U18 Combination Rockleaze hot up title challenge

THE Bristol Under-18 Combination season still struggles for normality as teams wrestle with some of their players having to self-isolate and changeable weather. Last weekend less than 50 per cent of the scheduled games were played.

The only scheduled game in the Premier Division to survive was between Rockleaze and Cutters Friday which resulted in a 3-1 win for the home team Rockleaze. This win moved them to joint leaders on 10 points with Cribbs.

Rockleaze took the lead when Alfie Luing scored with a volley from the edge of the box.

After 20 minutes, Tommy Collins went around the goalkeeper to make it 2-0 to the home side.

Rockleaze were playing some flowing football now and the third and best goal of the day saw a passing moving from back to front finished off with a side-footed shot by Sid Bass.

The second half saw Cutters press and have several chances to get back into the game, but Rockleaze goalkeeper Ellis Prewitt was in fine form again. He was eventually beaten in the 68th minute by a neat finish from the Cutters striker.

A late rearrangement of a game between St Nicholas and Slimbridge Development resulted in a 3-1 win to Slimbridge, with all the goals scored in the first half.

The Slimbridge goals came before the midpoint of the first half, while Henry Sady scored St Nicholas’ only goal 10 minutes before the interval.

Division One fared no better with only two games being played. Leaders Downend Orange, who have a 100 per cent record this season, travelled to Larkhall Athletic, who have yet to win a game, and came away with a 3-2 win, thanks to goals from Kieran McDonaghLangely, Calum Cresswell and Finley Hargett.

Fry’s drew 3-3 against Mangotsfield United, which was a fourth draw out of five games played by

Fry’s this season. At the midway point the teams were tied at 1-1. Max Michalak scored for Fry’s in the first half, to which Will Banks and Daniel Moreton added goals within five minutes of each other mid way through the second half.

In Division Two, Chew Valley won their home game against St Nicholas Green 3-1 and remain in top position.

After a change of venue due to the Bishop Sutton pitch being waterlogged, the game was moved to Valley’s alternative ground at Dundry.

Valley started the game slowly and it took them at least 30 minutes to find their feet, by which time Joel Stone had put St Nicholas ahead.

Jamie Thompson equalised in the 36th minute with an assist from Freddie Gwyther.

Sam Barlow then finished well in the 45th minute to give them a 2-1 advantage at half-time.

The second half saw some good counter-attacks from St Nicholas as they looked for an equaliser but the Valleys defence was solid. It took until the 88th minute for Max Hendy to break through the St Nicholas defence and put in a topdrawer finish to ensure victory for Chew Valley.

Mangotsfield Lions travelled to Stoke Lane Lions and came away with a 3-1 win. They were two goals to the good by half-time and added a third after the break, while Stoke Lane could only manage a single goal from Tyler Lane. The Mangotsfield goalscorers were Cameron Johnson (2) and Harvey Williams.

Division Three leaders Larkhall U17 maintained their position with a 14-0 away victory over bottom side Clifton Eagles. Larkhall have woon all five games this season and are three points clear at the top from Downend Saints Eagles.

Avon Athletic improved their position to sixth with a 4-2 home win over Portishead, having lost 6-1 to them a month ago.