On Tuesday evening, Lydney Town hosted Hereford Pegasus, with Pegasus running out 2–1 winners. Fairford Town travelled to Westfields and continued their own climb up the table with a 2–0 victory. Reports suggest both pitches were in excellent condition despite recent flooding, so huge credit must go to the grounds staff at Lydney and Westfields for their hard work.

    In the UHL Challenge Cup, Hereford Pegasus edged past Highworth Town 1–0. Slimbridge made the short trip to Stonehouse Town for a Gloucestershire derby and secured a 3–1 win. Worcester Raiders faced a long journey to Mangotsfield United, with the match finishing 2–2 in normal time before Raiders prevailed 5–3 on penalties.

    In the Wiseman Lighting Floodlit Cup on Tuesday, Highworth Town made the long midweek journey to Alcester Town and returned with an emphatic 5–0 win, including a hat-trick from Bonsa Teshome. Cribbs hosted Longlevens but were beaten 3–1.

    In UHL Division One, five league matches were played on Saturday. FC Stratford maintained top spot with a 2–0 away win at Ludlow Town. Wantage Town kept up the pressure with a 2–1 home victory over Brimscombe & Thrupp. Malmesbury Victoria were narrowly beaten 3–2 by Clanfield 85 in a five-goal thriller. Cheltenham Saracens drew 2–2 with Thame United Reserves, with Thame equalising in the 88th minute. Wellington enjoyed a welcome 4–1 win over Chipping Sodbury Town. Redditch Borough v Bewdley Town was postponed.

    In the UHL Supplementary Challenge Cup, Shortwood and Hungerford Town Reserves drew 1–1 before Shortwood triumphed 4–2 on penalties. In midweek, Marlow Reserves beat Thame United Reserves 3–1.

    Finally, in the Batemans Sports Alliance Challenge Cup, Evesham United Reserves hosted Banbury United Development but were beaten 7–1.

    Let’s hope for a full programme and plenty of football to enjoy this weekend.

  • 🔥 HELLENIC LEAGUE – AS IT STANDS 🔥 7/02/26

    🔥 HELLENIC LEAGUE – AS IT STANDS 🔥 7/02/26

    Where promotion dreams are alive, mid-table is chaos, and the bottom is clinging on for dear life…

    🏆 THE TITLE RACE: Blink and You’ll Miss It

    At the summit, Droitwich Spa are setting the pace with 57 points from 28 games. Not flawless, but consistent enough to keep everyone else nervously checking the fixtures list.

    Hot on their heels are Roman Glass St George, who’ve played more games but are still very much swinging punches at the top two. Meanwhile, Slimbridge are lurking ominously in third with games in hand and the best goal difference of the lot – the kind of team nobody wants to see hit form in March.

    Add Worcester Raiders and Corsham Town into the mix and suddenly we’ve got five teams separated by just six points. This isn’t a title race – it’s a full-on street fight.

    🚀 THE PLAY-OFF DOGFIGHT: Elbows Out

    Cirencester Town sit just outside the top five, refusing to go away quietly, while Mangotsfield United are clinging onto mid-table respectability with a goal difference that screams “fine margins and squeaky bum time.”

    From 7th to 13th, it’s absolute Hellenic League chaos. One good Saturday and you’re looking up. One bad one and you’re staring nervously over your shoulder.

    Tuffley Rovers, Longlevens, Fairford, Cinderford, Hereford Pegasus and Westfields are all separated by vibes rather than points. Consistency here is optional. Drama is guaranteed.

    😬 THE DANGER ZONE: Welcome to the Stress Factory

    Down the bottom, things get spicy.

    Highworth Town and Royal Wootton Bassett Town are hovering awkwardly above the trapdoor, while Pershore Town and Thornbury Town are knee-deep in the scrap and still arguing with gravity.

    Then it gets serious.

    Lydney Town are taking punches weekly with a brutal goal difference, Hallen are fighting hard but need wins fast, and Cribbs are deep in survival mode – calculators out, fixtures circled, prayers whispered.

    For Hallen in particular, games in hand offer hope, but the margin for error is officially gone. Every match now feels like a cup final… minus the champagne.

    ⚽ THE VERDICT

    Top: Five teams, one trophy, zero breathing space Middle: Pure anarchy Bottom: Survival instincts only

    If you like drama, late winners, angry WhatsApp groups, and league tables that change faster than referee appointments… the Hellenic League has you covered.

    And honestly? We wouldn’t have it any other way. 🍿🔥

    Cover Photo Credit: Phil Britt

    Written By : AI