The weather is turning from Sunday so make the most of it!!!!
The Isuzu FA Vase First Round Proper takes center stage this weekend and we have strong representation with home games for Slimbridge, Hallen, Fairford Town, Cirencester Town, FC Stratford and Malmesbury Victoria. Travelling we have Highworth Town, Cinderford Town, Thornbury Town (to Fairford Town), Droitwich Spa, Corsham Town, Lydney Town, Newent Town and Shortwood United. There are some very long trips ahead, most notably; Lydney Town (who were supposed to be going to Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police – susequently expelled for playing an ineligible player) and now they are travelling to Helston Athletic in sunny Cornwall and Newent Town travelling to Barnstaple Town. Good luck to all of our teams and keep the UHL flag flying high.
In the UHL Premier Division which kicked off on Friday with Slimbridge v Thornbury Town, Slimbridge continued their pursuit of the big prize with a 1-0 home win v Thornbury Town. It was a late strike in the 87th minute which sealed the 3 points. On Saturday, fellow top 3 club Droitwich Spa were held to a 0-0 away v Cinderford Town, while top placed Roman Glass St George travelled to Tuffley Rovers and won 3-2. I was involved in this game and it really was an entertaining one. Roman Glass St George were 2-0 up at half time, even though Tuffley Rovers had hit the post twice and had other good chances. Roman Glass St George added a 3rd goal in the 87thminute which seemingly put the result firmly their way, only for Tuffley Rovers to score in the 88th and 89th minute and no doubt cause some ‘squeaky-bum’ time on the Roman Glass St. George bench. Cirencester Town hit 6 without reply in the home win v Lydney Town, Corsham Towntravelled to Worcester Raiders and won 3-1, Pershore Town travelled to Mangotsfield United and won 2-0 with their 2nd goal coming in the 92nd minute, Cribbs won 1-0 at home v Fairford Town, Hereford Pegasus won 3-2 at home v Longlevens, despite being 2-0 down up to the 53rd minute, Hallen v Highworth Town finished 2-2 in a game that Hallen were leading 2-0 at halftime and Westfields v Royal Wootton Bassett Town ended 1-1. On Tuesday Slimbridge travelled to Worcester Raiders and won 1-0 with a 92nd minute goal scored by Dan Hannson. This leaves the top 3 grouped very closely together with a little gap developing below them. At the bottom sit Lydney Town, but there are still plenty of games to go.
In UHL Division One, we only had 3 games due to the majority of teams being involved in UHL Challenge Cupgames. The games that did take place included a 7-goal thriller between Shortwood United and FC Stratford which was 3-0 to FC Stratford at halftime. The second half produced 4 more goals with FC Stratford eventually winning 4-3. Woodford United won 2-0 at home v Clanfield 85 and Alcester Town won 1-0 v Chipping Sodbury Town. FC Stratford moved into 3rd place and Clanfield 85 stayed 2nd bottom. The UHL Challenge Cupgames included some fixtures that produced a glut of goals. Current D1 leaders Bewdley Town hit 12 goals at home v lower division Evesham United Reserves, Brimscombe & Thrupp hit 10 at home v lower division Kidlington FC Development and Wantage Town hit 6 at home v lower division Ardley United FC Reserves. Carterton appear to be hitting some form and won 3-0 at home v Redditch Borough, Stonehouse Town won 3-1 at home v University of Bristol, Malmesbury Victory won 2-0 at home v Thame United Reserves, Wellington won 2-1 away v Ludlow Town and Cheltenham Saracens and Newent Town drew 1-1, with Cheltenham Saracenswinning 6-5 on penalties.
On Tuesday night we had Wiseman Lighting (UHL) Floodlit Cup action with Chipping Sodbury Town winning 4-1 away v Brimscombe & Thrupp, Carterton winning 4-2 at home v Kidlington FC Development, Malmesbury Victoria winning 5-1 at home v University of Bristol, Shortwood United winning 2-0 v Bourton Rovers Development, Stonehouse Town winning 2-1 v Clanfield 85, Hungerford Town Reserves beating Marlow FC Reserves 3-2 and Thames United Reserves winning 5-3 v Ardley United FC Reserves.
Wednesday included Wantage Town travelling to Banbury United Dev and winning 3-0 in the Wiseman Lighting (UHL) Floodlit Cup, 3 x Hellenic Veterans Premier Division games and 2 x Hellenic Veterans Division One Games.
May the ball roll sweetly for you all,
Regards,
Ian