Hardwicke 3 - 1 Totterdown POB - 14th January 2005

Hardwicke hit back from a goal down to overcome Totterdown POB 3-1 and claim their fourth win of the season. Dominic Holvor's free-kick gave the Bristol side an early advantage, and only a string of fine saves from Hardwicke keeper Dave Evans prevented further goals for the visitors before half-time.

Hardwicke rallied after the break and Adam Hacker headed home John Leccacocui's cross to level the scores. Two minutes later Hardwicke went in front following a good move involving RIch James, Daryll Cook and Rob Hine, allowing Ben Wood to finish from 12 yards. Derek Mace's side continued to press and Cook completed the comeback with a well-struck shot from an acute angle.

Henbury OB 0 - 5 Hardwicke - 7th January 2006

Hardwicke started the year by playing their best football of the season and putting a serious dent in Henbury’s title challenge. Playing on Henbury’s new pitch, Hardwicke knew this was never going to be an easy game as their opponents lay 3rd in the league having only lost 2 games & had already beaten them twice this season. The first half belonged to the home side but good defending by Powell, Anson, Leccacorvi & James restricted Henbury to long range efforts easily saved by keeper Dave Evans. Hardwicke’s best chances fell to Andy Mathews & Daryl Cook but both were well saved by the home keeper. After the break Hardwicke soon gained the upper hand and went ahead through Adam Hacker after a Rob Hine shot had hit the cross bar. The goal of the game came 10 minutes later when Hine found Ben Wood and his precious cross field pass was
nonchalantly converted by debutant Karl Palmer. Hacker added a third before Henbury’s lack of discipline resulted in one of their defenders being red carded for an elbow. Within minutes Hacker completed his hat-trick and in the last minute the same player was pulled back in the area and Craig Harris made no mistake from the spot. This was by far Hardwicke’s best game of the season and bolds well for 2006 as Derek Mace’s men attempt to climb into the top ten.

Hardwicke 2- 2 D. R. G Stapleton - 1st October 2005

Hardwicke's frustrating season continued with another opportunity to collect three points squandered with a disjointed performance and a share of the spoils made it their third draw in a row. A slack but of defending allowed D.R.G. Stapleton to take a early lead when Mark Cozens stole the ball and hit a great strike low into the corner of the net. Mid-way through the half and the scores were level when Paul Carter threaded the ball through for Craig Harris to clip the ball over the keeper who went to found to early. The home side went close on two occasions, firstly a free kick from Wesley Archer zipped across the face of the goal when just a touch was needed. Then Mike Devlin looked as though he would head home but a good piece of defending blocked the effort. The second half was only minutes old when the referee pulled up injured and was replaced by his assistant. D..G. took the lead for a second time when Archer was penalised for a rash challenge and Matt Price scored from the resulting penalty. Hardwicke's equaliser came from a Harris corner when Ben Wood headed home. Omar Cooper was introduced for the home team and added a bit of pace and enthusiasm. Hardwicke tried in vain for a winning goal the best opportunity coming when a cross went right a cross the area evading the on rushing attackers and Harris could not get the ball back on target from an acute angle.

Hardwicke 1 - 1 Pucklechurch Sports - 17th September 2005

The early season frustration continued for Hardwicke. Already having lost two games the last minute goals, two more points were dropped when Pucklechurch Sports scored an equaliser three minutes from time, leaving the home team to curse the chances they missed including hitting the bar on three occasions. Hardwicke were on top from the start but their final ball let them down on to many occasions in the first half, although Ben Wood saw a shot saved and Craig Harris saw a effort hit the bar and Rich James followed up but his headed hit the top of the net. Pucklechurch had one chance in the half but Rob Hine threw his body in front of the shot to block. The second period saw the home side create numerous chances but at the moment the killer touch is sadly missing. Wesley Archer headed wide, Dennis Hylton saw a shot saved by the keeper, Harris hit the bar for a second time, and James hit a thunderous shot against the bar. Hardwicke finally broke the deadlock from an unlikely source when from a Hylton cross, Charlie Nicholas scored his first goal for Hardwicke. With just under fifteen minutes remaining Hardwicke were reduced to ten men when Harris was dismissed and with eighty seven minutes on the clock Phil Toorlias hit a speculative shot from twenty yards that found the back of the net and end a long running sequence of victories over Pucklechurch, with both clubs having met each other on fourteen occasions prior to this game and Hardwicke winning all fourteen.

Totterdown P.O.B. 2 - 2 Hardwicke - 10th September 2005

Hardwicke visited Totterdown P.O.B. and came away with a share of the spoils, although but for better finishing they should have collected all three points. The visitors enjoyed the early possession and Jason Pritchard went close on two occasions. The best move of the match saw some neat passing with Omar Cooper and Dennis Hylton finishing it off with a one - two but Cooper's shot was saved by the keeper. Against the run of play Totterdown took the lead when a ball into the area was headed out by Justin Powell but his fellow defenders were ball watching and a home striker volleyed home. Hardwicke were soon on level terms when Adam Hacker headed home. It soon became 2 - 1 to the visitors when a good ball into the area by Powell was headed down by Hacker for Cooper to score with a cool finish. At the other end after a defensive mix-up Paul Middlewood kept the lead intact when he cleared a goal bound effort off the goal line. Totterdown were on level terms just before half time when Daryl Cook got caught in possession on the edge of the area and the visitors were punished, and both sides went in at the interval with the score at 2 - 2. The second half was played in an horrendous down pour but Hardwicke created numerous chances, Rob Hine saw a shot came back off the keeper but on one was following up. Cook went close and Hylton put a good chance over the bar. Missed opportunities cost the visitors two points although at the death it could have been all three when Totterdown caught Hardwicke on the break and keeper Ken Edward saved a one on one.

Roman Glass St George 0 - 1 Hardwicke - 3rd September 2005

Gloucester County League Cup 1st Round

Hardwicke progressed into the next round of the cup with a deserved win at Roman Glass St George. The visitors had the upper hand for the majority of the game and Paul Middlewood nearly opened the scoring, forcing the keeper to make a good save tipping his shot over the bar. The home sides defence were kept busy with Rob Drew enjoying a lot of joy down the right flank and delivering some good crosses into the area. At the other end Justin Powell and Charlie Nicholas were well in control of any St George threat. Adam Hacker went close early in the second half, sending his shot just wide. A rare chance for the home side saw Luke Clarke shoot into the side netting. The only goal of the game came from Craig Harris who was 20 yards out and spotted the keeper just off his line and a precision left foot effort found the top corner of the goal. Dennis Hylton nearly doubled the lead when he cracked a great effort against the cross bar.

Hardwicke 1 - 2 Thornbury - 30th August 2005

For the second home game funning Hardwicke suffered a agony of losing to a last minute goal when they deserved at last one if not all three points. Hardwicke started well playing some excellent football and one such move led to Adam hacker putting the ball in the net only for it to be ruled out for offside. Slightly against the run of play Thornbury opened the scoring when Lee Jasper was the quickest to react when a ball was played into the area and a clinical finish gave the keeper no chance. The home side nearly equalised before half time when James Mulrain met a Dennis Hylton corner kick and his powerful header just cleared the bar. Hardwicke soon levelled the scores in the second half when a good worked move saw Hacker shoot home. The home side luck now well on top and chances came and went and Thornbury were happy to hang on to their point, but right at the death on a rare break away Hardwicke took too long to clear a ball into their area and Tom Blyth made them pay and left the home side dejected.

Ellwood 1 - 0 Hardwicke - 27th August 2005

Hardwicke travelled to Elwood and put in a hard working performance but fell to a solitary goal a minute into the second half and came home empty handed when they were worthy of a point.

Ellwood started the brightest and forced a succession of corners and Hardwicke keeper Ken Edward was forced to make a good save. On the twenty minute mark the visitors had a close shave when Ellwood had two efforts blocked in the penalty area and the loose ball was then hit against the cross bar.

Hardwicke were now enjoying their share of possession and looked threatening, a Rob Drew cross just evaded the on rushing attackers, shortly after a lovely ball from Dennis Hylton found Daryl Cook in the area but he just could not bring the ball under control quick enough and his shot was blocked.

At the other end keeper Edward made an excellent save turning a free kick around the post. Justin Powell who was filling in at centre back was having an inspired game. Just before the interval a Hylton cross went just agonisingly behind Scott Hayward when only a touch was needed.

A lapse of concentration allowed Ellwood to score the only goal of the game one-minute after the break courtesy of Derek Roberts.

Hardwicke tried in vain to find an equaliser, Hylton and Omar Cooper saw shots saved and debutant Jason Griffiths came into the action with fifteen minutes left and looked lively.

Hardwicke 0- 1 Henbury Old Boys - 20th August 2005

Hardwicke cruelly fell to an 89th minute defeat when a goal from Danny Slee gave Henbury the three points.

Hardwicke gave an hard working performance and Dennis Hylton twice went close in the first half, the first effort brought a save from the keeper and then a good header flashed just wide. At the other end keeper Ken Edward was called upon to make a good save.

The second period was similar to the first with both sides having their share of the play. Hardwicke missed a glorious chance to open the scoring when a right wing cross from Rob Drew was helped on by Daryl Cook into the path of Quinton Chandler who shot over from five yards.

With two minutes left on the clock and a draw looking the likely outcome Charlie Nicholas was harshly sent off, Hylton and Manager Mitch Fussell were also red carded for their protests. Even the Henbury dug out could not understand the decision, themselves having complained all game about his decision making.

To rub salt into the wounds a minute from time Henbury won a corner and Slee rose the highest and his downward header bounced up and agonisingly over the heads of the defenders on the line and crept under the cross bar.

It was a harsh blow to the home side who deserved a share of the spoils.