Glos County Little Stoke hope returning players revive fortunes

ASH Coles is keeping everything crossed hoping that the imminent return of several influential players can help push his Little Stoke triers in the right direction again.

His team could hardly have begun their Marcliff Gloucestershire County League campaign in better fashion, with successive victories from the off over Henbury (4-1), Patchway Town (3-2) and Ruardean Hill Rangers (2-0).

Then the dip, a 1-0 home reverse at the hands of Wick followed up with 3-0 and 3-1 defeats by English Bicknor and Quedgeley Wanderers respectively, although Little Stoke did overcome struggling Hanham Athletic 2-0 at home in a more successful Les James League Cup opener. Little Stoke attempt to reverse their fortunes again tomorrow when they play host to a Hardwicke outfit without a win in six attempts. The Gloucester team did, however, see off Rockleaze Rangers 2-0 on their travels amid their own early League Cup commitments, a fact Coles and Co will no doubt have noted.

“We’re even-stevens going into Saturday: three wins, three losses,” Coles stated. “We made a good start and even in going down 1-0 to Wick, we gave as good as we got and they managed to just pip us in the second half. Our last two games have been disappointing.

“Our football was actually good against English Bicknor; but we missed umpteen chances and made three mistakes costing us all three goals. Fair play to Bicknor, they were big and strong and didn’t relent for the entire 90 minutes. But at 1-0 down we hit their bar and post, missed a couple of one-onone opportunities, and their keeper had one of those inspired days when nothing was ever going to beat him.

“Against Quedgeley we looked good for the first 20 minutes and went 1-0 up through Jaiden Holver, only to take our feet off the pedal and allow them back into the game. We were probably better than them in the second half; but again we were off colour.”

Coles emphasised: “It’s not an excuse; we’re having to make so many changes week in, week out. Not being able to get anything like a settled side hasn’t helped at all.

“That’s no slight on the lads; they’re all prepared to work hard for each other, and their attitudes to a man have been great.

“Things were looking positive during pre-season; we were scoring lots of goals and not shipping too many. Given that, it didn’t surprise me that we took that form into the start of the season.

“We showed during those early stages we can compete well with teams at the higher end of the table. Now, with more bodies available to me, I see no reason why we can’t replicate that.”

The Little Stoke supremo has been heartened by the return to duty of a clutch of key personnel, including goalkeeper Connolly Jarrett, defender Alex Fox, central midfielders Alex Hill, Lewis Hughes and Matt Tovey, plus striker Luke Meacham who, like Tovey, is yet to kick a ball in anger this term due to injury troubles. It led Coles to conclude: “Having that lot back should give us a lot more strength.”

Also kicking off at 3pm tomorrow, unbeaten Shirehampton strive to extend their three-point advantage at the summit with three more from their away-day with Patchway Town. Hard on Shire’s heels in third spot, Wick host English Bicknor, while there are home fixtures too for Henbury, against Hanham Athletic, and Bromley Heath, who welcome undefeated Frampton United to Pomphrey Hill HQ.

Rockleaze Rangers seek to reverse a run of league losses when they visit in-form Gala Wilton.