Bristol Premier Combination March 6th 2026 edition
By Simon Parkinson
THE Bristol Premier Combination Premier Division title race is wide open – and DRG Frenchay are still very much in the mix following an eye-catching away victory over a key threat to their hopes.
In what was billed one of the biggest games of the campaign to date, it took a sizzling last minute strike by Will Osborne to see off Iron Acton, now third in an extremely tight top table shake-up, 3-2 at Yate Town’s South West Interiors Stadium.
Emiel Aiken and Antonio Nurse goals had kept DRG firmly in the contest before Osborne’s dramatic late intervention swung it his team’s way.
It means second-placed DRG head to Winterbourne United on Saturday trailing leaders Hallen Reserves by only three points and with a game in hand after Hallen had overcome Greyfriars Athletic by the same 3-2 scoreline, through Charlie Wills’ brace and Harrison Waller’s effort, in a Friday night match played under Mangotsfield United’s Cossham Street floodlights.
First half Simon Bateman and Jamie Elliott strikes for Greyfriars had stood them in good stead for a potential satisfactory outcome.
Hallen nonetheless prevailed and eye more of the same at home against Olveston United on Saturday, while Iron Acton take a breather from the title race to joust with First Division Bedminster Down at Yate’s Lodge Road HQ once more for a League Cup semi-final affair (both 2pm).
The Premier Division crown certainly looks destined to go the way of either Hallen, DRG or Iron Acton given the wealth of points each has accumulated.
Olveston United are fourth and ten points adrift of the top three pack approaching Saturday’s away date with Hallen.
They’ll be looking for more in the remaining weeks than the point they took from their 1-1 home draw with Longwell Green Sports Reserves last time out, when James Worley netted for O’s in the first half and Rhys Jones equalised on 62 minutes for the visitors.
Thornbury Town Reserves, meantime, bounced back from slender successive defeats by Shirehampton Reserves, albeit in the League Cup, and Hallen, back in the Prem, as they overcame Bristol Barcelona, who had Elliott Teage and Ben Higgins on target with late goals, 3-2 at Mundy Fields through Sam Hussey, Asher Budd and Harrison Young efforts.
There were 2-2 home draws for Winterbourne United and Shirehampton Reserves.
Bourne had Ben Weaver and Callum Wilson on target first half at Parkside Avenue, not enough, however, to see off relegation-threatened Patchway Town, who responded with Matteo Pali and Tasman Rook goals having trailed 2-0 at the interval.
Shire, like Patchway battling to keep their heads above water, had a first half Louis Bush effort and a stoppage-time Ciaran Wall strike to thank for the point snatched from their own 2-2 draw with Wanderers guests registering through Max Barker and Paul Coles.
There was no shortage of goals in the Combination’s second tier, where there was more encouragement for second-placed Old Sodbury but dismay for leaders AEK-Boco Reserves as the fight for the First Division crown intensified.
On-song Sodbury followed up a 4-0 win at Bedminster Down with a 5-1 away licking of Lion, whose Mate Istvan scored, courtesy of ever-clinical Charlie Davis’s double plus Owen Bell, Callum Cooper and Ashley Sims strikes to keep the heat on pacesetting Boco, who have played three more games.
Boco, meanwhile, lost only their second game of the season, and their first since their 3-1 October 4 loss to Old Sodbury, in going down 3-2 at home to Hambrook & Brimsham United.
Kailen Anderson and Jasper Hudd netted for Boco, while Jordan Lawrence’s brace and Lucas Hart’s contribution proved enough to edge three points the way of delighted Hambrook & Brimsham.
Bedminster Down can approach Saturday’s League Cup semis showdown with Iron Acton in good heart and third in Division One, after Callum Mogg, Henry Colston and Cameron Phipps goals were just enough to edge out Oldland Abbotonians Reserves 3-2 at Teyfant Road, Zac Tucker and Ellis Clarke netting for the spirited away side.
Chipping Sodbury Town Reserves remain fourth in the table and heading into a weekend break from duty buoyed by Callum Cannings’ treble along with Ben Rankin, Joshua Bell, Jordan Hickman and Jamie Bradford goals in a 7-0 Ridings crushing of bottom-placed Hanham Athletic Reserves.
This Saturday sees Old Sodbury, who can go top with victory, visiting Pucklechurch Sports, Hambrook & Brimsham hosting AFC Mangotsfield (both 2pm) and Cribbs A entertaining Oldland Reserves (2.30pm).