Slick first-half show keeps Wick on course for title
WICK kept the destiny of the Gloucestershire County League title in their own hands with a 3-0 victory at Ruardean Hill Rangers.
Wick followed up their dramatic 2-1 midweek win against title rivals Shirehampton with a comfortable success against Rangers.
Austin Shopland fired Wick ahead on 19 minutes. Then, six minutes later, a long kick from the goalkeeper over the home defence found Luke Bryan, who took a touch, turned and drove the ball home.
Wick went 3-0 up on 28 minutes after good build up play ended with Ben Weaver turning his marker to drive the ball home.
Wick are now one point behind Shirehampton, but have two games left compared to one for the leaders. Next Saturday, Wick host Bromley Heath United, while Shirehampton visit Little Stoke. Wick then visit Hanham Athletic the following Wednesday.
In a derby at Little Stoke Park, Little Stoke beat Patchway Town 2-1, with a crowd of 105 in attendance.
The home side took the lead on 15 minutes with a spectacular strike from 30 yards from Alex Hill.
Five minutes later, they scored a second when Aaron West put Jayden Holver through to score.
In the second half, Joe Barnes missed a good chance for Patchway, but the visitors pulled a goal back late on when Sidou Bojang cut in from the flank and hit a great shot across the goalkeeper.
Resurgent Hanham Athletic moved above English Bicknor at the foot of the table with a superb 4-1 win at Frampton United.
Jack Jennings broke through the home defence on 14 minutes to open the scoring. In the 16th minute, a corner to the far post was headed back across goal for Paul Coles to head home. On 44 minutes, Jennings got his second when he turned his defender to slot home.
Early in the second half, the visitors grabbed a fourth goal when Coles got his second. Frampton pulled one back on 55 minutes when Ryan Ford lobbed the goalkeeper.
Henbury hammered English Bicknor 5-0 at Arnall Drive, thanks to second-half goals Warren Collins, Bradley Dack, Jenson Mannings, Kane Mannings and Aaron Anglin.
Bromley Heath United lost 2-1 at Gala Wilton, where both sides were reduced to 10 early on by the sending off of home goalkeeper Lewis Skyers and Bromley’s Sam Edwards. Sam Webb gave Gala a 42nd-minute lead, and Bromley went down to nine with the 80th-minute dismissal of Nathan Rose. Dan Gaynor’s penalty put Gala two up, then Cam Ford reduced the arrears.