Bristol Premier Combination March 29th 2025 edition
By Simon Parkinson
HALLEN Reserves have clearly not given up hope of a dramatic Premier Division championship triumph as they stretched their run without defeat to nine games at the expense of fellow high-fliers DRG Frenchay.
On an afternoon Shirehampton’s Scott Bamford is unlikely to forget in a long time, goals for Archie Parry, Alex Pullen and Charles Wills proved just enough to see jubilant Hallen to a 12th victory of their splendid campaign courtesy of a 3-2 win at Frenchay Park Road, so keeping alive their outside chances of pegging back a Bourne outfit intent on staying put for the duration.
Winterbourne kept their side of the bargain in edging a 3-2 away success of their own over Shaftesbury Crusade to maintain their eight point advantage at the head of the table over a second-spot Hallen team who have a game in hand. DRG are now third, nine points adrift of Bourne with two games in hand on the pacesetters.
Winterbourne and Hallen were on Wednesday night this week scheduled to lock horns for a mouthwatering Combination League Cup final showdown at Mangotsfield United’s Cossham Street stadium.
After watching strikes from Ben Weaver, Craig Doyle and an own goal secure his side another valuable victory, Bourne boss Tim Minihane admitted: “It was a really difficult game.
“With our cup final only days away it was always going to be edgy, made even more so up against a very strong Shaftesbury opponent.
“We managed to go 3-0 up but switched off twice, causing us a nervy final ten minutes.”
Iron Acton approach Saturday’s fixture with Nicholas Wanderers at Lodge Road (2pm) fourth in the standings yet without a win in their last six appearances.
There were positives to take in that their 2-2 draw with AEK-Boco Reserves at Greenbank Rec at least halted a run of four slender league losses, five to include a 3-2 League Cup semi-final defeat by Hallen.
Acton pinned a point to the board from that Boco bout thanks to a trademark free-kick from skipper Charlie Lacey and a goal of the season contender by their man of the match Warren Collins, who hit a screamer into the top corner from 20 yards out.
Longwell Green Sports Reserves can head into their testing away day with table topping Winterbourne at Parkside Avenue on Saturday (2pm) in buoyant mood on the back of an unbeaten six match run, relegation-threatened Patchway Town on the receiving end of a 6-0 Shellards Road romp in lethal Longwell’s latest appearance.
Whilst Thornbury Town Reserves had James Cooke’s hat-trick and Luke Garrett, Tom Manley and Josh Morris strikes to thank for powering them to a 6-1 Mundy Fields victory over Nicholas Wanderers, Shirehampton Reserves were finding themselves fifth in the table after putting paid to a winless three games in overcoming Bradley Stoke Town 4-2 at the Creek.
Harvey Sealey gave Shire the lead on 19 minutes, sitting the keeper down and finishing well after a strong run through midfield and through ball from Sam Harding.
There followed three goals inside six minutes. Scott Bamford doubled Shire’s lead, capitalising on a loose ball inside the box to volley home.
Bradley Stoke hit back via an own goal minutes later after a low free-kick was diverted into his own top corner by Louis Boyce, perhaps frustrated at not scoring at the right end for over three seasons!
Bamford, though, struck again for Shirehampton two minutes later, charging on to a high ball from Kieran Payne and netting to make it 3-1 at half-time.
Bradley Stoke had hope again as they halved the home lead with 17 minutes to go, a header going in off of a post.
However, Louis Snailham wrapped up the points for Shire in intercepting a short free-kick and rocketing the ball into the top right corner from 25 yards out.
Bamford, meanwhile, left Bristol Manor Farm’s borrowed Creek facility following his two-goal haul for the second string and dashed straight up to the club’s Penpole Lane ground to score a 94th minute winner for Shire’s first team for a memorable hat-trick with a difference in a 2-1 Western League Division One win over Radstock Town.
It’s tight at the top of Division One where Bristol Barcelona, with back-to-back 4-0 Oaklands Park HQ wins over Lion and then Chipping Sodbury Town Reserves, lead the way by three points over a Bedminster Down side they next take on away on Saturday week, April 12, for a crucial clash.
Bedminster, who have played a game more than Bristol Barcelona, have also been in unrelenting and freescoring form of late. Just ask Oldland Abbotonians Reserves, who had Harry Poole and McKyle Beck on target in a 7-2 Castle Road thumping by deadly Down, who are themselves in action this weekend with a big Saturday home encounter (2pm) with third-placed Greyfriars Athletic also in title and promotion contention.
Greyfriars are unrelenting at this time, as New Road guests Henbury & Rockleaze A found out in going down 4-0 to Connor Davies, Luke Magee, Adam Porter and Daniel Trotter efforts.
Greys boss Benni McCarthy said: “It was a very scrappy game, but we got the job done. We worked hard to get ahead and as soon as we did we controlled the game.
“We should have scored a few more; but I’ll take three points and a clean sheet going into our last five games.”
Bendix, meanwhile, who were due to travel to take on Hambrook & Brimsham United on Wednesday night this week before entertaining Chipping Sodbury Reserves on Saturday (2pm), racked up a third win on the spin with a 6-1 Lees Hill crushing of Cribbs A as Aidan Fowles, Luke Harding and Samuel Moss got themselves among the scoring.
Lion overcame their struggling Old Sodbury hosts 2-0 in returning to winning ways.