Hardwicke battle for a point

COUNTY League bottom side Hardwicke took a 2-2 draw from their home clash against Little Stoke.

Stoke took the lead twelve minutes in when Aaron West’s corner was volleyed in off the crossbar by Luke Meacham.

They had the next chance, Reuben Neevo Draper striking from outside the box, keeper Cameron Wilce pulling off a good save.

Hardwicke pushed forward for an equaliser and George Ganley’s header saw Goraz Gigov pull off a spectacular save.

But they levelled 10 minutes from the break equalised when Josh Varis Riddler’s 25 yard shot was spilled by Gigov and Ganley’s effort found the net off a defender.

Hardwicke took the lead on 55 minutes when Henry Birkett’s 30 yard free kick flew past the Stoke wall into the net, but Little Stoke equalised on 67 minutes, Liam Jenkins crossing for Phil Vice to tap in.

The top two in Northern Senior League, Division One had to settle for a point each from 1-1 draws on Saturday,

Ben Dolbear netted for leaders Dursley Town, but they were held by Brockworth Albion, thanks to Matt Cairns.

Meanwhile, Lee Smith’s goal for secondplaced Tredworth Tigers was not enough for a win thanks to Franklin Ojukwu’s reply for Smiths Barometrics.

Longlevens Reserves closed the gap in third place as a hat-trick for Matt Emmett and one for Fin Clift saw them to a 4-0 win over Lydney Town Reserves.

The other game to beat the weather saw FC Lakeside beat Stonehouse Town Reserves 3-0 with two goals for Joe Richards and one for Will Arkell.

Three games survived in Division Two with Luke Roberts’ hat-trick helping Viney St Swithins to a 4-0 win over Leonard Stanley, Matt Addis with the other goal.

Josh Holford and Stuart Maule netted as Frampton United Reserves beat Mushet & Coalway 2-0, and Richard Gamble scored to give Falcons a 1-0 win at Cheltenham Civil Service Reserves.