District Sodbury and Totterdown serve up goal-fest at the Ridings
CHIPPING Sodbury Town A and Totterdown United Reserves fought out an enthralling Ridings encounter as the goals flowed there and throughout the Bristol and District Senior Division.
Jack Derrick and Dalton Hoskins each scored twice for Sodbury yet had to accept a share of the spoils, with their guests emerging with a point from a 4-4 draw as James Kearle (2), Toby Carter and George Saunders responded.
There were even more goals on show at Lakemead Grove where Highridge United Reserves maintained their place in pole position with a 6-3 home success over Seymour United Reserves through Jack Knight’s hat-trick and Dan Elson, Tom Perry and Louis Elson efforts.
Division One champions Stapleton continue to thrive in the league’s top tier, their unbeaten run continuing in their Begbrook Green Park backyard with a 4-1 victory over Henbury Reserves, via pairs apiece for Luke Clarke and Jack Welling.
Longwell Green Sports A had Daniel Stephens’ double to thank for a point from a 2-2 home draw against Fry Club A, whose Paul Cutter and Danny Williams notched.
Sam Hussey hit a hat-trick and the Budd boys – Jake and Asher – also scored in a 5-1 Real Thornbury defeat of struggling Patchway Town Reserves at Severn Beach.
Bradley Stoke Town Reserves have had their ups and downs in Division One following their elevation from the second division, but they made it back-to-back wins by beating Tormarton 4-1 at Jubilee Centre, through two Ashley RogersMilburn goals and contributions by Harry Haskins and Aaron Bundy.
Brimsham Green, who had Jonny Davies on target, are enjoying reasonable fortunes in eighth spot, although they had to settle for a point from a 1-1 draw with Sunnyside Fields neighbours Iron Acton Reserves, whose Matt Kirby registered in the first half.
Alex Moores’ effort proved only a consolation as Lion lost 4-1 at home to a Bristol Barcelona outfit ominously roaring to the summit on the strength of a seventh straight win.
In Division Two, Jacob Cleverley (2), Jay Johnson and Joe Williams shared the scoring as Nicholas Wanderers A kept themselves among the frontrunners with a 4-2 victory over Stoke Lane Athletic at Scott Park for a fourth win from four since the 2020-21 start.
While Winterbourne United Reserves were storming on at the top with a 6-0 away romp against Pucklechurch Sports Reserves for an eighth win in eight, Bendix had Jacob Backwell’s brace and Chris Sweeney’s strike to thank for seeing them to a second win of their campaign via a 3-0 home defeat of highriding Shaftesbury Crusade Reserves, to deliver a boost to the Lees Hill battlers.
Highridge United A were indebted to Trey Kimmins and Owen Allen goals in a 2-2 home draw with Mendip Broadwalk A.
It’s hard to see beyond AFC Mangotsfield District Reserves going on to cement top spot in Division Three at the end of it all, even at this early stage of their season.
This time Fishponds Athletic had the misfortune of running into the might of Mangos who streaked to a seventh win from nine unbeaten outings thus far by making the short return from Somerdale celebrating a 5-0 romp, through Karl Howard’s double and Liam Bamford, Joe Alston and Matt Sheedy strikes.
There was a closer affair at the same Somerdale venue where Fry Club C won 4-3 against the same AFC Grace outfit they beat 2-1 on their travels on the opening day.
In an entertaining contest in Keynsham, Toby Cooke celebrated a treble and Paul Payne chipped in to clinch victory for Fry’s at the expense of battling Grace guests replying through Alister West, Alexander Reynolds and Nathan Gornall goals.
While Iron Acton A had Lewis Shipp, Charlie Parsons and an own goal to thank for taking them comfortably past lowly hosts Crosscourt United 3-0 at West Town Lane, Seymour United A had Joel Smith and Jack Garland on target although it wasn’t enough to deny De Veys Reserves a second straight victory with a 4-2 win on their Coronation Park travels.
Jon Bale, Josh Quinn, Callum Quinn and Connor Sposito did the damage for De Veys, prompting manager Joe O’Connor to reflect: “We started the season with five defeats but all bar one were by the odd goal.
“We haven’t changed anything major but a few bits of luck have gone our way which wasn’t the case in the earlier games.” Brimsham Green Reserves and
winless Bristol Barcelona
Reserves have been occupying unwanted places in the Division Four basement, but they played out an entertaining 3-3 draw at Moorland Road. Aaron Turner (2) and Marcus Rankin scored for Yatebased hosts Brimsham.
Zac Unthank scored both goals for Lawrence Weston Saturday Reserves but still his spirited team couldn’t get over the line as their run without victory since the off stretched to seven games as thirdplaced visitors Roman Glass St George A held them to a 2-2 draw.
Seymour United B gained a third win of the season with a 3-2 success against Shaftesbury Crusade A, thanks to Jack Knowlson, Sam Williams and Dillon Monks goals. At The Ridings, Bradley Stoke Town B beat hosts St Nicholas Reserves 4-3 through Kieran Jackson, William Lupton, Samuel Cottle and Tim Slack goals.