Bristol Premier Combination February 12th 2026 edition
By Simon Parkinson
IRON Acton can look forward to an early spring showdown with First Division competitors Bedminster Down after dismissing Greyfriars Athletic’s own hopes of a trophy in customary clinical fashion.
With precious few games on show once more as the unrelenting rain continued to do its worst, there was still no stopping Combination Premier Division leaders Acton, as they put paid to Greyfriars’ chances of League Cup silverware by overcoming them 4-2 at Winterbourne Academy in the quarter-finals to book that semi-final assignment with Bedminster, who enthrallingly overcame second tier compatriots AFC Mangotsfield 3-2, on Saturday, March 7.
Chris Sweet’s Acton fliers, into the last four for the third straight season, achieved it via an Elan Plummer brace plus Alex Lambert and Reece Rogers efforts, while their top flight rivals Greyfriars had Sam Garrod and Jamie Elliott notching with their contributions.
Sweet said: “Following on from our 3-0 league win over Greyfriars, Saturday saw us meet again in the League Cup quarter-final.
“Due to the recent poor weather, both clubs had agreed to find 3G pitches to make sure our games were on, hence it being played at Winterbourne Academy.
“Being such a small pitch we made a tweak in formation, and for this reason it probably made the game more open for both sides and definitely better for the neutral spectator!
“We started slowly and found ourselves 1-0 down inside the first five minutes from a great finish by their new signing.
“We didn’t panic, and after a few half chances our No.9 Elan cut in from the right and fired a beauty into the far left corner.
“A few chances came and went although we thought we had scored a second from a breakaway move, only for Dean Preddie to be judged offside after the ball had gone in.
“At 1-1 at half-time, we started the second half well, and about ten minutes into it Elan hit a first time shot on the turn and again found the far left corner of the net.
“Greyfriars rallied and put us under pressure, and it wasn’t too long before their striker scooped a shot over everyone’s head and into an empty goal.”
The Acton supremo continued: “The final 20 minutes were extremely open, and this time it was our top scorer, Alex Lambert, who somehow squeezed his effort past a defender and their keeper to put us back in front.
“Greyfriars again rallied their troops; but we held strong and caught them on the break, with Reece finishing calmly to see the game off.”
As Iron Acton seek to maintain, if not better, their position at the summit with three more points at Thornbury Town Reserves on Saturday (2pm), Shirehampton Reserves entertain Acton’s second-placed rivals Hallen Reserves at Penpole Lane struggling at the foot of the standings with only the one win behind them still from eight outings, yet lifted by their own League Cup last eight accomplishments at the weekend.
Then, goals by Will Baldwin, Sohibou Cassama and Dillan Kerr saw jubilant Shire to a 3-2 away victory over Thornbury Reserves to set up a semis tussle against either Shaftesbury Crusade or Bristol Barcelona, who are set to joust at Lockleaze Sports Centre this Saturday in their delayed quarter-final cruncher (2pm).
Harrison Young and Harry Walton replied with Thorns’ goals.
Hallen Reserves, meanwhile, trailing Iron Acton by only two points having played a game more than the table toppers, will want nothing less than maximum points from Saturday’s trip to Shirehampton after being held to a 1-1 draw on their Shellards Road travels by Longwell Green Sports at the weekend.
Despite having a wealth of possession and taking the lead through their top scorer Jack Williams, Longwell Green rallied to level up through substitute Charlie Hood’s 73rd minute strike.
Elsewhere in Premier Division action this Saturday, Greyfriars Athletic host Olveston United; Nicholas Wanderers entertain Patchway Town for an important bottom four struggle, and Winterbourne United welcome Longwell Green to Parkside Avenue (all 2pm).
The big game at Badminton Road in Division One sees Old Sodbury hosting pacesetting AEK-Boco, who currently enjoy a six-point lead over their second-placed rivals who, in turn, have four precious games in hand on the leaders.
Second-bottom Cribbs A badly want three points from their Lawns encounter with Hambrook & Brimsham United, while Oldland Abbotonians Reserves host AFC Mangotsfield and Pucklechurch Sports entertain Bedminster Down at Abson Road (all 2pm).
Bristol Premier Combination February 19th 2026 edition
AEK-Boco Reserves find themselves in pole position and in the driving seat still in Bristol Premier Combination Division One following a crucial away victory over fellow title challengers Old Sodbury.
The pair locked horns at Badminton Road with Boco leading the way with a six-point advantage over a second-placed Old Sodbury side with an ace up their sleeve of having played four games fewer than their top table rivals and others in the frame when it comes to championship and promotion concerns.
On a dramatic day in the league’s second section, Boco held firm in a tense and tight struggle to overcome their Old Sodbury hosts 2-1 thanks to Jacob Leonard’s brace, while the home team, desperate for the points themselves, stayed in the contest through Callum Cooper’s effort until the final shrill.
Old Sodbury were dealt another setback to their ultimate season hopes as Bedminster Down, who had begun the day fourth in the table, leapt into second spot at Sodbury’s expense with a 3-1 win at Pucklechurch Sports, to sound a further warning that they’re very much in the honours picture too eight points adrift of pacesetting Boco with two games in hand.
Cameron Phipps, Reece Evans and Jordan Pocock did the damage for Down with their goals, while third-bottom Church, who have now lost six on the spin with a vital game at the Rec HQ against visiting bottom team Hanham Athletic Reserves next up this Saturday (2pm), had Michael Hardiman on target for them.
Hambrook & Brimsham United, meantime, moved up a rung to sixth on the First Division ladder with a second straight victory following on from their 2-1 win at Lion way back on January 24.
Jordan Lawrence struck twice and Joshua Cook added the other goal to send Hambrook & Brimsham into Saturday’s away day with AFC Mangotsfield in positive mood courtesy of a 3-2 Lawns success over Cribbs A.
Saturday sees two more vital fixtures where the top of the table is concerned, as AEK Boco Reserves entertain at Greenbank Road a fourth-placed Chipping Sodbury Town Reserves team eyeing title and elevation opportunities themselves ten points adrift of Boco’s leaders but with three games in hand to boost their own prospects.
There’s a mouthwatering second versus third encounter too on show, as Bedminster Down welcome Old Sodbury to Bridge Learning Campus for a same 2pm appointment.
With the bad weather continuing to cause havoc across the local football scene, there were at least happy outcomes for Nicholas Wanderers and Winterbourne United in Premier Division activity.
Nicholas Wanderers had begun the week tenth in the top flight standings but found themselves sixth heading into Saturday’s away encounter with Greyfriars Athletic (2pm), as Joshua Pearce’s double and Archie Davis’ effort pushed them past Patchway Town 3-0 at delighted Dundridge Rec.
Winterbourne, meanwhile, moved from eighth into fifth with a hard-fought 1-0 Parkside Avenue success, delivered by Ben Weaver’s goal, over Longwell Green Sports Reserves.
With only two Premier Division matches on parade, hopes for this weekend are for more action, as title chasing Hallen Reserves, loitering with intent in second spot two points behind leaders Iron Acton, who joust with Patchway at Oaklands Park for a later 3.30pm engagement, eye seizing the leadership at home against Thornbury Town Reserves (2pm).
Bottom-placed Shirehampton Reserves seek only a second win of their campaign away against Longwell Green; Olveston United entertain third-placed DRG Frenchay, and Shaftesbury Crusade and Bristol Barcelona collide for a tasty UHL League Cup quarter-final tie at Lockleaze Sports Centre (all 2pm).