Bristol Premier Combination December 5th 2024 edition
By Simon Parkinson
WINTERBOURNE United and Shirehampton Reserves led the scoring spree as they and others sped into the last eight of the Bristol Premier Combination Cup with convincing wins.
Whilst Tim Minihane’s Bourne were cruising to a 12-1 away romp over First Division Old Sodbury, fellow Premier Division high-fliers Shirehampton were flexing their own muscles as another second tier competitor, Hillside, were put to the sword at Penpole Lane.
In fact it was the visitors who struck the first goal of four inside the opening 17 minutes, as an under-hit effort from range found its way through the home keeper’s hands and legs.
Shire centre-half James Loud turned it around for his team with two goals from two Connor Bryant crosses, the first a flick-up and overhead kick into the net and his second a near-post header to put his team 2-1 up.
George Brimson then scored his first of three when he steered in Montel Riches’ delivery for 3-1.
Hillside weren’t going away easily and five minutes before the break Bryant conceded a penalty which the visitors duly converted to make it 3-2 at half-time with seemingly all to play for.
Instead, the home side began to pull away nine minutes into the second period as Sam Hopes played Will Baldwin in to lob the Hillside keeper for 4-2, before Brimson headed home another Bryant cross and then fired in his hat-trick goal on 70 minutes.
Sam Harding rattled the post and had an effort tipped over before Jack Williams turned in a rebound to make it 7-2 at full-time.
That Shire victory teed up next a potentially tricky away day with undefeated Division One high-fliers Bedminster Down, who edged aside depleted Premier Division hopefuls Bradley Stoke Town, who always had Ajay Purja Pun’s effort keeping them in the second round tie, 2-1 in an entertaining and competitive contest at Little Stoke Park through Aaron Price and Rhys Murphy strikes.
There was no stopping Winterbourne sailing through to a last eight away collision with top flight rivals Shaftesbury Crusade, as Yohan Rutty-Smith’s four goals, David Herbert’s hat-trick, Craig Doyle’s double plus Tristan Day, James Mainstone and Jordan Yeo strikes catapulted Minihane’s men to that 12-1 success, Jordan Miller netting with under siege Old Sodbury’s consolation.
“We started fast, taking a seven-goal lead into half-time before going on to produce another strong performance in the second half,” the Parkside Avenue supremo enthused.
While Hallen Reserves had Nathan Hewitt, Saul Lewis and Toby Brown to thank for seeing them past visiting top flight rivals Longwell Green Sports Reserves 3-0 to set up a quarter-final home encounter with First Division Hambrook & Brimsham United on, like all the rest, a date to be decided, Iron Acton and DRG Frenchay continued to make strides in the competition.
Premier Division pacesetters Iron Acton made no mistake in despatching of hosts Thornbury Town Reserves 3-0 in a bottom versus top affair at Mundy Fields through Ruben Nuevo-Draper’s penalty and Joe Hillard’s effort before the break and a Liam Monelle contribution in the second half, as he opened his goal account for Acton to seal the win.
That round two victory means Chris Sweet’s team will next confront Premier Division compatriots DRG Frenchay in the last eight after Tom Vaughan’s men overcame travelling Olveston United 3-1 via Emiel Aiken’s hat-trick, which took the ace marksman to seven goals in three games.
In a good and lively first half, Aiken handed DRG the lead, only for Olveston to equalise through James Worley with a well-worked goal five minutes before the break.
A more scrappy second half saw DRG hit both post and bar while the visitors’ keeper pulled off two great saves to deny debutant Oakley Dawes and Dylan Quick.
Finally DRG did manage to find the net courtesy of a fine Aiken finish on the hour mark, before the scorer sealed his side’s victory on 75 minutes with a smart backheel.
Pleased manager Vaughan said: “We produced a disciplined performance in the second half and looked dangerous every time we attacked.
“On another day we could have scored five or 6.”
While still-winless AEK-Boco Reserves and competitive Nicholas Wanderers guests fought out a 2-2 Greenbank Road stalemate in the only Premier Division fixture on show, Oldland Abbotonians Reserves were securing a third win of their mixed Division One campaign to date thanks to an enthralling 4-3 success over Cribbs A hosts always in contention with Aubrey Raymond-Barker’s brace and Alex Craig’s effort.
Mid-table Lion, meantime, had Ryan Robinson’s treble and Jace Esof’s single to thank for safely dispatching spirited strugglers Henbury & Rockleaze A 4-2 at Little Stoke Park.
Greyfriars Athletic find themselves third in the First Division standings heading into Saturday’s big away bout with second-spot Bedminster Down (2pm), despite being held to a 1-1 New Road draw by Chipping Sodbury Town Reserves.
In a closely-contested match, Sodbury went behind after ten minutes from a Jamie Elliott delivery which was inadvertently deflected into the net off the foot of one of Sodbury’s defenders.
Constant Sodbury pressure in the second half was rewarded on 85 minutes with an Alex Fox header powered into the net from Ben Rankin’s pinpoint corner.
Both teams created opportunities before the final whistle but neither could find a winner.
Greys boss Benni McCarthy admitted: “It was a frustrating afternoon for us as we took an early lead but couldn’t find the second.
“Both sides had their chances to win and two fantastic saves from our keeper Aaron Powell prevented Sodbury from taking the lead.
“We need to work on the small margins and get our season back on track.”