Bristol Premier Combination April 25th 2025 edition
By Simon Parkinson
WINTERBOURNE United’s jubilant manager Tim Minihane applauded his “incredible players” and staff as they approach their final game this Saturday of a double winning campaign already crowned Bristol Premier Combination Premier Division champions.
A ruthless 7-1 Parkside Avenue romp over one of their long-time closest challengers, Hallen Reserves, secured them the title thanks to clinical Craig Doyle’s treble, James Mainstone’s double and Dan Brown and Jack Higgs strikes.
Whilst they await a crucial one-off play-off meeting with Hellenic Division Two West champions Bishop’s Cleeve Development at Oaklands Park on Wednesday, May 14 (7.30pm) to determine which of the sides will be promoted to the Gloucestershire County League, Winterbourne can at least head into Saturday’s final outing, a home one too at 2pm against another of their most threatening adversaries this term, DRG Frenchay, in celebratory mood.
There’s no doubt Bourne are worthy champions to go with their League Cup final triumph, having won 19 and lost only two of their 23 games heading into Saturday’s finale.
Of last weekend’s convincing championship-clinching victory over Hallen, Minihane glowed: “I was delighted with the performance. Like many games this season, we hit top gear when it mattered.
“The players have been incredible all season; I’ve never known such commitment and team spirit in my time in football.
“They deserve all the plaudits for achieving a league and cup double. You can fluke a cup success; but a league title is a true reflection of a team.”
Minihane added: “Fair play to Hallen and DRG for the title battle; much respect goes to them.
“It’s pleasing to reward our chairman Robyn Maggs for his faith and support with the success we’ve had.
“And my assistant James Betts is the best bloke I’ve ever met; we wouldn’t have won or succeeded without him.
“We do it together.”
Maggs remarked: “When we sat down with Tim and James at the end of last season to discuss them joining Winterbourne, the meeting ended positively with great anticipation on all sides. However, what has been achieved is beyond expectation.
“I became chairman for the 1990-91 season and we won promotion to the County League that year, then had to do it again five years later.
“Another return to the GCL after all these years would be as much of an achievement.”
Hallen, who were due to wrap up with an away bout with Bradley Stoke Town on Tuesday this week before travelling to Lockleaze Sports Centre to take on Shaftesbury Crusade this Saturday (2pm), had entered the Winterbourne game in confident mood after two days prior seeing off Thornbury Town Reserves, who had Sam Hussey on target, 5-1 at Moorhouse Lane courtesy of Archie Parry, Charlie Wills, Barney Ray, Callum Berry and Ben Tucker goals.
DRG, meantime, demonstrated an appetite for finishing as runners-up to Winterbourne at the weekend in overcoming Bradley Stoke 7-3 at Jubilee Centre through Dean Preddie’s hat-trick, James Shaw’s brace plus Dominic Stewart, Oliver Holden and Daniel Kingston strikes.
Callum Somerville, Dylan Plenty and Kieran Jackson notched for bottom-placed Bradley Stoke hosts contributing to an absorbing encounter.
It got better for DRG on Tuesday night, as two Emiel Aiken efforts and Dean Preddie’s single combined to see off Shaftesbury 3-0 at Frenchay Sports Ground.
Elsewhere at the weekend in the Combination top flight, Shaftesbury Crusade enjoyed that back-to-back winning feeling as they followed up their 2-0 home victory over Nicholas Wanderers with a fine 4-2 away defeat of Shirehampton Reserves through Carwyn Crow’s treble and Christian Ramirez’s contribution.
Finley Smith and Montel Riches scored for Shire.
In an important collision affecting the lower end of the table, Olveston United had George Williams and Matt Knight goals to thank for edging aside their hosts AEK-Boco Reserves, whose Mitchell Davies struck, 2-1.
Patchway Town have run out of games and can do no more other than wait and hope in their quest for Premier Division survival after giving themselves a real chance in overcoming Iron Acton 1-0 at Scott Park thanks to Ash Goodman’s goal.
The bottom two, AEK-Boco Reserves and guests Bradley Stoke, clash at Greenbank Road on Saturday (2pm) as the scrap to stay up comes to a head.
Bristol Barcelona took a major step towards securing the Division One title after Sohail Ashrif’s crucial goal proved enough to see off their Bendix hosts 1-0 at Lees Hill and already-promoted Greyfriars Athletic were surprisingly beaten 4-2 at home by Hillside celebrating victory via Finlay Ozsoylu’s pair plus Ciaran Keechan and Sam Smith efforts.
Greys disappointed boss Benni McCarthy, who saw Riley Morris and Simon Bateman score for his team, remarked after the game: “What a day to be bad and for everything to go wrong. But I’d rather it happen now than when chasing promotion.
“We have two games left, starting at home against Cribbs A on Tuesday (22nd) and a miracle might happen yet should Barca forget how to score goals on Thursday evening (24th) at Henbury.”
Greyfriars were indeed hoping to still be in the frame to snatch the leadership at the last from Bristol Barcelona going into their final outing at home to Bendix on Saturday at 2pm.
Back to last Saturday and Chipping Sodbury Town Reserves had a clinical Max Shephard header from a pin-point right-sided Ryan Hughes free-kick five minutes from time to thank for salvaging a point from a 1-1 Ridings draw with Cribbs A.
Second-bottom Henbury & Rockleaze A, with Josh Arnott and Jordan Hanlon their marksmen, had to settle for a point too but really could have done with more in their parlous position as they drew 2-2 with visiting Lion, who had Felix McGovern and Samy Vasile registering.
Old Sodbury’s plight at the foot of the second tier standings was worsened in 1-0 home defeat by Hambrook & Brimsham United.
Meanwhile, while DRG were racing to that 3-0 victory at the expense of Shaftesbury, there was a straightforward midweek win for Hallen Reserves, 5-0 at embattled Bradley Stoke to draw level on 52 points in third spot with DRG immediately above them.
Olveston United, with James Moore and James Worley registering, were held to a 2-2 home draw by Shirehampton Reserves whilst Thornbury Reserves, who had Asher Budd and Harry Wormwell on target, also emerged with a point from a 2-2 stalemate, at Lodge Road against Iron Acton.
Greyfriars Athletic’s hopes of yet overhauling Bristol Barcelona at the summit ended in 2-1 home defeat by Cribbs A, who had James Capon and Alex Craig netting whilst frustrated Greys only had a Will Dixon goal to celebrate.
Brett Richards was Oldland Abbotonians Reserves’ scorer; but far more was required as their rampant second-bottom hosts, Old Sodbury, surged to a 6-1 success for only their second victory of a challenging campaign.