Frampton United slipped to their second defeat in the County League this season when they went down 2-0 at home to Stonehouse Town, even though the result could have been very different if they had taken their chances.

The home side almost went ahead in the seventh minute when a cross from Matt Cook out wide on the right was met by the head of Ryan Vincent and the ball sped goalward before striking the crossbar, bouncing down and being cleared.

Alex Barrett fired over from 12 yards soon after following a fine pass from Shaun Lawson, and a minute later only the quick thinking of Stonehouse keeper Pedrick averted a possible goal when he nipped the ball off the toe of Lawson.

Manolo Espada got in on the action and saw his 25-yard drive fizz past the outside of the post on 18 minutes and two minutes later another great cross from Matt Cook was headed over by Lawson.

The home side continued to attack and a 35-yard free-kick from Nathan Dennis had keeper Will Pedrick on his knees to save.

Stonehouse, who had had the first shot of the game through Liam Gale after two minutes, slowly started to get into the game however and they went ahead just before the break when Liam Gale was brought down in the box and Alex Kibble sent keeper Steve Sparrow the wrong way from the resultant spot-kick.

Frampton started the second half well and Manolo Espada took Pedrick by surprise on 54 minutes when his cross in from the right struck the crossbar.

Espada had another effort soon after and a minute later Ryan Vincent’s solo run ended when the ball was knocked away for a corner.

Then following a free-kick by Nathan Dennis, Pedrick saved well again from a Vincent shot.

Frampton continued to press for the equaliser and in the 73rd minute Luke Barstow hit a desperate clearance over his own bar from a Shaun Lawson cross.

Stonehouse remained a threat on the break however and Frampton had a narrow escape when Liam Gale broke away down the left flank, and his cross into the box was met by Luke Soule, but his header came back off the bar.

A minute later Sparrow pulled off a great diving save to deny Liam Gale with a 25-yard shot but two minutes into time added on Gale got Stonehouse’s second to wrap up the points.

The win lifts Stonehouse up to fourth spot, two places and four points adrift of Frampton.

Hardwicke are a further two places and three points behind Stonehouse after beating Little Stoke 4-1.

The home side went ahead on 12 minutes when James Ratcliffe raced down the left flank, cut into the box and was brought down. Will Higgins converted the resultant spot-kick.

Hardwicke added a second eight minutes before the break through a powerful Pat Vernall header from Ratcliffe’s cross.

Little Stoke thought they had one back a minute later when Luke Meacham’s 30-yard drive sped past home keeper Hobbs only to see it cleared off the line by Craig Beaton.

Robertson’s 25-yard shot saw Hobbs save well again but on 60 minutes Stoke did manage to pull a goal back when the ball was knocked over the defence and Ethan Moore ran clear to score.

Ratcliffe then hit the crossbar with an in-swinging corner and in the 85th minute the home side got a third when Will Matthews headed home from Rich Mansell’s free-kick. Stoke keeper Jones then foiled Ratcliffe on 88 minutes but just a minute later Higgins completed the scoring.

Bottom-of-the-table Gala Wilton travelled to the Forest of Dean to take on in-form Ruardean Hill Rangers and they left empty-handed, after Luke Johnson got the only goal of the game when he was put through by Charlie Mason and slid the ball past Skyers.

Danny Knight shot wide for Gala and substitute Dan Creed had a great chance for the visitors on 58 minutes, but also shot wide before a couple of minutes later Cameron Rees hit the post as the visitors chased an equaliser.

Other results: AEK Boco 3 Rockleaze R 0; Broadwell Ams 1 Hanham Ath 0; Henbury 2 Patchway T 1.