Bamford hat-trick keeps Shire in with chance of the title

SHIREHAMPTON finished their season with an excellent 4-0 win at Little Stoke, with leading goalscorer Scott Bamford hitting a hat-trick. They now have to sweat on the result between Hanham Athletic and Wick on Wednesday to see if they will win the title and potential promotion.

Little Stoke produced the fist chance on goal on 16 minutes when Luke Meacham found Jude Scott but he missed the goal from close range.

That miss proved costly as Matt McCall gave Shire the lead a minute later. Bamford then made it 2-0 on the half-hour mark after latching on to a poor back pass.

Bamford struck again on 50 minutes, and completed his hat-trick 10 minutes later with a penalty.

Wick stayed one point behind Shire with a 2-1 home win against Bromley Heath United, but will need to win at Hanham on Wednesday to secure the title as a draw would leave them in second with an inferior goal difference.

Wick took the led on 37 minutes when Ben Weaver’s cross was met at the far post by Joe Thomas, who smashed a volley into the Bromley net.

With half-time looming, Bromley drew level when Cameron Gardiner headed home from corner.

Wick retook the lead in the 55th minute when Jay Malpas stroked home a loose ball from 20 yards.

Patchway Town went down 2-0 at home to Broadwell Amateurs.

Patchway’s first effort on 25 minutes came from Matt Davies but his shot was saved.

Ethan Wilkins broke into the Patchway box on 75 minutes and hit an unstoppable shot past the home goalkeeper to break the deadlock. Wilkins then scored his second on 85 minutes with a shot that flew into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Henbury travelled to Quedgeley Wanderers knowing that the point they gained in midweek from a 0-0 draw against Bromley Heath United would keep them up so the pressure was off.

First goal of the game saw a great strike from Henbury’s Jenson Mannings find the net from 30 yards out.

Then, in the 42nd minute, Brandon Dack tapped in from close range to make it 2-0. A 45th-minute penalty saw Quedgeley’s Jack Hornsby make it 2-1.

Henbury got their third goal on 70 minutes. Quedgeley were sloppy in midfield and Dack grabbed his econd goal of the game.

In the last minute, a great strike from Henbury brought the best out of Wanderers goalkeeper Ben Holborough.