Bristol Premier Combination March 8th 2025 edition
By Simon Parkinson
LION are taking some taming at this time as they strive to stretch their impressive unbeaten run still more at the expense of this Saturday’s hosts and Combination First Division pacesetters Bristol Barcelona (Oaklands Park, 3.30pm).
The on-song Little Stoke Park outfit have already demonstrated they can mix it with the best in their section – Lion’s 2-2 draw with Greyfriars Athletic in their latest outing took that spell without loss to four games, an encouraging sequence which includes a 4-0 home defeat of fourth-placed Bedminster Down in their previous fixture.
After watching Raj Birring and Mate Istvan respectively assist Dan Jones and Ryan Harris in scoring for his side in Saturday’s stalemate with Greyfriars, who had taken a two-goal lead through Will Dixon’s double, Lion captain Josh Armstrong enthused: “We started the weekend in form and knew the next challenge in Greyfriars would really tell us where we currently were.
“We actually felt like we dropped two points in the end with the chances we had; but Greyfriars haven’t lost or drawn much this year, so we take it and move on.”
Armstrong was delighted too with his team’s efforts in overcoming high-flying Bedminster seven days prior thanks to Josh Hardie’s double, Ryan Robinson’s penalty and Jace Esof’s effort.
“It was another really pleasing result,” the Lion skipper acknowledged, “and important for us too as we’re aiming for a top half finish.
“Bedminster are a good side, regardless of who they field; so to beat them home and away as we have done is a great effort.”
The Lion outcome was a disappointment for Greyfriars boss Benni McCarthy and his team after those two Dixon goals had given them that advantage.
“It was a tough outing for us,” the Greys leader admitted. “After going two-up early on, a bit of complacently set in and let us down.
“Hopefully we can bounce back this weekend (at home to Old Sodbury), keep the pressure on the top spot and finish the season strongly.”
An eagerly-anticipated local derby at the Ridings ended in 2-1 victory for delighted Chipping Sodbury Town Reserves hosts returning to winning ways after suffering four straight defeats.
Old Sodbury snatched the lead within the first minute with a pinpoint cross from the right into the box for Josh Field to clinically finish.
Chipping Sodbury eventually began to build a few attacks of their own, culminating in Jamie Bradford’s shot, possibly a cross, finding the top corner to bring the game level at half-time
His team, fired up from a half-time dressing down, displayed a lot more urgency and desire in the second half, despite the game still being an even one.
Ultimately it was Jacob Owers who stole the show with a wonder strike from 25 yards out after creating space for himself and finding the top corner to win it for Chipping Sodbury.
The jubilant hosts were, however, grateful for a late double save by keeper Jak Murray as Old Sodbury so nearly equalised.
Bedminster Down, meanwhile, with bottom-placed guests Patchway Town Reserves next up this Saturday (2pm), roared back from their 4-0 defeat by Lion to convincingly beat Henbury & Rockleaze A 5-1on their Norton Lane travels courtesy of Jordan Pocock, Jacob Littlewood, Connor Bodnarazek, Robbie Tripp-Edwards and Jack Prosser strikes.
Bristol Barcelona remain top of the pile heading into this Saturday’s home game with Lion (3.30pm) but have been struggling to pin points to the board of late.
The 1-1 away draw with Hambrook & Brimsham United in their latest appearance was their third outing without victory following 3-0 and 2-0 defeats by Hillside and Bendix respectively.
Jordan Lawrence netted for Hambrook while Luis Santos replied for a Barca team holding a five-point advantage at the summit over a second-placed Greyfriars side who have played two games fewer.
Winterbourne United and Hallen Reserves will compete in a mouthwatering League Cup final on Wednesday, April 2 after both squeezed through tight semi-final ties.
Harrison Fairman scored twice and Archie Parry grabbed the other goal to send Hallen safely into spring’s showpiece occasion courtesy of a 3-2 home victory over Iron Acton, who had fought back from three-goal arrears in the second half to give themselves hope via Joe Hillard and Ruben Nuevo-Draper goals before bowing out.
Acton manager Chris Sweet said: “Our lads rallied hard at 3-0 down and threw all they had at Hallen with those two goals and hitting their post too.
“But it ultimately wasn’t to be for us.”
Premier Division leaders Winterbourne, meantime, advanced to the final with a 2-1 victory over visiting Shirehampton Reserves thanks to Craig Doyle’s double in another closely-fought semis tussle at Parkside Avenue.
Joyous Patchway Town had Matt Baker’s sole goal to thank for earning them a fourth win of their campaign, and relieving the pressure a little more now in a fourth-bottom berth approaching Saturday’s home game with Shaftesbury Crusade (2pm), as Nicholas Wanderers’ proud 12-match unbeaten run in league activity ended in 1-0 Scott Park defeat.
Nico Baird hit a hat-trick as Longwell Green Sports Reserves made it back-to-back wins now in more comfortable mid-table climes with a 3-0 home success over Shaftesbury to put him and them in good heart for this Saturday’s Shellards Road visit by pacesetting big guns Winterbourne (2pm).
AEK-Boco Reserves put behind them successive 6-1 and 2-0 Greenbank Road losses at the hands of Winterbourne and Shirehampton, as Kailen Anderson and Jake Woodman goals in a 2-0 victory at Bradley Stoke Town ensured three welcome pick-up points.