GFA Cups & District Blunt bags a hat-trick as Rovers ease through
LAWRENCE Rovers marched into round two of the GFA Junior Cup with a 7-1 away success over Bristol Downs League Division One’s strugglers St Andrews.
Rampant Rovers, who head the District League Division One standings with four wins from four, had Kevin Blunt’s hat-trick and doubles each by Luke Hayward and Louis Curtis to thank for comfortably seeing them through at the cost of determined ten-man Saints, with five of the goals arriving in the final 20 minutes as the home team tired.
Tormarton made it past the first round juncture too courtesy of a 3-2 home defeat of Downs Division One visitors Saints Old Boys. Mason Harrison, Rudo Hewitt and an own goal put the District league Division Two team through.
Joel Edwards was at the double as Suburban Division One side Old Cothamians Reserves overcame Patchway Town Reserves 2-1 on their travels to advance to round two. Charlie Sagar scored for the District Senior Division side.
Matt Troth also notched twice, for District One basement battlers Greyfriars Athletic Reserves, as they swept through courtesy of a 4-1 away victory over Suburban One pacesetters Stoke Gifford United Reserves, last season’s GFA Junior Cup winners. Jamie Elliott and Jordan Cox were also on target for Greyfriars.
Dave Paterson’s goal was all that Wick Reserves, second in the District Senior standings, required as they saw off hosts Longwell Green Sports A, of the District League’s second tier, 1-0.
Tommy Hutton scored for District top-flight competitors Oldland Abbotonians Reserves in a 6-1 defeat at Suburban Division One side Redbridge.
In the GFA Intermediate Cup, Ben Smith scored four times as Westerleigh Sports stormed into the second round with an 8-2 home victory over Jersey Rangers Reserves.
Isaac Bennett hit a hat-trick and Brandon Snary also made his mark as the District Three team eased past the first round stage at the expense of their Bristol Downs Division Two opponents.
Ashley Rogers-Milburn, Harry Haskins, Charles Moore and Andy Turner scored as Bradley Stoke Town Reserves put paid to District Two rivals’ Olveston United Reserves’ challenge via a 4-1 home success in a second meeting between the pair following September’s goalless league game.
Thornbury Town Reserves put a tough start to their District Two campaign behind them as they dismissed hosts and league rivals Old Sodbury 4-2 at Badminton Road, through James Cooke’s brace and Jack Taylor and Harrison Young efforts. Josh Field and Darren Bell replied for Sodbury.
District Three hosts Nicholas Wanderers A had a Paul Challoner brace to thank for keeping them in their tie at 2-2 with lowly Suburban Two hopefuls Lockleaze Community, but only up to a dramatic penalty shootout where the visitors emerged with a 5-4 win to progress.
Matt Kirby and Tom Wilmot struck for Iron Acton Reserves, whose District Two side couldn’t stop Suburban Two’s early strugglers Bristol Phoenix coming away from Yate as 4-2 victors.
Unbeaten District Two high-fliers Hambrook Reserves reached the second round too thanks to Joe Heard and Josh Cook strikes, both inside the first ten minutes, in a 2-1 Whiteshill Common success over league compatriots Brimsham Green, whose Kori Crosbie kept his travelling team’s hopes alive with their goal just before half-time.
» Pucklechurch Sports have hit the heights early into their Bristol and District Division Three assault – and don’t Bendix know it!
The free-scoring Abson Road outfit found themselves second in the standings heading into Saturday’s away-day against Bradley Stoke Town A (2.30pm) with a fourth win from five outings courtesy of a 12-2 home drubbing of their Kingswood-based guests. Louis Short and Adam Young each struck four times, while Lewis Densley celebrated a double and Dan Preddy and Alex Miller registered too. Mitch Caddick and Kieran Bush notched for Bendix.
The only Division One action on show was at Coronation Park where Seymour United Reserves claimed a first win of their campaign courtesy of Lee Doyle and Josh Randall strikes in a 2-0 defeat of struggling Hanham Athletic Reserves.
With county cup activity taking centre stage, Division Two’s sole fixture saw Sea Mills Park Reserves, now under former firstteam supremo Ikie Greening’s leadership, taking a 9-6 tumble at home by Hartcliffe in which Charlie Chappell, Luke Gardiner, Ross Tippins, James Page and Sam Smith all notched for the beaten hosts.
There were goals galore too at Hempton Lane where AFC Grace, with Dan Thatcher, Josh Johns and Nathan Gornall their marksmen, were crushed 10-3 by DRG SV Frenchay Reserves visitors cruising to a perfect fourth win from four to seize second place in Division Four, led by Luke Francis’ four goals and Simeon McCarthy’s treble.
On a goal-packed afternoon throughout the league, Winterbourne United Reserves held tight to top spot as braces each for Scott Cameron, Liam Sheppard and Dan Edwards, plus contributions by Martin Bobok, Nicky Walters and an own goal, propelled them past bottom team Crosscourt United 9-3.
Toby Werrett and Levi Morris were on target as Hanham Abbotonians moved into fifth place with a 2-1 home victory over Fry Club C, while Charlie Britton and Brett Richards strikes earned Oldland Abbotonians Colts a point from a 2-2 home draw with high-riding Highridge United A.
Ryan Brownlow and Richard Cleverley scored for Fishponds Athletic in a 7-2 home tumble at the hands of Hanham Athletic Vets.
Dan Newport scored for Seymour United A but couldn’t deny visiting Yate Athletic a 2-1 win.
Division Five leaders Lawrence Rovers Reserves were indebted to Pedro Shields and Daniel Harris goals in a 2-1 home success over an equally-youthful Longwell Green Sports B, whose Rhys Taylor kept them in the contest.
De Veys Reserves fought back from 3-0 down at home to Wick A to win 4-3, thanks to goals from Jon Bale (2), Tom Brice and Connor Sposito.
Westley Heath scored for Brimsham Green Reserves in a 4-1 defeat to St Nicholas Reserves, who eased to a first win of a difficult start through Dan Smith’s hat-trick and George Covello’s goal.