Gloucestershire County League

Broadwell 2-0 Ellwood

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THE TWO Forest sides faced each other on Boxing Day for the first time in 15 years.

In front of a crowd of some 275 spectators, Ellwood took advantage of the strong wind behind them during the first half.

The visitors looked threatening and the first chance fell to them on 15 minutes when a 25-yarder from Darryl Addis had Broadwell keeper Craig Edwards at full stretch to send the ball over the bar.

Broadwell’s first serious attempt came within minutes but Ryan Wilks’s effort did not trouble Tim Yemm in the Broadwell goal.

The home side opened the scoring after 19 minutes when a hopeful shot by Steve Belfitt was held up by the wind and drifted over Yemm’s head into the net.

Broadwell went into the break a goal up but it could have been more with two late efforts by Ross Gabriel going wide.

Gabriel picked up where he had left off five minutes into the second half, forcing Yemm to gather the ball from the Broadwell man’s feet.

Broadwell were using the long ball but when they found the net in the 56th minute it was ruled offside.

With about five minutes to go Belfitt was replaced by Oliver Fitt who promptly picked up from a free kick and drove it past Yemm for Broadwell’s second.

He could have doubled his tally in the last few minutes but the ball went for a free kick and Yemm was then tested again by Ryan Wilks.