U18 Combination Lucas sinks Saints with stoppage-time winner for ‘Grove

A STOPPAGE-time winner from Harry Lucas grabbed all three points for Hengrove Athletic as they defeated Downend Saints 2-1 in Division One of the Bristol Under-18 Combination.

Carter Bailey gave the home side the lead inside 30 seconds but Downend fought back and equalised 12 minutes into the second half through Alfie Noble.

However, Lucas’s first goal of the season came two minutes into time added on to rescue a dramatic win for ‘Grove, who have shortened the gap to leaders Bath City to three points with two games in hand.

Bailey lashed home his 14th goal of the season to put Hengrove ahead. It set a pattern for the first part of the first half where ‘Grove dominated the chance count with Riley Griffiths, Lucas and Bailey, again, all going close.

However, as the half went on, the Saints started to come more into the game. This continued after the break and Saints levelled on 57 minutes through Noble.

Griffiths headed a chance wide for Hengrove and Bailey fired a shot just wide.

Just as it seemed Grove’s title hopes had taken a major blow, with two minutes of stoppage-time having lapsed, Lucas found space inside a packed penalty area and slotted home his first goal of the season.

‘Grove are still awaiting the three points from the Rockleaze match to be awarded to them, which would leave Paul Fortt and Mike Stone’s team needing a point to pip Bath to the title.

In Division Three, Warmley Rangers had a 5-0 win at AEKBoco.

The conditions weren’t great and trying to control possession in the wet was be a challenge for both sides.

Warmley started well and it was not long, after a spell of relentless pressure, that a corner from Sam Thomas was headed in at the near post by Jaiden Thomas.

Warmley were awarded a freekick 25 yards out and Charlie Bodman hit a screamer into the top left corner to give his side a two-goal lead at half-time.

In the second half, Warmley kept up the same intensity and pace of the game from the first half.

A run and cross from Zaid Malkawi was met by Vinnie Baker for their third goal. Five minutes later, a cross from Finlay Laver found Woodridge Orr in the box to make it 4-0.

Thomas then linked with Bodman, who scored his second, to wrap up a comfortable win for Warmley.

A good performance from Warmley Rangers who finished their first season together in the top three.