Premier Comb’n Cribbs put on an eight-goal show against Highridge
CRIBBS Reserves are unleashing that old and familiar threat which they hope will finally land them a place in the Marcliff Gloucestershire County League.
In a Premier Division affair at Station Road, Highridge United were put to the sword as Tom Headford’s hat-trick and contributions by Jack Guthrie, Tom Burns, Liam Clayton, James Clayton and Andy Forward catapulted clinical Cribbs to an 8-1 victory over visitors who had only Jack Thompson registering in response.
Fifth-placed Cribbs now face on their Saturday travels (2.30pm) a bottom-placed Pucklechurch Sports team yet to savour a win in six attempts, although they played a full part in their latest appearance as George Robbins, Ross Pidgeon and Lewis Densley all scored before AEK Boco Reserves came through 5-3 winners in a splendid Greenbank Road spectacle. Jason Thatcher led the home scoring with a brace and Rufus Davies, Jaye Rudge and Jamie Johnson added the rest to take Boco’s winning streak to four in league and cup.
Longwell Green Sports Reserves manager Nick Peters painted a “bright” club picture after seeing his aspiring young guns go down fighting 3-2 at the home of unbeaten leaders Winterbourne United.
Having witnessed Billy Hensler and Toby Watson goals keep his team in a second close-fought contest between the sides in seven days, Peters pointed out: “All 14 of our players are under 23s and most are under 19, yet we more than matched the experience of Winterbourne’s side. We were also very unlucky the week before not to take all three points from our 1-1 draw with them.
“The focus this year is on bringing youth through and with our B and C teams containing players all under the age of 20, we’re looking bright for the future.”
Nevertheless, table-topping Winterbourne prevailed once more. Dave Herbert equalised straight after his team had fallen behind to make it 1-1 at the break, before two excellent finishes from Charlie Davis and James Mainstone looked to have settled it late on, only for the visitors to pull one back in the dying stages. “It was another tough game against a good young team,” said Winterbourne chairman Robyn Maggs.
Kevin Pollard was delighted with
his unbeaten Nicholas Wanderers team’s latest showing after seeing them hit five without reply past Totterdown United on their Norton Lane travels.
After a goalless first half in which Jordan West had two chances to convert for Nics at the back post and ‘keeper Mitch Norman pushed over a Totterdown volley, the away side’s quality took hold as Chris Box opened their account direct from a corner; Billy Arnold provided a fine finish to a well-worked move and Jay Hubbard, skipper Jack Britton and Jack Neagle all weighed in with goals.
“It was a very pleasing and professional display by us,” said Pollard, who braces his men now for a “big derby” at home with fellow unbeaten rivals Boco.
Olveston United head to Highridge United on Saturday (2.30pm) for a Prem bout in good heart too after James Worley’s 32nd minute goal, following neat link-up play with Alex Grocott, proved enough to see off Seymour United 1-0 for a third win from five fixtures.
Dave Davies was a far happier manager after watching his chastened Hambrook team overcome DRG SV Frenchay, who had crushed them 6-1 the previous Saturday, 1-0 at Whiteshill Common in a dramatic Division One turnaround.
A Mark Bragg penalty four minutes from time settled a much tighter tussle, prompting Davies to say: “It was a great response from my players. They showed a great attitude and desire and we missed
four very good first-half chances, too.”
An in-form Yame Aibangbee celebrated a double and Ross Davey, Luke Haddow, Jamie Hill and Reuben Walters all scored to propel Iron Acton to a 6-2 New Road victory over Greyfriars Athletic and into third position in the table ahead of this Saturday’s home encounter with winless Shirehampton Reserves. Tom Haim and Nick Bishop scored for Greyfriars.
While De Veys were leaping into fifth spot with a 4-0 home defeat of Shirehampton Reserves, Bradley Stoke Town were claiming a second point thanks to Adam Bates and Aaron Godfrey goals in a 2-2 away draw at Mendip Broadwalk Reserves, who had Dean Maggs and Roberto Scriven on target.