Premier Comb’n Seymour setting hot pace after third successive victory
SEYMOUR United racked up a third win on the spin amid an encouraging opening to their Bristol Premier Combination campaign.
Lifted by 1-0 victories over AEKBoco Reserves and Shaftesbury Crusade, Seymour were made to work hard for their latest success, a “deserved” 3-2 home defeat of Olveston United in the estimation of player-manager Tom Morgan.
Centre-back Richard Wathen opened the Seymour scoring in the tenth minute with a half-volley at the back post. Soon after, good play between Morgan and Luke Wilshire led to full-back Joel Athey fizzing in a cross for striker James Lau to finish off inside the box.
Lau had a chance to score his second in the 25th minute when Wilshire was pulled down inside the box, only for his team-mate to see his spot-kick saved.
Buoyed by the let-off, Olveston, who played a full part in a hardfought contest, pulled a goal back through James Moore in the 60th minute, only for central midfielder Jason Side to leap and score from a corner to restore Seymour’s twogoal advantage.
Late confusion between home defence and the ‘keeper resulted in centre-back Ashley Bernard finding his own net five minutes from time, before his team saw out the remaining few minutes safely to sit second in the standings behind Cribbs Reserves.
Nick Peters was a satisfied Longwell Green Sports Reserves supremo too, as his team secured a first Premier Division victory in only their second game of the campaign. Aidan Noble and Tom Summerhill both scored twice, and Toby Watson added Sports’ other goal, in a 5-0 away defeat of a Chipping Sodbury Town Reserves side which fell to a second straight loss.
Dernell Sinclair scored for depleted Hallen Reserves, but it couldn’t stop Totterdown United pinning their first three points to the board courtesy of Josh Hemmings, Jack Moon and Toby Carter goals in a 3-1 Norton Lane win.
James Mapstone’s on-song St Nicholas are taking some stopping at the Division One summit right now. They made it three big wins and a draw from their opening four outings by sticking four without reply past local rivals Iron Acton, thanks to Kylan Mapstone’s double and Craig Doyle and Andy Chapman efforts.
Delighted De Veys also took all the points from their derby against fellow unbeaten opponents Mendip
Reserves.
All the goals came in the second half, with Ben Thatcher, Archie Taylor and Darren Bloomfield getting the goals in a 3-1 home win, and Lewis Neale scoring to keep Mendip hopes alive.
Wick Reserves have had their difficulties this season with four straight defeats.
Which is why their spirited players celebrated the securement of a prized first point with all the gusto of a victory after fighting back from 2-0 down to two early Liam Claridge goals at home to Shirehampton Reserves to tie it up at 2-2 with strikes by Danny Veale, a new signing from Iron Acton, and Mark Hansell.
Hambrook found themselves 2-0 adrift at half-time to Reece Evans and Jordan Cox efforts at home to resurgent Greyfriars Athletic, despite enjoying plenty of possession and chances, before storming back for a point from an enthralling 3-3 draw. The fightback began with a bullet header by Matt Norley from a corner delivered by Loukas Kouzaris. Shortly after, Norley became provider with a great through ball to Joe Defreitas to finish in style for 2-2.
Greyfriars scored a well-worked counter attacking goal through Matty Troth to restore their lead at 3-2. Late on Hambrook’s Tom Smyth was bought down inside the box, resulting in a penalty and a red card for, somewhat harshly in the view of Greyfriars boss Benni McCarthy, away right-back Marcin Obremski, and Defreitas calmly slotted home from the spot.
An intriguing Friday night fixture at Castle Road saw hosts Oldland Abbotonians, eager for a first point of their programme, take the lead against Bradley Stoke through Joe Abraham. The tone of the second half was set when an own goal by an Oldland defender drew the visitors level. A 30-yard screamer by Charlie Wills, followed by breakaway goals from Josh Morris, George Haskins and another from Wills, sealed a 5-1 win.