Bretforton 1,

Portishead Firebrands 1

A HARD-FOUGHT saw league leaders Firebrands show their strength and they took the lead after ten minutes following a goalmouth scramble.

Bobbie Handley, Jane Wheeler, Blanche Surman and Julie Stowe were at full tilt to keep the Bristol side at bay although the villagers did manage to get forward and Deb Slatter and player of the match Lisa Workman tested the visitors on several occasions.

Hard work paid off for the villagers 15 minutes into the second half when Slatter sliced through the defence before passing to Kate Mitchell.

The initial shot was blocked by the goalkeeper only for Andrea Cole to strike the rebound into the net from the narrowest of angles.

Both teams fought hard to find the winner with Fire-brands keeping the Bretforton defence at full stretch.

However, tenacity and excellent team spirit shone through and, in the last seconds of the match, Gilly Wright was unlucky not to get a touch to Sophie Corbett's cross.

The final league game takes place at home against Yate and South Gloucester on Saturday. Last week's match ball was sponsored by A S Wilkes Services.

East Glos II 0,

Bretforton II 9

IT took just 12 seconds for Bretforton to stamp their authority on this game with the quickest goal this season.

East Glos won possession at the start but the ball was immediately intercepted by Julie Hall who travelled half the length of the pitch to push the ball into the area for Sarah Bragg to push under the keeper.

Player of the match Ceri Barber set up the second with a storming run from centre midfield and a fierce shot from the edge of the area which Tracey Hodgkins converted.

Then Liz Murray-White scored her first goal for the club with an impressive reverse stick sweep to make it 3-0 before Hodgkins got another on the stroke of half-time.

This young East Glos side played some good hockey but found themselves overpowered by a Bretforton side who wanted the points and second position in the league.

The lead was increased by Hodgkins when her shot took an unfortunate deflection off a defender's hand. The scorer's pass then left Bragg with a one on one with the keeper.

Before long Kate Williams joined the scoresheet with a superb shot from the edge of the area when a short corner routine left her with plenty of space.

Prolific scorer Hodgkins netted her fourth after a cross from Liz Murray-White and, in the dying seconds, Hall got the ninth when she found the ball at her feet with the keeper stranded.

Mr and Mrs David Gisbourne were the match ball sponsors.

Bretforton retained their second position in the league and, with just one game remaining, cannot be caught by their closest rivals.

Their final competitive game is on Saturday against Brock-worth at Evesham HS.

Severn League North

P W D L F A Pts

Firebrands II 17 11 4 2 43 16 37

Marlborough 17 11 4 2 41 14 37

Bretforton 17 10 5 2 34 17 35

Yate & Glos II 17 9 5 3 32 17 32

Bath Buccs II 17 8 3 6 41 23 27

East Glos 17 5 5 7 17 29 20

Lansdown II 17 5 4 8 15 24 19

Devizes 17 3 5 9 14 34 14

Hereford 17 3 0 14 20 53 9

Chippenham II 17 2 1 14 12 42 7

Severn League Division Two

P W D L F A Pts

Leominster 16 13 2 1 81 17 41

Bretforton II 17 11 2 4 50 25 35

Hereford II 17 9 2 6 47 28 29

St Gregory's 17 7 4 6 31 31 25

Blockley 17 7 2 8 35 42 23

Dursley 17 6 4 7 28 28 22

Badgers 17 6 3 8 37 58 21

Brockworth 16 4 6 6 29 37 18

Bourton Vale 17 4 5 8 21 31 17

East Glos II 17 1 2 14 16 78 5