At this time of year I try to get as many midweek games in featuring teams who do not have floodlights. Obviously, once the nights draw in, it's only possible to get to see these teams during weekend games. So on Wednesday, having managed to get all of my meetings cleared up, I set off on the trek West towards Hardwicke for their re-arranged Reg Davis Memorial Cup Quarter-Final with Smith Barometrics. The original game, last week, had been abandoned after a serious injury to a Smiths player.
Both teams currently play in Division One of the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League, although Hardwicke were relegated from the Gloucestershire County League, after 10 seasons, in May. Their glory years came back in the mid to late 2000s when they won the County League and then the Hellenic League Division One West in back to back years, before dropping back to the GNSL. Smiths Barometrics, in their various guises, have been a fixture of the GNSL for many years. They regained their Division 1 status at the end of the 2021-22 season, finishing third behind Stonehouse Town Reserves and FC Lakeside.
The road to this quarter-final tie had seen both sides play two previous games. Hardwicke saw off Painswick 2-1 in the First Round then followed it up with a 3-0 victory at Cheltenham Civil Service Reserves. Smiths won 6-1 at Woolaston in the first round and then edged past Lydbrook Athletic, 3-2, to get to the quarters. Last season's winners, Brockworth Albion, fell at the first hurdle, going down 2-1 at Bibury.
A big thank you to match referee Garry Collier for allowing me to photograph both team sheets before kick-off.
Both teams currently play in Division One of the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League, although Hardwicke were relegated from the Gloucestershire County League, after 10 seasons, in May. Their glory years came back in the mid to late 2000s when they won the County League and then the Hellenic League Division One West in back to back years, before dropping back to the GNSL. Smiths Barometrics, in their various guises, have been a fixture of the GNSL for many years. They regained their Division 1 status at the end of the 2021-22 season, finishing third behind Stonehouse Town Reserves and FC Lakeside.
The road to this quarter-final tie had seen both sides play two previous games. Hardwicke saw off Painswick 2-1 in the First Round then followed it up with a 3-0 victory at Cheltenham Civil Service Reserves. Smiths won 6-1 at Woolaston in the first round and then edged past Lydbrook Athletic, 3-2, to get to the quarters. Last season's winners, Brockworth Albion, fell at the first hurdle, going down 2-1 at Bibury.
A big thank you to match referee Garry Collier for allowing me to photograph both team sheets before kick-off.
Early Wickey pressure The hosts in their yellow shirts took the initiative early on and were rewarded with a goal as early at the seventh minute. Danger man Alex Stratford burst up the right flank and attempted to float a cross toward the far post. However, the cross was slightly misjudged and, instead of finding the head of a striker, it dipped in at the far post. 1-0. They all count as the saying goes.
Smiths right-back, Luke Walsh, was the first of the visitors to get a strike off towards the home goal. His 12th minute, 20-yard volley, running onto a half-clearance, whistled just wide of Cameron Wilce's goal. Barometrics, who were now trying to get back into the game, came even closer in the 18th minute. Striker Chay Gambrell collected the ball some 20 yards out and way out on the left. His curling, dipping effort beat Wilce but crashed against the joint of post and bar before flying to safety.
Those two chances were quickly followed by one at the other end. It came, once again, down the right and through Stratford. He beat his man before delivering another cross into the mix. Taro Weston just about beat his marker to the ball but, under challenge, could only glance his header over the bar. As play switched from one end to the other, Wilce was very sharp off his line to get to a through ball before Smiths captain Louis Hyde. Then, just before the half-hour mark, Smiths were once again very unlucky. Hyde's powerful, low drive beat Wilce but smashed off the foot of the far post before cannoning off defender Jacob Waddington and going out for a corner.
After that burst of goalmouth action, the clear cut chances dried up a little at both ends before, in the 39th minute, Stratford caused yet more chaos up the right. His weaving run took him to the by-line before he cut back for full-ball Sean Clarke, bursting into the 6-yard box, to flick the ball over the keeper, only to see it narrowly beat the far post too.
HT Hardwicke 1 Smiths Barometrics 0. A strange half in a some ways. Hardwicke took the lead early on with a fortunate goal, and had more possession than their visitors. However, Smiths could count themselves a little unfortunate to be behind after seeing two strikes come back off the woodwork.
Smiths right-back, Luke Walsh, was the first of the visitors to get a strike off towards the home goal. His 12th minute, 20-yard volley, running onto a half-clearance, whistled just wide of Cameron Wilce's goal. Barometrics, who were now trying to get back into the game, came even closer in the 18th minute. Striker Chay Gambrell collected the ball some 20 yards out and way out on the left. His curling, dipping effort beat Wilce but crashed against the joint of post and bar before flying to safety.
Those two chances were quickly followed by one at the other end. It came, once again, down the right and through Stratford. He beat his man before delivering another cross into the mix. Taro Weston just about beat his marker to the ball but, under challenge, could only glance his header over the bar. As play switched from one end to the other, Wilce was very sharp off his line to get to a through ball before Smiths captain Louis Hyde. Then, just before the half-hour mark, Smiths were once again very unlucky. Hyde's powerful, low drive beat Wilce but smashed off the foot of the far post before cannoning off defender Jacob Waddington and going out for a corner.
After that burst of goalmouth action, the clear cut chances dried up a little at both ends before, in the 39th minute, Stratford caused yet more chaos up the right. His weaving run took him to the by-line before he cut back for full-ball Sean Clarke, bursting into the 6-yard box, to flick the ball over the keeper, only to see it narrowly beat the far post too.
HT Hardwicke 1 Smiths Barometrics 0. A strange half in a some ways. Hardwicke took the lead early on with a fortunate goal, and had more possession than their visitors. However, Smiths could count themselves a little unfortunate to be behind after seeing two strikes come back off the woodwork.
Smiths look for a way back Smiths were back out and ready to go way before Hardwicke and the referee. Their desire to get on with it also showed in the balance of play in the early part of the second half. The visitors seeing much more of the ball then in the first period, but not managing to give any extra problems to Wilce.
In fact, we were four minutes past the hour mark before anything of note happened in either penalty area. That was when Tommy Soule's inswinging corner from the left caused some consternation before settling on the roof of the net.
With twenty minutes remaining Smiths hope of getting back level took a knock when Hyde took his argument against what looked to be a dubious corner decision, a little too far and was issued with a yellow card and 10-minute sin-bin. Hardwicke immediately went close twice from the ensuing corners, but couldn't quite take advantage of the extra player. In fact, the game remained fairly even despite the imbalance of numbers. Elliot Seddon did have to tip over a Seb Williams cross after the Hardwicke substitute almost emulated Stratford's opening goal.
Hardwicke number 9, Ellis Danes-Rutherford, then wasted a good chance when, after breaking through two challenges, he blazed over from the edge of the box.
Two minutes later the home side were once again thanking the woodwork for saving them. Ben Didcote did really well up the left flank before sending over a perfect cross to find substitute Ken Edward free at the back post. The striker did the right thing, heading back towards where the cross came from, leaving Wilce helpless but seeing his effort come back off the foot of the post.
To add salt to the would, two minutes later, the visitors found themselves two down and, effectively, on their way out of the cup. Danes-Rutherford made up for his earlier miss by cutting back in from the left onto his right foot before drilling a low shot under Seddon. 2-0.
FT Hardwicke 2 Smiths Barometrics 0. On this showing, there won't be many league places between these sides come next May. A lot can happen between now and then, but at the moment, they looked quite evenly matched. Smiths will certainly count themselves unlucky after hitting the woodwork three times. However, Hardwicke did have the bets of the first half and, despite not dominating the second, they can probably say that they managed the game well.
The result means that Hardwicke will face local rivals Tredworth Tigers in the semi-final. The other will be contested by Longlevens Reserves and Tewkesbury Town. Both games are scheduled for August 31st and, for Hardwicke, it will be their next scheduled game.
Smiths, however, return to league action on Saturday, looking for their first point as they travel North to face Bredon, who themselves only have a solitary point.
Hardwicke: Wilce, Clarke, Waddington, Vernall, Stevens, Hobbs(c), Stratford, Vallis-Ridler, Danes-Rutherford, Humphries, Weston. Subs: Limbrick, Herbert, Curran, Williams, Adeusi
Smiths Barometrics: 1.Seddon, 2.Walsh, 3.Keeling, 16.Ramage, 5.Holman, 7.Soule, 8.Babbage, 9.Chick, 10.Hyde(c), 14.Gambrell. Subs: 12.Wilkes, 17.Weatherstone, 11.Khan, 15.Edward, 4.Bevan
In fact, we were four minutes past the hour mark before anything of note happened in either penalty area. That was when Tommy Soule's inswinging corner from the left caused some consternation before settling on the roof of the net.
With twenty minutes remaining Smiths hope of getting back level took a knock when Hyde took his argument against what looked to be a dubious corner decision, a little too far and was issued with a yellow card and 10-minute sin-bin. Hardwicke immediately went close twice from the ensuing corners, but couldn't quite take advantage of the extra player. In fact, the game remained fairly even despite the imbalance of numbers. Elliot Seddon did have to tip over a Seb Williams cross after the Hardwicke substitute almost emulated Stratford's opening goal.
Hardwicke number 9, Ellis Danes-Rutherford, then wasted a good chance when, after breaking through two challenges, he blazed over from the edge of the box.
Two minutes later the home side were once again thanking the woodwork for saving them. Ben Didcote did really well up the left flank before sending over a perfect cross to find substitute Ken Edward free at the back post. The striker did the right thing, heading back towards where the cross came from, leaving Wilce helpless but seeing his effort come back off the foot of the post.
To add salt to the would, two minutes later, the visitors found themselves two down and, effectively, on their way out of the cup. Danes-Rutherford made up for his earlier miss by cutting back in from the left onto his right foot before drilling a low shot under Seddon. 2-0.
FT Hardwicke 2 Smiths Barometrics 0. On this showing, there won't be many league places between these sides come next May. A lot can happen between now and then, but at the moment, they looked quite evenly matched. Smiths will certainly count themselves unlucky after hitting the woodwork three times. However, Hardwicke did have the bets of the first half and, despite not dominating the second, they can probably say that they managed the game well.
The result means that Hardwicke will face local rivals Tredworth Tigers in the semi-final. The other will be contested by Longlevens Reserves and Tewkesbury Town. Both games are scheduled for August 31st and, for Hardwicke, it will be their next scheduled game.
Smiths, however, return to league action on Saturday, looking for their first point as they travel North to face Bredon, who themselves only have a solitary point.
Hardwicke: Wilce, Clarke, Waddington, Vernall, Stevens, Hobbs(c), Stratford, Vallis-Ridler, Danes-Rutherford, Humphries, Weston. Subs: Limbrick, Herbert, Curran, Williams, Adeusi
Smiths Barometrics: 1.Seddon, 2.Walsh, 3.Keeling, 16.Ramage, 5.Holman, 7.Soule, 8.Babbage, 9.Chick, 10.Hyde(c), 14.Gambrell. Subs: 12.Wilkes, 17.Weatherstone, 11.Khan, 15.Edward, 4.Bevan
Smiths on the attack
The Ground
Hardwicke ply their trade at Hardwicke Playing Fields, alongside the village hall. Situated just South of Gloucester, Hardwicke are just one of many grassroots and non-league sides in the very close vicinity. Quedgeley Wanderers are just up the road as too are Tuffley Rovers and Tredworth Tigers.
The Playing Field is on Green Lane, alongside The Hardwicke Club and, just along the road, Hardwicke Rangers YFC.
There is a reasonably sized car park alongside the village hall. The pitch sits just behind the car park and hall with the players and officials changing rooms at the far end of the hall building. Refreshments can be purchased from the British Legion Clun next door, which is accessed through a gate in the fence behind one of the goals. There are no covered spectator areas, although if you parked at the front of the car park, you could watch from inside your car. The dugouts are the clear plastic type which can be wheeled into a storage area between games. However, there were probably some dugouts on the opposite side of the pitch at some point. There are still remnants of the bases next to the children's playground opposite the car park.
Ground Number: 414
Att:
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
Hardwicke ply their trade at Hardwicke Playing Fields, alongside the village hall. Situated just South of Gloucester, Hardwicke are just one of many grassroots and non-league sides in the very close vicinity. Quedgeley Wanderers are just up the road as too are Tuffley Rovers and Tredworth Tigers.
The Playing Field is on Green Lane, alongside The Hardwicke Club and, just along the road, Hardwicke Rangers YFC.
There is a reasonably sized car park alongside the village hall. The pitch sits just behind the car park and hall with the players and officials changing rooms at the far end of the hall building. Refreshments can be purchased from the British Legion Clun next door, which is accessed through a gate in the fence behind one of the goals. There are no covered spectator areas, although if you parked at the front of the car park, you could watch from inside your car. The dugouts are the clear plastic type which can be wheeled into a storage area between games. However, there were probably some dugouts on the opposite side of the pitch at some point. There are still remnants of the bases next to the children's playground opposite the car park.
Ground Number: 414
Att:
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
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