UHL Hellenic League

Stonehouse Town 0

Shortwood United 0

SHORTWOOD midfielder Ben Snook was handed a straight red in a dour Gloucestershire derby that saw Stonehouse and Shortwood share the spoils at Oldends Lane, writes Jim Cunneen.

Stonehouse handed debuts to Liam Orchard and James Ratcliffe with Shortwood starting for the first time with Jack Deaman and Harry Hudson.

The day started badly for Shortwood with Harry Purnell pulling up in the pre-match warm up and then got worse after 12 minutes when Snook was rightly sent off for serious foul play.

To be honest this was a dour game and chances for either side were limited and the pitch was not conducive to flowing football.

With 12 minutes gone Snook challenged former Shortwood midfielder and Magpies' captain Alex Kibble in the home area and was sent off by the referee after consulting with his assistant. The first-half was a dour midfield battle and the only real chance for both sides in the first half was after 32 minutes when Ryan Stewart blocked a clearance from Clark, but was unable to turn the ball home.

The second-half was better and the game opened up more, but clear cut chances were still severely limited. Fin Byrnes replaced Mills and after 60 minutes he combined with Josh Beadle who shot narrowly over. Kibble fired over for Stonehouse and Byrnes almost put Soule in, but Will Pedrick was fast off his line to clear. The first shot on target came after 79 minutes with Williams firing straight at Clark.

In the last 10 minutes Wood looked the more likely to break the deadlock but a point apiece was the right result.

Stonehouse Town: W Pedrick, B Humphries, A Harley, N Buckland (J Ratcliffe 78), E King, L Keveren, N Beachus (L Orchard 69), A Kibble (c), R Stewart, T Williams, D Gittings.

Subs not used: L Walsh, T Palmer.

Shortwood United: A Clark, H Purnell (J Waddington 46), J Nowell, G Halliday (c), R Kalnins, J Deaman, H Hudson, B Snook, L Soule, J Beadle, K Mills (F Byrnes 60).

Subs not used: M Blythe.

Attendance: 95.