Stonehouse suffer play-off heartbreak after injury time penalty gives Malmesbury promotion as tensions run high
An injury time penalty from skipper Josh Hughes was enough to see Malmesbury Victoria beat Stonehouse Town 1-0 and return to the Hellenic Premier.
Vics were relegated after a dismal 2024/25 campaign, but after producing a great run to reach the play-offs, they arrived at the Ben’s Takeaway Stadium with more than a chance to secure an immediate return.
It was a cagey and nervy contest, with a lack of cutting edge and quality in the final thirds and the atmosphere wasn’t helped by a delayed kicked off and first half disruption due to crowd trouble.
At full time there were further ugly scenes as a number of the Malmesbury players sprinted over to the Lane End and goaded the Stonehouse supporters – with drinks and items thrown back and forth.
FT: @stonehouse_town 0-1 @MalmesburyVics
— Severn Sport (@SevernSport) May 1, 2026
The whistle goes and Malmesbury have been promoted back into the Hellenic Premier and they immediately run over to the Stonehouse fans to celebrate pic.twitter.com/hQprBaADoF
Supporters from both sides entered the field, but no further immediate trouble unfolded.
However, Severn Sport understands tensions were high between the two camps after full time and further altercations took place after the majority of supporters had left the stadium.
Stonehouse will look to dust themselves down for their GFA Challenge Trophy final against Roman Glass St George on Tuesday 12 May.
704 was the official attendance for a massive contest and after kick off was delayed by 15 minutes, both sides looked to make early in-roads to proceedings.
Obinna Nwoke headed wide inside two minutes, before the lively Jamol Dare spun into the box but fired across goal.
George Evatt had Vics’ best chance of the half, making a diagonal run before cutting back and stinging the palms of Stonehouse keeper, Leimer Dinnall.
Fin Byrnes whipped an effort wide from 25 yards following a superb run from Alfie Mann.
Moments later the game had to be stopped after the two sets of supporters, who were both stood in the Lane End behind the goal, began fighting and throwing missiles at each other.
The Malmesbury substitutes and officials from Stonehouse did superbly to separate the two sets of fans – with the majority of the Vics supporters moved out of the stand.
Byrnes went close again just before injury time, looping an effort into the side netting.
Dare had the last chance of the half, but after battling into the box, he skied over from about 8 yards.
The hosts started the second half well, but Malmesbury went the closest as Kameran Muhid beat Dinnall from the right side of the box – but saw his effort come back off the post.
Dinnall prodcued a great save to keep out a sweeping effort from Callum Parsons moments later, before Gio Wrona also had a shot blocked by the keeper.
Malmesbury were on top against 10 men, with Rich Thwaite off the field for a sin bin, but they weren’t able to turn the free kicks they were getting around the area into clear cut chances.
Josh Beadle sliced an effort wide for Stonehouse with 15 minutes to go, before Connor Walters and Lewis Bainbridge were introduced by Adam Coyle.
And with extra time looming, Alex Kibble was deemed to have tripped Parsons in the box to give Malmesbury a 91st minute penalty.
Skipper Josh Hughes stepped up to find the top corner and break Stonehouse hearts.
90+1 mins: PENALTY & GOAL @MalmesburyVics
— Severn Sport (@SevernSport) May 1, 2026
Wow. Stonehouse are devastated as a penalty is given for a trip in the box and skipper Josh Hughes fires into the top corner
0-1 pic.twitter.com/30VKtVtIvq
Malmesbury saw the game out and celebrated at full time, with tensions still running high.
Stonehouse will go into their County Cup final knowing that they have still had a great season, making the play-offs fairly comfortably and laying down a marker for next season.
Stonehouse Town: Dinnall, Rees, Ryan Thwaite, Byrnes, Kibble, Rich Thwaite, Dare, Harris, Hudd, Beadle, Mann
Subs: Keveren, Walters, Haswell, Nash, Bainbridge
Malmesbury Victoria: Pickering, Chilcott, Evatt, Hughes, Taylor, Nwoke, McSharry, Roper, Muhid, Wrona, Parsons
Subs: Cox, Jackson, Steele, Anderson, Bexon-Shaw
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Jamol Dare (Stonehouse Town)
READ MORE: Check out the list of fixtures in and around Gloucestershire this Saturday right here
READ MORE: Check out the list of Sunday’s Women’s fixtures in and around Gloucestershire right here
