Bristol Premier Combination February 1st 2025 edition
By Simon Parkinson
THE semi-finals of the Combination League Cup are looking enticing and enthralling prospects next month after four of the Premier Division’s big guns emerged unscathed from their quarter-final affairs.
Hallen Reserves had Jack Williams, Adam Snook, Jack Sheppard-Cozens, Pat Kosciolek, Archie Parry and Ben Lloyd all on target, as the top flight’s current second-placed team comfortably despatched of visiting First Division hopefuls Hambrook & Brimsham United, who had Ibrahima Diallo registering, 6-1 at Moorhouse Lane.
That Hallen success set up a mouthwatering Saturday, March 8 semis showdown with Iron Acton guests needing to dig deep before squeezing through delighted 1-0 winners over DRG Frenchay visitors third in the Premier Division with an impressive seven victories from their eight outings so far.
That tense contest, played in front of an 82-strong crowd at Yate Town’s South West Interiors Stadium, was won as early as the seventh minute courtesy of Joe Jefferies’ strike, while Ruben Draper was named their man of the match for a “commanding performance at the back,” according to Acton’s satisfied supremo Chris Sweet.
Leaders Winterbourne United will host Premier Division compatriots Shirehampton Reserves on the same March 8 afternoon in the other last four fixture after both emerged triumphant with strong last eight performances.
Winterbourne had Ollie Faulkner, Ben Weaver and Jordan Yeo celebrating goals as they overcame Shaftesbury Crusade 3-1 on their Lockleaze Sports Centre travels, the hosts responding with Raphael Waugh’s effort.
Pleased Bourne boss Tim Minihane acknowledged: “It was a tough game and we were made to work hard.
“So we’re all delighted to have progressed to the semi-finals.”
Shirehampton Reserves manager Joe Wheeler was a happy leader too after seeing his own top tier team sweep aside Division One high-fliers Bedminster Down 4-0 on their travels to progress to that semis occasion with Minihane’s men.
Bedminster Down had rattled the Shirehampton crossbar and forced Harry Bridgeman into a couple of good saves before Will Baldwin’s rocket put Shire ahead in first half stoppage-time.
Eight minutes into the second half George Brimson doubled their lead with a left-footed outside-of-the-boot dink from the edge of the box.
Brimson then doubled his own tally to make it 3-0 after 78 minutes, picking up the ball after Sevi Bala had beaten several defenders and finishing from inside the area.
It was roles reversed for the fourth as Brimson’s through ball reached Bala, who beat a defender and lobbed the keeper to round off the scoring in the 81st minute.
The Division One programme, meanwhile, was much about putting precious points on the board. That included Lion, who cast behind them two straight defeats by Hillside (2-0) and Hambrook & Brimsham United (4-1) by beating Cribbs A 2-1 at Little Stoke Park.
Steve Moss, with a header from skipper Josh Armstrong’s corner, and Ryan Robinson, sent through on goal by Mate Istvan’s aerial flick-on, were the jubilant goalscorers for a Lion team celebrating a fifth victory of their season at the expense of a Cribbs side netting through Alex Craig.
Armstrong acknowledged: “We produced a really pleasing performance.
“We always knew Cribbs have a young side; but they are full of quality and we were fully aware we’d need to ‘turn up’ in order to get revenge on them for their (5-1) win earlier in the season.
“What made the victory even sweeter was how we kept calm enough to score twice without reply after falling behind early on.”
Bristol Barcelona had Faruq Sanni, Sohail Ashrif and Dave Hodge to thank for their goals, as they opened up a six point advantage at the top of the table over Greyfriars Athletic, who were without a game, courtesy of a hard-fought 3-2 win at spirited basement battlers Old Sodbury.
Henbury & Rockleaze A secured a vital win of their own – 3-1 – in their efforts to keep the relegation places at arm’s length, as hosts Patchway Town Reserves, who had Abazuom Francis on target, tumbled to an 11th defeat in their 13th appearance of a testing campaign at Scott Park.
The outcome was the same at Castle Road, where Oldland Abbotonians Reserves bounced back from a 6-1 drubbing by Bristol Barcelona the previous weekend by overcoming their high-flying Bendix guests 3-1 via Ellis Clarke’s brace and George Passco’s strike.
Tom Frankom scored Bendix’s consolation goal.