Bristol Premier Combination January 16th 2026 edition
By Simon Parkinson
THE Premier Division’s current top three competitors are showing no mercy at this time in a thrilling race for supremacy which could well go down to the wire.
Leaders DRG Frenchay maintained a four-point advantage at the summit ahead of both Iron Acton and Hallen Reserves, who they visit on Saturday in the league’s big Moorhouse Lane collision (2pm), thanks to a hard-fought 3-2 victory at Longwell Green Sports Reserves.
Tom Vaughan’s fliers, still with just the one defeat, 4-1 at home to Bristol Barcelona, behind them, certainly had to work hard for an eighth Prem victory from ten outings thus far, as they finished the contest with nine men before prevailing with goals from Emiel Aiken, Antonio Nurse and Joe Loney.
Longwell have been in urgent need of points scrapping it out in the lower reaches of the table and had Rowan Smith and Troy Randall goals keeping them in the contest, before the whistle agonisingly blew on a fifth defeat of their campaign.
Iron Acton are unrelenting at this time too as they gear up next for Saturday’s test with lowly Shirehampton Reserves at Lodge Road (2pm).
Chris Sweet’s second-placed team took their win tally to seven from eight outings with a convincing 5-1 home success over fourth-spot Olveston United courtesy of Elan Plummer, Alex Lambert, Ashley Phillips, Joe Burke and Dean Preddie strikes, Oliver Faulkner on target with the O’s sole goal.
Hallen Reserves, meanwhile, loitering with intent in third position, hit back hard from the blow of only a second loss of their season in going down 1-0 at Winterbourne United.
There were no mishaps this time, as Jack Williams’ hat-trick along with Mason Jones’ effort condemned visiting Shirehampton to a 4-0 defeat, just the job ahead of Saturday’s mouthwatering meeting at home against table topping DRG.
There was relief and delight at last for Shaftesbury Crusade rooted to the Premier Division floor.
They finally added to an only victory of their programme so far, an opening afternoon 4-3 defeat of an Olveston outfit they travel to face again this Saturday (2pm), with a 3-2 weekend win at Lockleaze Sports Centre HQ over Greyfriars Athletic through Raphael Waugh, Carwyn Crow and Raheim Henry goals. Lyam O’Rourke’s brace kept Greys interested to the last.
It’s a tough time too for Patchway Town sat third from the foot of the standings, a position only exacerbated by an 8-3 Scott Park demolition inflicted by ruthless guests Thornbury Town Reserves, who did concede to Tate Shaw, Fraser Butt and Josh Butt efforts for the troubled hosts.
Nonetheless, Patchway are in there and fighting along with the rest of their needy rivals as they now seek valuable points on Saturday at the expense of their Bristol Barcelona hosts (Oaklands Park, 3.30pm).
The three away teams in latest action in the Combination’s second section all won their day.
That spelt more good news for AEK-Boco Reserves, who remain head of the table with only one defeat thanks to Jacob Leonard’s double and Sebastian Judge’s strike in a 3-1 victory at bottom team Hanham Athletic Reserves to complete a season double over their struggling opponents.
Chipping Sodbury Town Reserves are up to third place heading into Saturday’s Ridings joust with lowly Lion (2pm).
Sodbury leapt above Bedminster Down, who were without a game, thanks to a handsome 5-2 away victory over Hambrook & Brimsham United through lethal Liam Barrett’s four goals and Jamie Bradford’s contribution.
Tiago Mateus struck twice for Hambrook hosts losing Matthew Tanner to a red card to compound their misery.
In the First Division’s other fixture, Oldland Abbotonians Reserves took their unbeaten stretch to four with a third win in the encouraging sequence courtesy of Corey Woodman and Ellis Clarke goals in a 2-0 Abson Road success over Pucklechurch Sports.
While Church seek better at home against AFC Mangotsfield on Saturday, Oldland target more of the same, with travelling basement battlers Hanham next up for them at Castle Road base (both games 2pm).