LEBEQ UNITED (Oaklands Park)

WESTERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, LEBEQ UNITED 2-2 ODD DOWN (BATH), ATTENDANCE: 25 (OFFICIAL)

Tonight I headed down the M5 for some Friday night football under the floodlights. The unusually monikered Lebeq United (named after Lebeqs Tavern in Bristol) are competing in the Western League after gaining promotion in 2019 but, because of the Covid pandemic and subsequent voiding of all leagues, have never actually completed a full season thus far.

The club was founded in 2008 when it was decided that Lebeq, who were an established Sunday league club, needed the move into Saturday football. The club joined the Bristol and Suburban League where their rise was rapid.

Four promotions in the space of six years took them to the top division before they joined the Gloucester County League in 2016. They won that league in 2019 (even with a six point deduction) and were promoted to step 6 of the pyramid system. An amazing achievement in just over a decade.

The club play their home games at Oaklands Park, which is the headquarters of the Gloucestershire FA in Almondsbury. Roman Glass St George of the Hellenic League also play their homes games here as well, so by default I completed the Premier Division of that league tonight. Bonus!

This game had everything. Great goals, terrible misses, red cards. It was the final few minutes of the game that were most interesting to say the least!

The visitors from Bath were leading 2-1 up with a couple of minutes to go then it all kicked off on touchline. I haven't a clue what sparked it off but it took about 5 minutes to calm things down (I thought I was in line for an abandonment it took that long). After producing 3 red cards for Lebeq's Zack Young and Chris Dacosta and Odd Down's Ashley Robinson, the referee restarted the game and with seconds remaining the 9 man Lebeq levelled thanks to a cool finish from Sacha Young.

Omar Simpson (14) and Raphael Waugh (61) had put Odd Down two up before Jennison Williams (72) halved the deficit with a stunning free kick. Then the fireworks came! On balance of overall play a draw seemed a fair result.

CRIBBS FC (The Lawns)

WESTERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, CRIBBS 3-2 WELLS CITY,
ATTENDANCE: 76

It was an international weekend so I was heading south to watch Wales v Austria in Cardiff but, after scanning the fixture lists, I decided to take a slight diversion and take in a Western League game.

Cribbs were taking on Wells City at their immaculate home, The Lawns, which has been their base since 1978. Bristol Rovers also use the facilities for their training base.

Cribbs were actually founded in 1958, in London, as the works team for Sun Life Assurance. When Sun Life relocated to Bristol in 1976 the club joined the Bristol and Avon League but when The Lawns was opened they immediately joined the Avon Premier Combination League.

The club were promoted to the Gloucester League, as champions, in 2000. In 2012 the club won the Gloucester League, and cup for good measure, and were promoted to the Western League. In 2015 the club finished 3rd in Division One and were promoted to the Premier Division where they remain to this day.

In the meantime AXA had merged with Sun Life and the club changed their name to reflect this. In 2002 the Sun Life was dropped and the club was simply known as AXA FC. Following another company merger in 2011 the club became known as Cribbs Friends Life FC but in 2013 the company closed and the club renamed itself Cribbs Football Club.

This was the second time these two teams had met this season with Wells winning 2-1 in the FA Cup on the opening weekend of the season. This afternoon the conditions were perfect for football, with the sun shining and the pitch looking like a bowling green.

It was an very open first half but it was Cribbs who created the better of the many chances. However, after taking the lead after 13 minutes through Jacob Hodgson, they found themselves behind after goals from Darren Maynard (22) and Harry Davidson (37). It was all square at half time thanks to an equaliser from Charlie Aldom (41).

As is the case in games like this, the respective mangers made sure things were tightened up during the break so the second half was not as open. The game was decided eight minutes from the end when Cribbs were awarded a penalty and it was Hodgson who duly converted to seal the victory.

A superb day of football was completed in Cardiff as Wales beat Austria 1-0 to keep alive hopes of World Cup qualification.

ALMONDSBURY UWE (The Field)

WESTERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, ALMONDSBURY UWE 0-1 KEYNSHAM TOWN, ATTENDANCE: 46

It was international weekend so I was heading south to watch Wales v Serbia in Cardiff but, with the game kicking off at 7.45pm, it would have been churlish not to look for somewhere beforehand.

Just over the Bristol Channel, near junction 16 of the M5 motorway, Almondsbury UWE were hosting Keynsham Town in the Western League, which fitted the bill perfectly.

The club were founded in 1969 as Patchway North End, but later changed their name to Patchway Old Boys. The club relocated from Patchway to Almondsbury in 1989 and changed their name to Almondsbury.  After winning the Bristol Suburban League in 1991 they were promoted to the Gloucestershire County League. 

Almondsbury were champions of the Gloucestershire League in 2004 and thus promoted to Western League. A link up with the University of the West of England was announced in 2009, and the club once again changed its name, this time to Almondsbury UWE.

Almondsbury have struggled so far this season and are currently propping up the table whilst visitors Keynsham sit atop of the table.

The game was hardly a classic with chances few and far between. The game was settled by a Pat Davison strike just before half time, which meant all three points for Keynsham. The home side probably did enough to warrant a draw but they could not find a way past the Keynsham defence.

A minutes silence for Remembrance Day

OLDLAND ABBOTONIANS (Aitchison Playing Fields)

WESTERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, OLDLAND ABBOTONIANS 2-0 ROMAN GLASS St GEORGE, ATTENDANCE: 80

I set off along the M4 blissfully unaware of the congestion I was about to run into. Where the M4 meets the M5 it was absolute chaos and the signs were saying it was a 63 minute journey to do what should have only taken 20 minutes. It was time for yet another change of plan!

A quick call to Brislington to confirm their game was a 3pm kick off meant another alternative was needed as it had been moved to 1pm and the homesters were 1-0 up at the break.

It was 'Hobsons Choice' as the only game I could realistically get to now was Oldland Abbotonians, so I now headed to Castle Road. I do not mean that in a derogatory manner it was just the fact the turning to Oldland Common was the next junction after the turning for Brislington which meant more time on the gridlocked M4.

I wasn't the only 'hopper caught out by the change of kick off time at Brislington as there were a few present here that would have otherwise gone to Ironmould Lane.

It was a bright sunny afternoon but bitterly cold and, to be honest, the game did little to warm the cockles.

It was a poor opening 45 minutes, the only talking point being a wayward shot that went through the back window of a van parked behind the goal!

The second half was a better affair as the The O's gradually took control of the game and Luke Bryan scored two goals, his 8th and 9th in just four games, to seal the victory.