Stroud & District League Division 3

Minchinhampton FC 1

Chalford Reserves 0

Minchinhampton overcame a stubborn and resilient Chalford Reserves side.

Despite Minch being generally on the front-foot Chalford carried a counter-attacking threat and forced a series of corners.

From one they thought they had taken the lead when a corner was headed emphatically home, but the goal was disallowed for a push.

The second period saw Minch push on in search of an elusive breakthrough. Jack Hornsby saw a point blank effort saved by Kris Cheshire in the Chalford goal and further good efforts from Chris Earle and Josh Button were also thwarted.

With 15 minutes to go the deadlock was finally broken when Riki Noble strode out of defence and played a delightful ball over the full back for Button to run on to and clip a great cross into the prolific Jack Hornsby to score with a rare headed goal.

Rob Milston , making his debut, almost made the game safe but couldn't quite guide the ball home after taking the ball around the keeper following excellent work by Chris Earle.

A late Chalford rally caused nerves to jangle with Andy Thomas making a last-ditch tackle to deny James Mason and then Ryan Edwards heading a stinging Ed Parslow effort away to safety.

Star men ... Josh Button for Minchinhampton and Kris Cheshire for Chalford. Mention also to the referee, Andy Rice, who controlled the match well.

Stroud & District Division 6

Cam Bulldogs Thirds 3

Minchinhampton Reserves 0

MINCH Reserves took to the field after a fine run of performances looking to add three points in their final away game of the season but left with their tail very much between their legs.

On a blustery day football was very much in the minority as both sides struggled with the conditions the breakthrough came as a cross caught the Minch keeper, James Green, off guard and as it held in the wind he could only parry the high ball into his own net.

Cam Bulldogs second followed shortly after and again the wind helped the ball through and some indecision in the back line left a simple finish for the onrushing striker.

Minch who had played some of the more industrious football could only muster efforts from distance and found the opposing custodian more than capable of dealing with anything they had to offer.

Cam Bulldogs added a third when a long ball caught out the Minch centre-halves and the forward won the footrace to add to Minchinhampton's woes.

Thanks are given to the Cam Bulldogs official who stepped in to officiate in the absence of an appointed referee.