Bristol Premier Combination March 27th 2026 edition
By Simon Parkinson
HALLEN Reserves and DRG Frenchay showed no sign of let-up as they continued their respective quests to be crowned 2025-26 Premier Division champions.
In the latest round of games, Hallen reinforced their position at the summit with a 2-0 victory at Bristol Barcelona courtesy of Matt Davis and Sam Deuchars goals.
DRG, currently third in the standings, had far too much for Shaftesbury Crusade at Bonnington Walk, as Emiel Aiken’s hat-trick led the way in a 6-0 romp to maintain the heat on Acton and Hallen above them.
Iron Acton weren’t involved in the action at the weekend; but they took a breather in good heart after goals by Joe Hillard, Dean Preddie and Joe Wintle had ensured them a 3-1 midweek away win over Shirehampton Reserves, whose Ciaran Greening offered them some consolation with an 82nd minute strike.
All of the top three teams are in the thick of it this Saturday, with Hallen, five points clear having played more games than their chasing rivals, travelling to take on Nicholas Wanderers at Dundridge Rec, Iron Acton hosting Longwell Green Sports at Rangeworthy Rec, and DRG visiting Penpole Lane to joust with Shirehampton’s second-string, all for 2pm appointments.
Back to last Saturday’s action, and there were welcome wins for fourth-placed Olveston United and Winterbourne United, in fifth.
Olveston had Matt Knight, George Williams and James Brock to thank for edging them to a second straight win and extending their unbeaten run to four games with a hard-fought 3-2 victory at Thornbury Town Reserves, who had Callum Curtis and Harrison Young on target as they saw a three-match victory streak end at the Mundys.
Winterbourne, meanwhile, displayed more of the firepower that took them to the title and brink of promotion last season, as they cruised past Nicholas Wanderers 5-0 at Parkside Avenue HQ, a welcome response to a previous 4-1 defeat by Bristol Barcelona.
Elsewhere in the Combination’s top flight, Shirehampton Reserves delivered themselves a boost in the effort to avert the drop, as Ben Vickers’ brace and Connor Bryant’s goal earned them a 3-2 home victory over fellow basement battlers Patchway Town, whose Tom Butt kept them in the contest with a pair of his own.
There was an exciting encounter on show at New Road where hosts Greyfriars Athletic, with Sam Garrod twice on target in the first half and Simon Bateman weighing in with the other goal midway through the second, drew 3-3 with a Longwell Green Sports Reserves team replying through Harry Peat, Harrison Neil and Rhys Jones.
Other Saturday games on show this weekend involve Thornbury’s home fixture with Shaftesbury and Patchway’s Scott Park meeting with their Greyfriars guests (both 2pm).
There were three games on show in Combination Division One and no shortage of goals either.
Old Sodbury lead the way heading into their mouthwatering home derby with fourth-placed Chipping Sodbury Town Reserves this Saturday (2pm) after Charlie Davis’ double, plus Callum Ball and Will Bennett goals, secured them a straightforward 4-0 victory at Hambrook & Brimsham United.
AEK-Boco Reserves, second in the standings and three points adrift of Old Sodbury having played a game more, can approach Saturday’s away day with fellow high-fliers Bedminster Down (2pm) full of confidence too after crushing Lion 6-1 at Greenbank Road.
Jacob Leonard struck four times, and Sam Wakefield and Kaylen Edwards added the rest for rampant Boco.
Lewis Wilson was on target with Lion’s sole goal.
There were no fewer than nine goals to be savoured at Bridge Learning Campus, where promotion-chasing hosts Bedminster Down were indebted to strikes by Cameron Phipps (2), Connor Bodnarazek, Henry Colston and an own goal for squeezing past AFC Mangotsfield, who registered via Simon Mansfield’s brace and Tim Rice and Aaron Jones efforts, 5-4 in an absorbing encounter.
Also in the league’s second tier this Saturday, Cribbs A hope to give their fight to avert the drop from the league a boost at home to AFC Mangotsfield, as Hambrook & Brimsham United entertain Hanham Athletic’s Reserves bottom-placed strugglers (2pm).