Stroud & District Football League Division 2

Minchinhampton 4

Cam Bulldogs Reserves 1

A LACKLUSTRE and flat first-half performance from Minchinhampton saw the Cam Bulldogs goal threatened only twice.

Tom Moss saw a headed goal disallowed with the referee adjudging a push on the keeper as the corner kick was swung in and Ollie Portlock drew a full-length save from Ryan Chandler in the Cam Bulldogs goal.

Cam Bulldogs threat came on the counter attack and from one such foray forward they were awarded a penalty when Gig Arnold lunged into a last-ditch tackle and the shot struck his outstretched arms. The resultant penalty was calmly struck home with makeshift keeper, Craig Mills, sent the wrong way.

Strong words at half-time from Nathan Buckland and James Crowest and a team reshuffle with Buckland himself and Liam St Clair Moore entering the fray from the bench saw a revitalised home side return to the field.

Parity was soon regained when Buckland rose highest to guide a deep Ryan Edwards free-kick back across the keeper and into the net. Buckland then notched again as he latched onto Liam St Clair Moore's pass to swivel and shoot with the ball finding the net off a Cam Bulldogs defender.

The third goal also saw Nathan Buckland involved flicking on a Tom Beard long ball for Jack Hornsby to race on to and round the keeper before slamming the ball home from close range.

The fourth and final goal saw another sub involved when Philip Ellis beat his full-back before pulling the ball back to Liam St Clair Moore who saw his initial shot saved but bravely dived in to head home the loose ball through a melee of players.

Given the first half performance an unlikely emphatic win with Tom Moss awarded the home side's man-of-the-match.

Stroud & District Football League Division 6

Cam Bulldogs Thirds 1

Minchinhampton Reserves 4

MINCH finally got back on the field after a two week break and left with the spoils against a spirited Cam 3rds.

A long ball was initially missed by Ben Owen and in his attempts to clear the resultant bouncing ball skewed his effort over Ash Hallett in the Minch goal and into the net to give Cam Bulldogs the lead. This seemed to wake the visitors up and Minchinhampton began to dominate possession with parity coming when Jonathan Hoppner was upended after a penetrating run from the left flank and captain Luke Halliday swang a delicious curved effort past the wall and goalkeeper and into the top corner. On top now , Minchinhampton took a deserved lead before the half was out.

A clever short corner routine was half-cleared to the corner taker Nick Matthews out on the touch line and he coolly dispatched it over the custodian under the bar and nestled into the far side of the net.

Encouraged by their first half performance, Minchinhampton settled into their rhythm and with Jonathan Hoppner continuing to torment the Cam Bulldogs defence he was upended inside the box. Nick Matthews rifling home the resultant penalty. The lead was further extended late on with debutant, Ollie Smith, snatching a goal to seal the win.

A solid performance against a battling side with Minchinhampton deserving their win. The club would also like to send their best wishes to young Ollie Westwood who broke his arm during the match and will now miss a month or two of his first season in adult football.