Bristol Premier Combination April 17th 2025 edition
By Simon Parkinson
TIM Minihane and his Winterbourne United table toppers began what he labelled “a massive few games ahead” as they took a significant step nearer securing the Premier Division title with a 4-1 away victory over Nicholas Wanderers.
They achieved it via Craig Doyle’s double and James Mainstone and Dan Brown goals to stretch their lead over second-placed Hallen Reserves, who were beaten 3-1 at home by DRG Frenchay, to nine points. Billy Arnold notched for Nics.
“It was a comfortable win and we could have scored more; but as ever there it was a really tough game,” happy Bourne boss Minihane said.
Bourne extended their advantage to ten points on Tuesday having had to settle for a point from a 1-1 draw away against Longwell Green Sports Reserves courtesy of another Doyle goal, before focusing fully on this Saturday’s key home encounter with Hallen (2pm) as the business end of the Premier Division programme intensified.
DRG entered the week still with a mathematical chance of claiming the title with games in hand, their hopes helped by Emiel Aiken, Oliver Holden and Dean Preddie strikes in that eye-catching victory at Hallen, who had Toby Walwin on target.
The Frenchay-based fliers, eyeing at least a runner-up spot come the campaign’s conclusion, were due to face Olveston United on their Wednesday evening travels this week, whilst Hallen were pencilled in for a home tussle with Thornbury Town Reserves 24 hours later.
Iron Acton, with four games remaining starting at Scott Park on Saturday with a trip to take on bottom-placed Patchway Town, played their part in a compelling 3-3 spectacle with Shaftesbury Crusade at Lockleaze Sports Centre.
Elan Plummer, Liam Monelle and their man of the match James Fortune struck for Acton, while Bail Mboob (2) and Pele Kouisseoue notched for the hosts.
Elsewhere in the weekend’s Combination top flight, Longwell Green Sports Reserves’ competitive showings in the main of latter weeks continued with Rhys Jones’ brace and Harley Lock’s effort in a 3-2 Greenbank Rec success at AEK-Boco, who were kept in the contest by Kailen Anderson and Jake Woodman goals.
The outcome was the same at Scott Park, where Ash Goodman and Jude Rollings goals weren’t quite enough to bring some joy to struggling Patchway as they too went down 3-2, to Bradley Stoke Town, who had Adam Hay’s pair and Tyler Ackerman’s effort to thank for earning them only a fourth win of their season to lift themselves above their beaten hosts into a second-bottom berth.
Already promoted to the Premier Division for the first time in their history, Greyfriars Athletic’s hopes of dislodging Bristol Barcelona from the Division One summit were given another major boost thanks to a 4-0 away defeat of Cribbs A, although Barca showed no signs of backing down either in the enthralling race for supremacy as they surged past Bedminster Down 5-0 in Down’s final outing of a fine first campaign at the higher level.
Dan Holbrook, Connor Davies, Riley Morris and Matt Troth delivered the goals for delighted second-placed Greys, who have competed in the league for an impressive 27 straight seasons now and continue to trail Barcelona by only two points with a game in hand to enhance title prospects.
“It was a top win and great performance by us,” purred Greys manager Benni McCarthy, whose ambitious team next entertain Hillside on Saturday (2pm).
“All the lads worked very hard in what seemed to be mid-July temperatures.
“With Hillside losing (2-1) to Hambrook it meant we’re guaranteed to finish in the top two and gain promotion with three games left, and I’m hoping for a strong finish to our amazing season.”
Barca, meantime, with mid-table Bendix away at Lees Hill in their penultimate outing of the season on Saturday (2pm), kept their side of the bargain with those five without reply at Bedminster Down courtesy of Mo Salihu’s double along with single contributions from Sohail Ashrif, Faruq Sanni and Marcin Tarras.
Hillside, with Cadon Harris registering, fell to Lucas Hart and Liam Cann strikes for Hambrook & Brimsham United in that 2-1 defeat as their outside chances of a top two finish evaporated.
In the one other First Division fixture on show, Oldland Abbotonians Reserves swept past their Lion hosts 4-0 to end the weekend in seventh and eighth positions respectively.
- As well as Winterbourne’s 1-1 away draw with Longwell Green Reserves in midweek,
Shirehampton Reserves swept to a 4-0 Penpole Lane victory over Nicholas Wanderers, Patchway Town had a vital 2-1 pick-up win at Thornbury Town Reserves thanks to Jean Claude-Belouis and Callum Trueman efforts – James Cooke netted for Thorns – while Olveston United and DRG Frenchay fought out a goalless stalemate.
Shaftesbury Crusade Welcomed Nicholas wanderers to Lockleaze Sports Centre Thursday evening where Shaftesbury ran out 2-0 winners.
Hallen Reserves looked to continue adding pressure to Winterbourne United by taking on Thornbury Town res. Hallen completed the double over a Thornbury in a matter of weeks coming out on top 5-1 winners.