CHIPPING SODBURY TOWN 2
BRADFORD TOWN 1
6th October 2018
Scott Gibson bowed out of his spell in temporary charge of the Sods giving way to a new father and son management team Steve and Joe White. Their first game in charge resulted in a fine 2-1 home win over Bradford Town.
A first half goal from George Box and a second by Tom Fry early in the second
secured the victory over a strong side currently ninth in the Toolstation Western Premier Division. Bradford managed to pull a goal back from the penalty spot with 15 minutes remaining but the home side held on to take all three points.
The new management team hail from Chipping Sodbury and have an excellent footballing pedigree. Both have been on Bristol Rovers books with Steve making 46 appearances and scoring 20 goals for the Gas. His career included over 500 appearances for nine league clubs including Rovers, Luton, Charlton, Hereford, Swindon and Cardiff. He also had a spell at Chippenham Town as manager and at Bath City as player/assistant.
Joe graduated through the Rovers youth system to the first team and spent two years with the squad without making any appearances. He was loaned out to Yate Town on two occasions and also had spells at Chippenham Town and Paulton Rovers. He also spent a brief time at Almondsbury before rejoining Yate briefly for a third spell and then Tytherington.
The new partnership have their work cut out with games coming thick and fast at the Ridings and a team struggling to find any kind of form. Just three days after the Bradford win Chipping Sodbury were back in action, this time in the GFA Challenge Trophy against fellow Toolstation strugglers Cribbs.
One of the new managements early signings made his debut in goal. Tom Sheppard, formerly of Winterbourne United and first team choice at Tytherington Rocks is known as a great communicator as well as a shot stopper but he had few opportunities to show his class on an evening to forget for the home side.
A key area for the club to focus on is the on field discipline and a fifth red card of the season did little to add to the team’s recent fortunes. Luke Burman received his marching orders following a second yellow card after 25 minutes of the second half. To be fair the second caution was a little harsh, Burman having been adjudged to have tackled unfairly in conceding a free kick on the edge of his own penalty area, however it allowed Cribbs to dominate proceedings for the final quarter of the game.
The opening goal came after 35 minutes when Cribbs Ben Dowdell received a pinpoint through ball on the edge of the Sodbury area. Unchallenged he took the ball to the six yard box and slotted home with his left foot giving Sheppard little chance. Cribbs controlled the rest of the half as the home side lost their way. Both sides were guilty of working hard to win possession only to give the ball away needlessly and this continued after the break.
George Box toiled hard up front for Sodbury but service to the ever-busy front man was poor and often wayward. The visitors took control early in the second period and made several clear chances to add to their lead in the opening minutes.
The Sods enjoyed a brief period of pressure after15 minutes and Box nearly levelled when his close range shot was deflected for a corner after a testing in swinging corner. Just three minutes later they should have scored but a shot from a promising position was put tamely wide of the goal.
The pace of the game slowed with both teams again conceding possession far too easily and fifteen minutes after the red card Cribbs added their second and decisive goal. Ill discipline again played a part when a foul was awarded following a challenge from behind as a Cribbs player shielded the ball close to the corner flag. The resultant free kick was played long to the far post where it found Tom Collett unchallenged to head home from close range.
A minute later Sodbury nearly reduced the deficit when George Box narrowly failed to follow in a chipped shot that didn’t quite have enough weight behind it.
BRADFORD TOWN 1
6th October 2018
Scott Gibson bowed out of his spell in temporary charge of the Sods giving way to a new father and son management team Steve and Joe White. Their first game in charge resulted in a fine 2-1 home win over Bradford Town.
A first half goal from George Box and a second by Tom Fry early in the second
secured the victory over a strong side currently ninth in the Toolstation Western Premier Division. Bradford managed to pull a goal back from the penalty spot with 15 minutes remaining but the home side held on to take all three points.
The new management team hail from Chipping Sodbury and have an excellent footballing pedigree. Both have been on Bristol Rovers books with Steve making 46 appearances and scoring 20 goals for the Gas. His career included over 500 appearances for nine league clubs including Rovers, Luton, Charlton, Hereford, Swindon and Cardiff. He also had a spell at Chippenham Town as manager and at Bath City as player/assistant.
Joe graduated through the Rovers youth system to the first team and spent two years with the squad without making any appearances. He was loaned out to Yate Town on two occasions and also had spells at Chippenham Town and Paulton Rovers. He also spent a brief time at Almondsbury before rejoining Yate briefly for a third spell and then Tytherington.
The new partnership have their work cut out with games coming thick and fast at the Ridings and a team struggling to find any kind of form. Just three days after the Bradford win Chipping Sodbury were back in action, this time in the GFA Challenge Trophy against fellow Toolstation strugglers Cribbs.
One of the new managements early signings made his debut in goal. Tom Sheppard, formerly of Winterbourne United and first team choice at Tytherington Rocks is known as a great communicator as well as a shot stopper but he had few opportunities to show his class on an evening to forget for the home side.
A key area for the club to focus on is the on field discipline and a fifth red card of the season did little to add to the team’s recent fortunes. Luke Burman received his marching orders following a second yellow card after 25 minutes of the second half. To be fair the second caution was a little harsh, Burman having been adjudged to have tackled unfairly in conceding a free kick on the edge of his own penalty area, however it allowed Cribbs to dominate proceedings for the final quarter of the game.
The opening goal came after 35 minutes when Cribbs Ben Dowdell received a pinpoint through ball on the edge of the Sodbury area. Unchallenged he took the ball to the six yard box and slotted home with his left foot giving Sheppard little chance. Cribbs controlled the rest of the half as the home side lost their way. Both sides were guilty of working hard to win possession only to give the ball away needlessly and this continued after the break.
George Box toiled hard up front for Sodbury but service to the ever-busy front man was poor and often wayward. The visitors took control early in the second period and made several clear chances to add to their lead in the opening minutes.
The Sods enjoyed a brief period of pressure after15 minutes and Box nearly levelled when his close range shot was deflected for a corner after a testing in swinging corner. Just three minutes later they should have scored but a shot from a promising position was put tamely wide of the goal.
The pace of the game slowed with both teams again conceding possession far too easily and fifteen minutes after the red card Cribbs added their second and decisive goal. Ill discipline again played a part when a foul was awarded following a challenge from behind as a Cribbs player shielded the ball close to the corner flag. The resultant free kick was played long to the far post where it found Tom Collett unchallenged to head home from close range.
A minute later Sodbury nearly reduced the deficit when George Box narrowly failed to follow in a chipped shot that didn’t quite have enough weight behind it.
