Premier Combination Harris fires Bradley Stoke to top of the table

BRADLEY Stoke Town sit at the Bristol Premier Combination Division One summit thanks to a second-half double by Tom Harris.

The striker’s post-break brace proved just enough to see off gallant and improving Greyfriars Athletic hosts who had threatened to spoil the visitors’ aspirations of seizing top spot by snatching an early lead, before seeing that advantage swiped away by spirited Bradley Stoke opponents.

On another disappointingly decimated afternoon of action where the league programme was concerned, at least this derby – the respective club grounds are separated by a mere two-mile stretch – offered some pandemic respite and entertainment amid the ongoing Covid-induced chaos.

Already into the New Year and with another nationwide lockdown now in place, the season has yet to truly take off.

While Bradley Stoke and midtable Greyfriars have played eight and nine games, respectively, of their 24 scheduled matches, many of their rivals have only performed four times, a scenario doing nothing to ease mounting headaches for hard-pressed fixture organisers.

Bradley Stoke began brightly enough, dominating the majority of possession while Greyfriars always looked dangerous on the break.

However, it was a defensive Town error which led to an early breakthrough goal, an under-hit back pass intercepted and dispatched at the second attempt by a delighted Matt Troth.

Greyfriars were unlucky not to add to their tally before the break too, with Lewis Brodie in the Town goal having to make several saves.

Bradley Stoke manager Jon Welsh made three changes at halftime in order to adjust the shape of his team, and within ten minutes of the restart they were level when Harris pounced on a loose ball to fire home from inside the six-yard box.

Greyfriars were now finding it increasingly difficult to get out of their half and Harris was able to increase his tally by placing his shot into the corner of the net from an acute angle.

“We continued to apply pressure after Tom’s second goal, although Greyfriars did throw men forward in the closing minutes,” said Welsh.

“Thankfully our defence remained resilient and Greyfriars just could not find a way through.

“Having been the only game to survive in the league on the day, it was a credit to both sides that an enthralling derby, played out on a heavy pitch, went ahead at all.”

Greyfriars secretary, and the Premier Combination league’s match secretary, Kevin Wilkinson, admitted: “After going ahead early in the first half with Matt’s goal, we really should have been further ahead by half-time after several missed chances.

“Instead, Bradley Stoke hit back with two goals inside a ten-minute spell in the middle of the second half and managed to hold on for the win.”