Bristol Premier Combination November 14th 2025 edition
By Simon Parkinson
THE Uhlsport Bristol Premier Combination’s top four teams were all in unrelenting form as though to demonstrate the top flight chase for the title is set to be as intense as ever.
Still holding firm in pole position with six wins and only one defeat from their seven appearances thus far, DRG Frenchay can take a break from routine to visit Filton Athletic, the Gloucestershire County League’s second-placed side, for Saturday’s tasty GFA Senior Amateur Cup third round affair (2pm) in confident mood.
It was an exciting and sometimes tense way to secure their latest three-point haul, but DRG had just too much for their spirited Shaftesbury Crusade guests as two more goals by in-form marksman Emiel Aiken, plus Joe Loney, Sam Haggett and Adam Porter efforts, had Tom Vaughan’s team celebrating a 5-3 win to maintain a three-point lead at the summit.
Hallen Reserves, who entertain University of Bristol in the same county competition on Saturday, remain second in the standings with a similar strong record so far of five wins and a sole loss from their six games, after Sam Deuchars, Troy Clarke-Henry and George Binding goals were sufficient to see off Bristol Barcelona, who had Mubarak Suraj’s strike to thank for keeping their hopes alive, 3-1 at Moorhouse Lane.
Olveston United have had their ups and downs so far yet can be positive about their third position in the table right now, helped there by James Brock and George Williams goals, and a man of the match performance by James Kershaw, in a closely-fought 2-1 defeat of Thornbury Town Reserves at Alveston Road.
Iron Acton, in fourth spot, cannot be discounted from a title tilt this term too.
They bounced back from their previous week’s 6-3 away drubbing by DRG by comprehensively overcoming their winless, bottom-placed Bradley Stoke Town hosts, whose James Prior notched, 6-1 courtesy of Alex Lambert’s second treble of the season along with Dean Preddie’s double and Joe Wintle’s single.
Nicholas Wanderers find themselves sixth heading into Saturday’s home fixture with Patchway Town at Dundridge Rec (2pm), although they had to be content with a point from a 1-1 stalemate with Winterbourne United, Scott Andoniou scoring for Wands and Ben Weaver netting for visiting champions still to hit last season’s impressive stride.
Second-bottom Patchway Town have had their challenges once more, with only one win from six outings.
Their relief and delight at Scott Park HQ was therefore understandable, as goals for George Bayley and Fraser Butt were just enough to despatch of a Shirehampton Reserves team perched only a place and three points above Patchway in 12th place.
Amid a full Premier Division programme, Greyfriars Athletic had Dylan Chiwetu, Jordan Cox and Lyam O’Rourke to thank for seeing them to a third victory of their season with a 3-2 away defeat of a Longwell Green Sports Reserves side responding with Rhys Jones and Sam Randall goals.
A three-fixture Division One show was notable especially for pacesetting Old Sodbury’s first defeat at the sixth time of asking.
Their jubilant guests Hambrook & Brimsham United by contrast celebrated only a second win of their campaign, as Lucas Hart and Mario Mateus goals steered them to a 2-0 away win.
That maiden reverse for their local rivals was good news for Chipping Sodbury Town Reserves, who rose into second place via two Ethan Roberts strikes in a 2-0 Ridings victory over Cribbs A.
Bedminster Down made it back-to-back league wins on the back of an otherwise modest start to their season.
They followed up a 1-0 home win over Pucklechurch Sports with a 2-1 away victory over AFC Mangotsfield courtesy of Connor Bodnarazek and Mason Yandell goals, Chris Astley’s effort providing Mangos with hope until the final shrill.
The third stage of the GFA Senior Amateur Cup competition, meantime, takes precedence for many Premier Combination competitors on Saturday at 2pm.
As well as DRG’s away encounter with Filton Athletic and Hallen Reserves’ home meeting with Hellenic Alliance Division West outfit University of Bristol, Bristol Barcelona entertain AFC Mangotsfield, Hambrook & Brimsham United host Henbury & Rockleaze, Old Sodbury face visiting Phoenix NextGen, and Shaftesbury Crusade are likely to have their hands full at home against Gloucestershire County League’s mid-table hopefuls Tytherington Rocks.