The clocks haven’t yet gone back but Tewkesbury Town have already opened up a seven-point lead at the top of Division One of the Cheltenham League.

They made it five wins out of six – they drew their other game – when they overcame last season’s Division Two champions AFC Renegades 4-2.

Cheltenham Civil Service Reserves hosted Bishop’s Cleeve A who had played two league games going into this match. While the fixture computer has kept Cleeve quiet, manager John Hunt showed no rustiness, his substitution leading to Cleeve’s opening goal in the first half.

They extended their lead in the second half before Service’s Ryan Williams scored direct from a corner. While the goal had an element of luck, credit must be given to the Cleeve lineman who confirmed the ball crossed the line after the referee was unsighted. Cleeve added a third before Williams grabbed his second. Unable to grab an equaliser, Service slipped to defeat in consecutive weekends.

Prestbury Rovers have made a solid start to life in Division One and with three victories from their opening four games they faced a Kings team who had a full set of results going into the match, a win, draw and loss. At full time Kings had a further victory to add to their record as they won 2-1.

In their first season playing at KGV Shurdington, Dowty Dynamos were hoping their new home would become a place that visiting teams left empty-handed.

Dowty hosted Southside Star FC, and with just one point from their opening four games Star have not got going this season. The game presented an opportunity for Star to move away from the teams at the bottom but it was Dowty who took maximum points courtesy of a 2-1 win.

With eight teams in league action, Whaddon United faced Smiths Barometrics Athletic Reserves in the Charities Cup. Both teams went into the game off the back off impressive wins last time out although Division Two Smiths were the underdogs. In the end the higher ranked team went through to the next round as Whaddon won 2-1.

Division Two is shaping into an interesting contest and with the leaders at the start of the weekend, Smiths Barometrics Athletic Reserves in cup action, anyone of three teams could overtake them come 5pm.

Leckhampton Rovers started the day in second, a point behind Smiths and boasting a perfect three from three record. They played Andoversford Reserves who find themselves at the other end of the table. Despite their relative starting positions, it was Andoversford who went home with smiles on their faces, taking three points and Rovers’ 100 per cent record with a 2-1 victory.

A point behind Leckhampton, Prestbury Rovers Reserves had won three of their four games including an impressive 5-2 defeat of St Paul’s United last time out, a result that did not surprise those within the Rovers camp. They faced Welland who were in a cluster of teams on three points as the game kicked off. By 5pm Rovers were sitting at the top of the table after a 3-1 win.

The final team with aspirations of top spot were Brockworth Albion Reserves. Albion faced Gala Wilton Reserves, the other team in the division with a 100 per cent league record, albeit from a solitary league game to date. Despite it being only Gala’s second league game of the season, they showed no lack of match fitness as they won 2-0.

With plenty of action at the top of the table, the final game in the division featured bottom-placed Fintan who started the weekend without a point. They looked to change that against Pittville United who were only on three points themselves. This promised to be a close match and so it proved as Fintan took the spoils by the odd goal in three to move above their opponents on goal difference.

There were just two league games in Division Three this weekend as a number of teams competed in the County Cup.

Cheltenham United have suffered three defeats this season, all at the hands of FC Lakeside Reserves. Only one of these was in the league while Lakeside have knocked them out of both the Charities and County Cups. United faced a pointless Malvern Vale Reserves knowing they needed just a point to go top. They duly delivered, winning 4-0 to go top of the table.

In the other league game Smith Barometrics Athletic III faced newcomers Worcester City Royals. Worcester went into the game knowing if they bettered United results they could move into top spot themselves. It didn’t happen however as they were held to a 1-1 draw.

The County Cup did not prove to be a happy hunting ground for Cheltenham League teams this week. With two teams in County Cup action against teams outside of the Cheltenham League, both exited the competition, 303 Squadron going out on penalties after a 3-3 draw while Tewkesbury Town were well beaten, going down 7-3 to Kingsway Rovers.

There was a similar story in Division Four with just three games and a host of County Cup ties.

It has been a challenging season for Cheltenham Saracens, yet to claim a point and still reeling from the withdrawal from the league of their reserve team earlier in the month. They faced an AFC Renegades Reserves team who have also been finding life tough, including a 20-0 defeat against AFC Cheltenham. In a high scoring game Saracens banked their first points of the season as they won 6-2

Gala Wilton III are also pointless, and after four games already knew this could be a tough campaign. Looking to get their season going they hosted Andoversford III knowing victory could take them above their opponents on goal difference. Wilton showed that the previous results may not reflect what is to come as they handed Andoversford a 5-0 defeat to move ahead of five teams and into mid-table.

In the final league game Charlton Rovers III played Kempsey Corinthians. Kempsey won their solitary league game to date and victory would take them among a gaggle of clubs on six points. Kempsey kept they 100 per cent record alive with a 6-2 win.

In addition to the league games there were eight County Cup ties all of which saw Cheltenham League clubs face teams from outside of their own league. The stand out result saw Bishops Cleeve’s Nicky Debonis lead her team to their first victory without the need for penalties. Their 7-0 defeat of Uley III was a fantastic way for Debonis to claim his first win in 90 minutes.

There were also victories for Pittville United Reserves, Fintan Reserves, Apperley and Woodmancote United while Tewkesbury Athletic and Winchombe Town exited the competition.


Cheltenham League results

Div 1

Dowty Dynamos 2 Southside Star FC First 1
Cheltenham Civil Service Res 2 Bishops Cleeve FC A Team 3
Kings FC 2 Prestbury Rovers First 1
Newton P Hanley Swan P
Tewkesbury Town First 4 AFC Renegades First 2

Div 2

Andoversford Reserves 2 Leckhampton Rovers 1
Brockworth Albion Reserves 0 Gala Wilton Reserves 2
Pittville United First 1 Fintan First 2
Prestbury Rovers Reserves 3 Welland Reserves 1

Div 3

Malvern Vale FC Reserves 0 Cheltenham United 4
Worcester City Royals 1 Smiths Barometrics Athletic Thirds 1

CAFL Junior Charity Cup

Smiths Barometrics Athletic Res 1 Whaddon Utd 2

GFA Minor County Cup

Chalford Thirds 3 303 Squadron 1st 3
Falcons Reserves P Redbrook Rovers (Reserves) P (To be played on 26/10/19)
FC Lakeside Reserves P Cashes Green (Firsts) P (To be played on 26/10/19)
Kingsway Rovers (Firsts) 7 Tewkesbury Town Reserves 3

GFA Junior County Cup

AFC Cheltenham First H - W Abbeymead Rovers (Thirds)
Bishops Cleeve FC Development 7 Uley (Thirds) 0
FC Littledean (First) 2 Pittville United Reserves 3
Fintan Reserves 3 Ramblers (Reserves) 0
Tetbury Town (Reserves) 1 Apperley 1st 2
Tewkesbury Athletic First 1 Brockworth Albion (Thirds) 2
Winchcombe Town Reserves 0 Stroud United (Firsts) 3
Woodmancote United First 2 Leonard Stanley (Reserves) 1