Stroud & District Football League Division 2

Minchinhampton 2

Chalford Reserves 2

MINCH are on the fringes of the title race, but with all the top teams still to play they will have a big say in where the silverware ends up, writes Mark Cox.

The early running was made by the home side, but as the half progressed Chalford began to look the more dangerous side and midway through the half they took the lead.

Hesitancy in the Minchinhampton defence to present a chance for James Mason to hold off his marker and drive home a shot from 10 yards out.

Soon after this lead was almost doubled, but the same player saw his looping header acrobatically tipped on to the bar by the Minchinhampton keeper, Kieran Hart.

Minch drew parity when a deep free-kick from Ryan Edwards was sent into the Chalford box was brought down by player-manager, Nathan Buckland, and he swivelled sharply to drive the ball back across the keeper and into the net.

Undeterred, Chalford again mustered up a response and Seth Mack cut into the box and let fly with a shot which took a deflection hit the one post, then the other post and James Mason was the quickest to react smashing home the loose ball to give the visitors a narrow half-time lead.

The second period was again fiercely competed with a rash of cards dealt out perhaps too quickly given the hard fought but fair nature of the battle. Chalford had made some strange changes to their personnel and their formation and Minchinhampton began to dominate with Riki Noble, Ollie Portlock, Gig Arnold and Charlie Farrington winning the midfield battle.

Twenty minutes into the half the equalizer was duly found with an arrowing Josh Button corner finding Nathan Buckland to power home a header from close range. Soon after a rampaging run and cross from Liam St Clair Moore again found the head of Buckland and his guided header beat the keeper, but hit the crossbar as the home side looked for a winner.

Chalford, for their part, counter-attacked with their youthful players looking to use their pace but the Minchinhampton backline of Ash Hands, Ryan Edwards and Tom Beard were in mean mood and equal to everything Chalford had to offer although an effort late on from Ryan Harry needed a good stop from Kieran Hart and right at the death a curling shot from Matt Whitmore just evaded the far post and the match finished with a point apiece, which was probably a very fair reflection of the game.

Great matches from Chalford old boys Natty Buckland and Tom Beard but both were edged out for the man of the match by a top keeping performance from Kieran Hart.

Stroud & District Football League Division 6

Brockworth Albion Thirds 3

Minchinhampton Reserves 2

ON a very difficult pitch, Minchinhampton lost some ground in the four or five team battle for the divisional title.

After a slow start Minchinhampton found their feet and took the lead when Liam Linnane headed a Philip Ellis corner against the crossbar and Ed Gosling crashed home the loose ball through a congested penalty box.

Luke Halliday then doubled the lead with a fine free-kick driven over the keeper and into the net.

The second period saw changes to both sides and the changes seemed to suit Brockworth better as they snatched two quick goals to level the game.

Aaron Lines went close but drove his effort straight at the keeper and then lashed a shot wide of the post.

Brockworth counter attacked and profited when Ash Hallett save fell into the path of a supporting Brockworth player leaving a simple finish to give his side the lead.

In the dying minutes Ed Gosling had the chance to snatch a point from the jaws of defeat but saw his effort sail over the bar leaving the visitors to wonder what might have been but certainly to dust themselves down and start again as this title challenge is far from over.