District Toby on target as Green keep in touch with unbeaten leaders Boco
LONGWELL Green Sports A maintained the pressure on Senior Division pacesetters AEK Boco A with three more points – at the expense of another chief title rival.
While Boco were cruising to a 5-0 away victory over Totterdown United Reserves to keep a tight hold of pole position, Toby Clifton’s strike for Longwell was all that was needed to defeat fellow high-fliers Stapleton 1-0 and leapfrog their beaten guests, taking a first tumble of 2021-22, into second place, albeit a daunting ten points adrift still of the unbeaten leaders.
Tate Shaw’s treble, Kieran Terry’s double and an Owen Davies single propelled Patchway Town Reserves to a 6-2 Scott Park success over a Henbury Reserves outfit that responded with Ricky Collins-Laver and Russell Stone strikes.
Lawrence Rovers’ eye-catching scoring form of late continued, with an 8-1 away mauling of a Seymour United Reserves team still pointless after nine games. Kai Holmes led the spree with a hat-trick, Louis Curtis struck twice, and Chris Hind, Pedro Shields and Chris Gallion weighed in, too, for rampant Rovers.
Dalton Hoskins scored both goals as Chipping Sodbury Town A and bottom three compatriots Fry Club A shared the spoils from a 2-2 Ridings draw.
Ferdinand Symons’ goal for Highridge United was only of consolation as his team, who had won their previous two games, were downed 3-1 at their Lakemead Grove HQ by Bedminster Down.
There was no shortage of goals at Kingsweston in Division One, where hosts Lawrence Weston were overcome 8-4 by a Lion team roaring to away victory through
Callum Slade, Joe Sgroi and Lewis Hurley pairs, plus Kieran McKue and Luke Estcourt singles. In an enthralling mid-table spectacle, Treydon Merrett hit a hat-trick, and Darren Collett grabbed Lawrence Weston’s other goal.
Thornbury Town Reserves remain top of the second tier pile after Harrison Young, Cam Drew and an own goal saw them edge aside fellow high-fliers Old Sodbury 3-2 at Mundy Fields.
Bristol Barcelona had Marcin Taras’ brace and Lukasz Jasikowski’s effort to thank as they moved up into third place, still undefeated, courtesy of a 3-2 home win over second-placed MPK Lofts, whose Simon Bone scored twice.
It was tight, too, in Yate where Iron Acton Reserves had Tom Savory and Dariuz Davey goals to thank for earning them a point from a 2-2 draw against spirited, yet still winless, bottom side Sea Mills Park, who had Ryan Hawkins among their marksmen.
Olveston United Reserves were grateful to George Kent for firing the goal which saw them past Bradley Stoke Town Reserves 1-0. The delighted O’s had five players called up from their under-18 department, all of whom produced good performances.
Darren Harris’ strike and an own goal couldn’t save Bradley Stoke Town A from a 3-2 defeat at home to Pucklechurch Sports fliers maintaining their five-point advantage at the summit over a secondplaced DRG SV Frenchay Reserves side that overcame gallant Greyfriars Athletic Reserves 2-1 through Jaheim Stewart and Dominic Stewart goals. Tim Stout replied.
Longwell Green Sports B had Fraser Joyner, Sam Baker, Jacob Leworthy, Jack Gulliford and Charlie Tomlin sharing the honours as they saw off mid-table Iron Acton A 5-0 on their travels to hold tight to
Division Three top spot. Oldland Abbotonians Colts had Jude Bridgman and Aldo Marku to thank as they leapt into fifth position with a 2-1 home defeat of De Veys Reserves.
Thornbury Town A are in an even healthier position, third in the table now, thanks to a leapfrogging 2-1 home victory over Hanham Abbotonians, whose Elliott Pearce notched, courtesy of Matt Chapman and George Baker strikes.
In Division Four, Shaftesbury Crusade A moved up level with 16 points in sixth spot alongside beaten fifth-placed visitors Longwell Green Sports C, thanks to Alex Pullen, Cailum Loughlin and Billy Reed goals in a 3-1 success. Charlie Hunt replied for Longwell.
Made For Ever made it through to the third round of the GFA Minor Cup with a 3-0 away defeat of District Four rivals St Nicholas Reserves. They achieved it via Ryan Wilkinson’s deflected effort, Oliver Roe’s goal direct from a corner and Taylor Bateman’s screamer.
District Four leaders Hallen A had a 6-0 home success over thirdplaced Bradley Stoke Town B, via strikes from Luke Mills, Tom Collett, Beau Griffiths, Paul Francis and Craig Tottle and an own goal.
Shuaib Blake scored both goals as Churches One hopefuls Castle Green came away from Patchway Town A 2-0 victors to set up a December 18 appointment with Patchway’s high-flying District Four compatriots Roman Glass St George Reserves, who thrashed Bristol Phoenix Reserves, of Suburban Four, 6-0 to progress.
Bristol and District Four strugglers Greyfriars Athletic A had Bilal Ibrahim and Brendan Wells on target for them, but it couldn’t deny visiting Tormarton Reserves, of District Five, a place in the third round of the GFA Primary Cup courtesy of a 4-2 victory.