Bristol Premier Combination March 13th 2026 edition
By Simon Parkinson
BEDMINSTER Down and Bristol Barcelona will compete in the final of the Bristol Premier Combination’s Uhlsport League Cup competition thanks to emphatic semi-final successes.
Barca, holding their own admirably in the league’s top flight for the first time this season on the strength of their elevation from Division One as champions last term, now find themselves on the cusp of collecting major Combination silverware after goals by Reece Matthews, Mubarak Suraj and Dylan White saw them to a 3-0 Oaklands Park victory over Premier Division compatriots Shirehampton Reserves.
Eyebrows, meantime, were raised at Rangeworthy Rec, where Iron Acton, making their third successive appearance at the semi-final stage, were well beaten 4-0 by First Division promotion pushers Bedminster Down courtesy of ever-clinical Connor Bodnarazek’s brace and Max Nosko and Jordan Pocock efforts.
Bedminster Down and Bristol Barcelona are now set to joust for the League Cup trophy on Wednesday, April 1 (7.30pm) at Mangotsfield United’s Cossham Street stadium.
Whilst those cup ties played an integral part of the weekend programme, there was important business taking place in those four teams’ absence in both divisions.
There was delight at Parkside Avenue for reigning champions Winterbourne United and one of the sides coveting their crown this time around, DRG Frenchay, as Jenson Beard’s double plus Ben Weaver and Max Sheppard goals condemned second-placed DRG, whose Antonio Nurse registered once more, to a 4-1 loss for only their third defeat of the campaign.
With DRG down, the door was open for Hallen Reserves to increase their advantage at the top; and although they did that with Charlie Wills’ strike, it was only enough to secure them a point from a 1-1 home draw with an Olveston United outfit responding through Matt Knight’s goal.
It means Hallen enter this Saturday’s round of games, and a date with Longwell Green Sports Reserves at Moorhouse Lane HQ once more (2pm), topping the table by four points from a DRG team who have a game in hand but are without a weekend fixture.
Iron Acton, five points off the title pace but with three games in hand on Hallen, return to important league matters on Saturday at home against Shaftesbury Crusade (also 2pm).
Meanwhile, Thornbury Town Reserves made it back-to-back victories, as Asher Budd’s brace along with Harry Wormwell, Sam Hussey and Callum Curtis contributions propelled them to a 5-2 victory over a Longwell Green second string replying via Rhys Jones and Louis Durnell goals.
Thornbury next visit New Road and Greyfriars Athletic on Saturday, when Olveston United entertain Nicholas Wanderers (also 2pm) and Bristol Barcelona welcome fourth-spot Winterbourne United to Oaklands Park for a later 3.30pm collision.
There’s all to play for among a string of teams pressing hard for First Division title and promotion honours, not least Old Sodbury, who reached the summit, albeit on goal difference ahead of AEK-Boco Reserves, thanks to a 2-0 away win over Pucklechurch Sports through Kane Head and Samuel Reeves strikes.
With Boco again missing from action this weekend, Old Sodbury have the opportunity to put three points daylight between the sides when they travel to take on Oldland Abbotonians Reserves (2pm).
Elsewhere in second section deployment, Oldland had Zac Tucker’s pair and Ellis Clarke’s effort to thank for squeezing them past Cribbs A 3-2 to earn the visitors a welcome fourth win of their campaign.
Hambrook & Brimsham United had been on a splendid victory streak, four to be precise and all away, until they ran into determined AFC Mangotsfield guests, who they’d thrashed 5-1 on the road a fortnight prior, returning armed this time with three retaliatory points from a 3-1 win.
Joe Alston and Tim Rice were among the Mangotsfield scoring while Liam Cann replied for Hambrook & Brimsham hosts completing the contest with ten men thanks to Rico Williams’ red card.