Marcliff Gloucestershire County Football League Division One

Broadwell 1-3 Ruardean Hill Rangers

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RUARDEAN Hill Rangers took all three points from a Forest derby that saw six bookings and two sendings off. 

Both sides finished midtable in Division One of the Gloucestershire County League last season, but Ruardean have had the better start to the new campaign with six points from three games compared with one point from four matches for Broadwell. 

Despite the number of cards, this was not an overly physical game, said Broadwell secretary Les Lewis. 

He added: “The referee was over-zealous – instead of counting to 10, he immediately reached for a card.” 

Broadwell had plenty of possession in the first half but found themselves a goal behind after a quarter of an hour when keeper Jamie Merry failed to deal with a cross and skipper Luke Brown took advantage of the chance. 

The home side looked to have salvaged a point with an 80th- minute equaliser with a cross from Kristian Burnard which was finished off by Ben Fishwick at the post. 

A second mistake by Merry was punished to put the visitors ahead as Brown turned and found the target for his brace. 

The game was put beyond Broadwell in the final minutes as Luke Johnson put a Shaun Tingle cross into the net. 

The dismissals were Broadwell’s Guy Jones who got his marching orders for two yellow cards before the interval, and in the second half Hill’s Charlie Mason joined him on the sideline after getting a straight red for an off-the-ball incident. 

Both sides are at home this weekend for the Les James League Cup with seventh-placed Ruardean taking on Patchway Town who are currently one position above them on goal difference. 

Broadwell, who are currently 13th in Division One, entertain another Bristol side, Henbury, who are currently occupying fifth position.