Bristol Premier Combination February 22nd 2025 edition
By Simon Parkinson
GREYFRIARS Athletic take a break from the action well placed to strike hard upon their return after securing a tenth victory of a splendid First Division season so far for them.
Goals from Adam Porter, Will Dixon (penalty) and Luke Magee, who netted with the winner ten minutes from time, proved just enough to see off their Chipping Sodbury Town hosts 3-2 to find themselves third in the table and only five points now adrift of pacesetting Bristol Barcelona, who have also played a game more than Benni McCarthy’s gallant Greys.
Alex Fox and Guy McEwen netted for a Sodbury side playing their part in an enthralling Ridings spectacle.
“It was always going to be a tough game, one made all the harder when we conceded inside the first two minutes,” reflected McCarthy, whose high-flying team next take on Lion away on Saturday week, March 8 (2pm).
“It could have gone either way in all honesty; but we dug deep and turned it around to get a win we were very happy with.”
Meanwhile, an eagerly-anticipated top table bout on the slick 3G Oaklands Park surface at Gloucestershire FA headquarters in Almondsbury ended with jubilant second-placed Bendix overcoming table toppers Bristol Barcelona 2-0.
Two Aidan Fowles goals did the damage as the visitors reduced the gap at the top between themselves and their opponents, tumbling to only a second defeat all term, to only four points, although Bristol Barcelona do have a game in hand.
While Bendix are without a game this weekend, Barca entertain at Oaklands Park once more (3.30pm) a fifth-placed Hillside outfit brimming with belief at this time after crushing rock bottom guests Patchway Town Reserves 12-4 at UWE to make it a fourth win from their last five appearances.
Victor Robson led the rout with four of Hillside’s goals, while Jack Lewis hit a double and Lucus Groves, Jacob Cermak-Wratten, Diogo Tome, Jay Bridges, Louis Hoyle and Dylan Hughes bagged the rest.
Patchway kept going and had goals for Dante Barclay, Kieran Bulger, James Hall and Charlie Sagar to show for their efforts.
Oldland Abbotonians Reserves are looking menacing at this time, as their latest Castle Road visitors Cribbs A discovered.
Dexter Levett’s brace along with Sam Sousa and Louis Rostron strikes were enough to clinch a fourth straight win for Oldland courtesy of a 4-2 success over a spirited Cribbs A team responding with Max Chaplin and Louie Paulson efforts.
Oldland aim to extend their winning run to five with victory at home to Chipping Sodbury’s second string on Saturday, while Cribbs target three pick-up points at Lawns HQ against Old Sodbury (both games 2pm).
Premier Division pacesetters Winterbourne United, meanwhile, fell to only a second defeat of their exciting campaign as delighted visitors Nicholas Wanderers returned home armed with three points from a 3-1 success.
It was Bourne’s first loss in the league since their 2-1 opening afternoon defeat at the hands of Shaftesbury Crusade, leaving their disappointed manager Tim Minihane to concede: “It was a really poor afternoon for us; we didn’t get up to anywhere near our usual level.
“We went one-up through Tristan (Day) but conceded three in the second half to a Wands side who wanted it more.”
The outcome was another feather in the cap for a fifth-placed Nicholas Wanderers side stretching their unbeaten Premier Division run to an impressive 11 games thanks to Scott Andoniou, Ashley Scrase and Harry Hockey goals.
Iron Acton and Hallen Reserves, in second and third spots respectively, locked horns for an important Lodge Road contest and emerged with a point apiece from an entertaining 2-2 draw.
Acton fell behind to an early Hallen goal before, after missing some good opportunities, their increased pressure finally paid off just before half-time as an excellent Joe Jefferies free-kick flew in for 1-1.
Hallen were reduced to ten men early in the second half after what was deemed by the home camp a “bad challenge” in the middle of the park led to the dismissal of Greg Anayiotos.
Nonetheless it was the visitors, with Matt Davis and Archie Parry their marksmen, celebrating the next goal after an indirect free-kick entered the net off an Acton player.
The home team rallied and with ten minutes left they got the equaliser they were looking for through Elan Plummer.
Iron Acton went on to hit the post from another free-kick but couldn’t find the winner against a side ending the game with nine men following Mason Jones’ red card for a second caution.
With several games in hand, DRG Frenchay, loitering with considerable intent in fourth place, aren’t out of the title picture either as they secured an eighth victory from ten outings to date with a 3-0 home defeat of Bradley Stoke Town courtesy of Emiel Aiken, Daniel Kingston and Todd Carter goals.
DRG next on Saturday (2pm) host a delighted Patchway Town team basking in the afterglow of only a third win of their entire 16-match season thus far.
Martins Olaniyi and Ashley Goodman were the overjoyed marksmen as third-bottom Patchway overcame bottom-placed guests Thornbury Town Reserves 2-0 at Scott Park.
In-form AEK-Boco Reserves, meantime, extended their run of victories in the Prem to three games, all away from home, with a 2-1 win over an Olveston United outfit netting through Isaac Fleming’s strike.