Suburban House homing in on treble after Senior Cup semi-final victory
BROAD Plain House are on the verge of a treble. They hosted unbeaten Somerset County League side Nailsea & Tickenham in the Somerset Senior Cup semi-finals, and first-half goals from Joe Banks and Ben Snell gave the House a 2-0 half-time lead. Nailsea came on strongly in the second half, and pulled a goal back from the penalty spot with seven minutes left, which resulted in a tense last 10 minutes.
Broad Plain held on to enter the final against Wells City Reserves on May 4. They are clear favourites to win the Senior Division, three points clear at the top with up to four games in hand, and they play Easton Cowboys on April 20 in the Alf Bosley League Cup semi-finals.
In the Norman Goulding Cup semi-finals, Hartcliffe FC overcame local rivals AFC Whitchurch 5-1 with goals from Grant Caddick (2), Dan Proctor, Byron Leigh and Dan Lock to earn a place in the final at Cossham Street against Stoke Gifford United Reserves.
Andrew Waite, secretary of Hartcliffe, said there was excellent support for both teams and that it was an excellent game and a much closer game than the score suggests. It was also well controlled by Suburban League referees secretary Martin Peters.
In the two outstanding Alf Bosley Cup games, Filton Athletic reached the semi-finals with a 3-0 home win over Old Cothamians. At Whitehall, Easton Cowboys moved into the last four with a 2-0 home win over Bristol Spartak.
In the Premier Division, the two top teams, Avonmouth and Stoke Gifford United, gained maximum points. Avonmouth travelled to Lawrence Weston Athletic and their nerves were eased with a firstminute goal from Kyle O’Donovan. Two goals either side of half-time by Kyle Buffery, and a fourth from the penalty spot from Alfie Taylor, earned Avonmouth a 4-1 win.
Stoke Gifford United were made to fight hard for the points at Ashton Vale against Parson Street OB before winning 3-2 to stay a point behind with a game in hand.
Roberto Scriven struck the only goal of the game for rapidlyimproving St Aldhelms against Rockleaze Rangers Reserves.
In the Senior Division, the race for the second spot behind Broad Plain is heating up. Second-placed Wessex Wanderers won 2-1 at Almondsbury Reserves, thanks to goals from Kim Machipisa and Jack Millard.
Nine unbeaten games have moved Southmead Athletic into third place, two points behind with a game in hand, after they travelled to Pomphrey Hill and beat Bromley Heath United Reserves 2-0.
At Somerdale, goals from Nick Joyce and Ryan Elsbury earned visitors Bristol Bilbao a 2-0 win against Redbridge.
AFC Mangotsfield Reserves slipped to fourth following a goalless draw at Jamaica Bell.
Division One leaders AFC Whitchurch were in cup action and second placed Little Stoke Reserves were without a game. Third-placed Fishponds OB took full advantage with a 2-0 win at Imperial Reserves, thannks to two goals from Darren Ferry.
Rob Sivers completed his first hat-trick for Filton Athletic Reserves, with further goals from Danny Simpson, Scott Feltham and Harry Garrett in a 6-0 home win over Cosmos FC.
In Division Two, leaders St Valliers were made to struggle by visitors AFC Mangotsfield A before winning 2-1, thanks to strikes from Scott Budding and Danny Daly.