Stroud & District Football League Division 2

Eastcombe FC 2

Minchinhampton FC 3

A local derby between third and fourth place, played out in bitterly cold conditions, provided good entertainment but little quality as both sides struggled to find any rhythm after several weeks of inactivity.

Minchinhampton started the brighter of the two sides with Josh Button proving a great outlet down the right hand side but his crosses into the box time and again evaded the Minchinhampton front runners.

The young Eastcombe custodian then pulled off a great reaction save from a close range Jamie Lees header. Eastcombe for their part counter attacked with Jordan Measures always a willing and dangerous runner.

The deadlock was finally broken when Dean Murray and Brad Jones combined with the latter arcing in a cross/shot which could only be tipped on the bar and the ever alert Jack Hornsby was on hand to smash home the rebound.

The second period saw a lethargic Minchinhampton side return to the pitch and Eastcombe quickly drew parity when Jordan Measures wriggled free down the left hand side and crossed for Liam Phipps to side foot home from close range.

Jordan Measures then went very close again but saw his dipping free kick just clear the cross bar.

Soon after this the home side did take the lead when they counter attacked from defending a corner and the ball broke kindly across the box for Jake Gardiner to place the ball into the net unopposed.

Minchinhampton reacted with a reshuffle pushing Riki Noble forward in an effort to get back on the front foot and although now in the ascendancy the final ball failed to beat the stubborn Eastcombe defence.

With time ebbing away the equalising goal came when Tom Beard rose highest to power a Josh Button corner into the roof of the net. Not content with a point player manager Natty Buckland threw caution to the wind for the final few minutes. Josh Button breezed past the Eastcombe defence and when well place to slide the ball across to an unmarked team mate he chose to shoot wildly to the dismay of everyone.

Atonement was not far away however when one final foray forward saw Josh Button wriggle through the Eastcombe midfield before arrowing a great strike which clipped the underside of the cross bar and bounced down and over the line. Button was mobbed by the whole side who knew they had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat and in the process keeping Minchinhampton in with an outside chance in the promotion race.

Star Men ... Ollie Portlock for Minchinhampton and Jordan Measures for Eastcombe.

Stroud & District Football League Division 6

Minchinhampton Reserves 2

Bridgeway 2

Minchinhampton Reserves snatched a point at home in the last minute to derail Bridgeway and continue their own chase for a promotion spot in a hard fought contest in freezing temperatures.

Bridgeway with a 100% in the league since October were looking to keep up the pressure on league leaders North Nibley, the last team to take anything from them.

Minchinhampton struggled to contain a bright Bridgeway side with Paul and Josh Law proving more than willing runners to the through balls and after a period of sustained pressure and a number of corners the deadlock was finally broken, Paul Law running onto a ball over the top and firing in from an acute angle.

Minchinhampton’s woes continued as they lost two players to injury in the first half, Tom Heslop's return cut short and Calum Moylan's full debut start ended early having rolled an ankle in battle.

Both subs used, Minchinhampton fought for a foothold in the game and could count themselves unlucky, the offside flag and wayward finishing curtailing any chances they managed to carve. James Green was equal to anything Bridgeway were able to muster to threaten the home goal, two excellent stops and brave with it.

The second half proved a more even contest and Minchinhampton found themselves level Giles Arnold isolated, firing in a delicious lob from the left side outside the box, evading the away custodian and nestling in the far side of the net.

Bridgeway shuffled their pack again seeking to regain the lead and were guilty of missing chances themselves, although to a man Minchinhampton did everything to make life difficult. Bridgeway stole back the lead when a low fierce cross was deflected at close range across the box leaving the onrushing striker Ash Pearce to bundle into the goal.

Minchinhampton deflated, struggled to find any real rhythm and with injuries mounting Minchinhampton’s patchwork defence swelled in numbers, Luke Halliday with a goal saving tackle in the box to and James Green stout again when called upon.

As the game looked out of reach for a tiring home side, James Green fired a huge effort down the middle of the pitch onto which rushed the evergreen Giles Arnold to duly poke the ball past the Bridgeway custodian and salvage a valuable point, much to the disdain of the away side.