Premier Comb’n Doyle strikes twice as Saints make winning start at higher level
S TNicholas marked their big milestone moment with a victory to whet Ridings appetites at the start of their first season in the Bristol Premier Combination.
Delighted to have been promoted to the league some 41 years after their formation on the back of unbeaten exploits at the head of a shortened Bristol and District Senior Division programme, Chipping Sodbury-based Saints kicked off their higher-status assault with a 2-0 home victory over fellow newcomers Mendip Broadwalk Reserves.
Craig Doyle won’t forget his maiden outing with St Nics at the level either, as it was his two second-half goals which saw them claim all three points.
That spirit-raising win sets Saints up nicely now for this Saturday’s away encounter (2.30pm) with a DRG SV Frenchay outfit undefeated after a 2-2 home draw with Oldland Abbotonians Reserves and 1-0 weekend win over visiting Bradley Stoke Town, courtesy of a 30-yard screamer from man of the match and skipper Tom Putterill.
Saints’ assistant manager Paul Williams said: “We are very excited about the challenges that lay ahead for the coming season.
“It’s a level that we have not played at before but Saturday’s result against a good opponent got us off to the ideal start.”
Greyfriars Athletic ended last season’s curtailed campaign without a win in 11 attempts. They clearly wish to rectify that sorry form this time around after sticking six without reply past Oldland at New Road for their first league victory since the 5-2 win at De Veys over the back-end of their 2018-19 programme.
Jesse Hudson spearheaded the procession with a hat-trick, backed up by Jordan Cox, Tom Haim and Simon Bateman goals.
Greyfriars seek more of the same on Saturday as they travel to take on the league’s new arrivals Cribbs A (2.30pm) setting out for the first time at the higher level on the strength of their District Senior performances last term. De Veys host Hambrook on Saturday encouraged by an unbeaten opening to their First Division campaign.
Three days after overcoming Greyfriars 3-0 at home, the early leaders had Darren Bloomfield, Tim Hughes and Ben Thatcher goals to thank for a point from an eventful 3-3 away draw with Iron Acton, who responded with Tyler Dacres, Yame Aibangbee and Ross Davey efforts.
Winterbourne United evidently mean business in the Prem this season. They used 2-0 and 3-2 successes over Olveston United and AEK Boco Reserves first off as a springboard to a 9-1 weekend away drubbing of under-siege Pucklechurch Sports.
James Maintstone led the assault with five of Bourne’s goals, his haul including three penalties, as the hosts were overrun.
Charlie Harris, Matt Ellery, Ben Weaver and Dave Herbert grabbed the rest to put them in good heart for Saturday’s away-day with Shaftesbury Crusade (2.30pm).
Olveston have been basking in the afterglow of a positive few days. Fresh from their 5-1 Thursday evening success at Shaftesbury delivered by Tommy Penney’s pair and Jonny Mead, Russ Driver and Harry Smith contributions, the rampant O’s overcame Boco Reserves 3-0 at home two days on with a Leo Glew goal and efforts by promising 17-year-olds Alex Grocott, named man of the match, and James Worley.
Lebeq Saturday kept their first clean sheet of the campaign and, more importantly, registered a first win at the third time of asking as veteran striker Dominic Holver scored the game’s only goal to edge his side past Highridge United in a competitive encounter at Lakemead Grove.
Seymour United’s James Lau has his shooting boots on over these fledging stages of the season. He followed up his hat-trick in the 5-2 Wednesday evening away victory over Lebeq with another goal, this time to put paid to Shaftesbury Crusade 1-0 at Coronation Park.
Cribbs Reserves, meanwhile, were without a weekend game due to the first team’s FA Cup commitments, having originally been scheduled to host Hallen Reserves.
Nonetheless, the champions were able to put their feet up in the safe knowledge they had made it two wins from two for starters in the Prem after coming from two down at the break to beat Totterdown United 3-2 on a thrilling Thursday night outing at Norton Lane.
They did so through Dan Burgan’s late clincher after Tom Burns and Tom Headford had pulled Cribbs, who travel to face Hallen this Saturday (2.30pm), level.
Totterdown didn’t have to wait long to pick themselves up as Chaz Hemmings, Aaron Thorne and an own goal saw them to a 3-2 away victory over a competitive Chipping Sodbury Town Reserves still seeking their first points after three games and hoping to gain some back on home soil against Seymour this Saturday (2.30pm).
Toby Waterman and Callum Ball goals at least ensured Sodbury made a game of it, although their disappointed boss Les Theobald conceded: “Sticking the ball in our own net after only two minutes meant we were always playing catch-up.”