COMBINATION CLUBS FLY THE FLAG IN COUNTY CUP THRILLER

Old Sodbury hit seven, Made For Ever claim another cup scalp and Shirehampton win a penalty epic as Premier Combination sides take on the county

The league tables took a back seat this weekend as clubs from the Uhlsport Bristol Premier Combination turned their attention to the GFA Senior Amateur Cup, and the opening round certainly delivered.

There were goals everywhere, penalty shootouts, giant killing performances and some excellent results against opposition from higher divisions.

Old Sodbury’s remarkable scoring form continued with seven at Hallen A, while Made For Ever produced another impressive cup performance against Premier Division opposition.

Shirehampton Reserves held their nerve in an extraordinary penalty shootout against Gloucestershire County League side Stoke Gifford SGS United, Longwell Green Sports Reserves overcame one of the Bristol Suburban League’s early front-runners, and DRG Frenchay also booked their place in the next round.

Bristol Barcelona supplied one of the biggest victories of the afternoon with five unanswered goals against De Veys.

And at Vicarage Road, Hanham Athletic and Patchway Town served up another seven goal contest, only this time, it was Hanham who came out on top.

HANHAM TURN THE TABLES ON PATCHWAY

Hanham Athletic 5 Patchway Town 2

Seven days after Patchway Town knocked Hanham Athletic out of the League Cup with a 3-2 victory, the two sides were reunited in the GFA Senior Amateur Cup.

This time, Hanham turned the tables emphatically.

Patchway could hardly have made a better start, with Tom Butt opening the scoring after only two minutes.

Butt produced a gorgeous strike from outside the area which flew into the top corner and gave the visitors an immediate advantage.

Hanham responded in the 29th minute through Jamie Johnson, whose superb free-kick from more than 20 yards found the far top corner.

Just four minutes later, Hanham had completely reversed the scoreline.

Patchway goalkeeper brought down Mikey Golding inside the area and Johnson stepped forward to confidently convert the resulting penalty for his second of the afternoon.

Hanham were beginning to take control and made it 3-1 shortly before half-time.

Karim Randall laid the ball into the path of Mikey Golding, who calmly finished from around 12 yards to give the hosts a two goal cushion at the interval.

Patchway were not finished.

They emerged strongly after the restart and pulled one back in the 50th minute. Hanham goalkeeper Lincoln Tooker produced an excellent initial save from Butt, but Matteo Pali reacted quickest to the rebound and fired home.

At 3-2, the tie was alive again.

Hanham responded.

Excellent work from Golding regained possession out wide before he squared for Randall, who finished from ten yards to restore the hosts’ two goal advantage.

Patchway’s afternoon became even more difficult when Rich Lee received a second yellow card following a disagreement with the referee.

Hanham eventually added their fifth when Morgan Stryjewski delivered an excellent cross for Golding, who headed beyond the visiting goalkeeper to complete his brace.

A week after suffering League Cup disappointment against the same opponents, Hanham had their revenge.

Jack Boyd-Cox was named Hanham’s Man of the Match following an excellent midfield display, constantly winning possession and helping drive his side forward.

Hanham scorers: Jamie Johnson (2), Mikey Golding (2), Karim Randall.
Patchway scorers: Tom Butt, Matteo Pali.

TEN-GOAL THRILLER GOES HALLEN’S WAY

Hallen Reserves 7 AEK Boco Reserves 3

Anyone looking for goals certainly found them at Hallen.

The hosts emerged from an extraordinary ten-goal encounter with a 7-3 victory over AEK Boco Reserves.

Archie Parry led the way with a superb hat-trick, while Adden Jones, Will Bolshaw, Adam Snook and George Binding also found the net.

Boco contributed plenty to an entertaining contest, with Kailen Anderson scoring twice and Luke Harding adding another.

But Hallen’s attacking power ultimately proved too much as they marched into the next round.

SECOND-HALF SODBURY BLITZ HITS HALLEN FOR SEVEN

Hallen A 0 Old Sodbury 7

Old Sodbury’s extraordinary appetite for goals shows absolutely no sign of disappearing.

To Hallen A’s credit, they frustrated the free-scoring Premier Division side throughout much of the first half and prevented the visitors from producing the sort of early onslaught seen in previous weeks.

After the break, however, the floodgates opened.

Sodbury ran riot in the second period, eventually recording an emphatic 7-0 victory.

Charlie Davis scored twice, while Harrison Waller, Callum Cooper, Seb Woodward, Jordan Hickman and Ben Jones all joined him on the scoresheet.

At the opposite end, William Bennett produced an outstanding defensive display and collected the Man of the Match award as Sodbury completed the afternoon with another clean sheet.

It continues an extraordinary opening to their season.

Eight against Cribbs. Five at Olveston. Six at Winterbourne. Three against Pucklechurch.

And now seven more.

Old Sodbury’s attacking numbers are becoming one of the defining stories of the opening weeks.

MERRETT HAT-TRICK SENDS WINTERBOURNE THROUGH

Winterbourne United 3 Pucklechurch Sports 2

A Finlay Merrett hat-trick carried Winterbourne United into the next round after an excellent cup battle with Pucklechurch Sports.

There was nothing to separate the sides during a tight opening 45 minutes, with the game goalless at the break.

Winterbourne then came flying out of the traps.

Two goals inside the opening ten minutes of the second half suddenly left Pucklechurch with a mountain to climb.

Jake Edwards gave them hope with a spectacular effort into the top corner, but Winterbourne regained control and added a third.

Pucklechurch refused to surrender.

Joe Goss reduced the deficit with an excellent free-kick late on, before Harvey Foster went through one-on-one with an opportunity to complete the comeback.

The Winterbourne goalkeeper produced a crucial save.

That proved decisive, with Winterbourne holding on for a 3-2 victory and a place in the next round.

SHIREHAMPTON WIN PENALTY EPIC

Shirehampton Reserves 1 Stoke Gifford SGS United 1
Shirehampton won 8-7 on penalties

One of the standout results for the Premier Combination came from Shirehampton Reserves.

Facing Stoke Gifford SGS United of the Gloucestershire County League, Shirehampton battled their way through a fiercely contested tie before eventually prevailing in a marathon penalty shootout.

Sam Hopes scored Shirehampton’s goal during normal time as the sides finished level at 1-1.

Then came the drama from 12 yards.

The shootout went deep before Shirehampton finally emerged 8-7 winners on penalties, earning an excellent victory against opposition from a higher level and securing their place in the next round.

CHIPPING SODBURY FALL IN SHOOTOUT

Chipping Sodbury Town Reserves 0 Phoenix NextGen 0
Phoenix NextGen won 3-2 on penalties

Chipping Sodbury Town Reserves produced an excellent performance against Bristol Suburban League Premier Division side Phoenix NextGen, but their County Cup journey ended in the cruellest fashion.

Neither side could find a breakthrough during the match, sending the tie to penalties.

Stand-in goalkeeper Liam Barrett had already produced an excellent display and continued his heroics in the shootout, saving two Phoenix penalties.

It still wasn’t quite enough.

Phoenix eventually prevailed 3-2 from the spot to progress, but Chipping Sodbury could take plenty from their performance.

Barrett was deservedly named their Player of the Match.

THORNBURY DENIED FROM THE SPOT

Wessex Wanderers 1 Thornbury Town Reserves 1
Wessex Wanderers won 3-1 on penalties

Thornbury Town Reserves also saw their County Cup campaign ended by penalties.

They faced a difficult assignment against Wessex Wanderers, who entered the weekend sitting at the top of the Bristol Suburban League Premier Division.

Thornbury more than held their own, securing a 1-1 draw and taking the tie all the way to a shootout.

Wessex proved more clinical from the spot, winning 3-1 to advance.

Thornbury’s goalscorer was not provided.

LONGWELL CLAIM IMPRESSIVE BOHEMIA SCALP

AFC Bohemia 2 Longwell Green Sports Reserves 3

Longwell Green Sports Reserves produced an excellent away result against AFC Bohemia, who entered the weekend sitting second in the Bristol Suburban League Premier Division.

Longwell admitted afterwards that it had not been their best overall performance, but their finishing certainly delivered when required.

Abulfazl Atapoor scored twice and Charlie Hood added the other as the visitors edged a five goal encounter.

Atapoor’s second was the pick of the bunch, a superb strike that found the stanchion and ultimately helped send Longwell into the next round.

Bohemia continued fighting until the final whistle, but Longwell held firm.

Atapoor’s match-winning double earned him the Man of the Match award.

MADE FOR EVER DO IT AGAIN

Greyfriars Athletic 1 Made For Ever 2

Made For Ever just keep finding a way.

After their memorable League Cup victory over Iron Acton, the promoted Division One side were handed another difficult cup assignment against Premier Division opposition.

And once again, they won.

It was far from straightforward.

Greyfriars started strongly and took the lead from close range before continuing to threaten throughout an entertaining first half.

They came agonisingly close to doubling their advantage two minutes before the interval when an effort from around five yards struck the crossbar.

Made For Ever immediately went to the opposite end and also hit the woodwork, while Greyfriars then had a goal disallowed from a corner following an infringement inside the area.

It had been a frantic conclusion to the half.

The visitors showed their frustration early in the second period, but gradually began finding gaps in the Greyfriars defence.

A strong individual run eventually created the opening for Scott O’Brien, who levelled the contest.

Suddenly the momentum changed.

Made For Ever began piling on the pressure and thought they had completed the turnaround with a header, only for an offside flag to intervene.

They would not be denied.

Inside the final ten minutes, Jake McCracken unleashed a superb strike that rattled the net, completing the comeback and putting Made For Ever 2-1 ahead.

Greyfriars had opportunities. Made For Ever had struck the bar and post themselves. It was a tie that could have swung either way.

But once again, Made For Ever emerged victorious.

Scott O’Brien collected the Man of the Match award.

Another cup tie against Premier Division opposition.

Another Made For Ever win.

Their remarkable start continues.

FILTON TOO STRONG FOR LION

Filton Athletic Reserves 3 Lion 0

Lion’s County Cup campaign came to an end against Bristol Suburban League Premier Division opposition.

Filton Athletic Reserves controlled possession for long periods and produced a confident display, combining three goals with a clean sheet.

Ali Williams, Reece Buss and Kieran Terry were the Filton scorers, while Damarcus Tippins collected their Man of the Match award.

For Lion, attention now returns to their Division One campaign.

NURSE SENDS FRENCHAY THROUGH

Avonmouth Reserves 0 DRG Frenchay 1

DRG Frenchay continued their cup momentum with an excellent 1-0 victory away to Avonmouth Reserves of the Bristol Suburban League Premier Division.

After putting five past Chipping Sodbury Town Reserves in the League Cup, Frenchay demonstrated a different side to their game here.

One goal was enough.

Antonio Nurse supplied it, while Frenchay kept things tight at the opposite end to record a clean sheet and secure their place in the next round.

TOTTERDOWN END LONGWELL DEV’S CUP RUN

Longwell Green Sports Development 0 Totterdown United 4

Longwell Green Sports Development were handed a difficult assignment against Gloucestershire County League side Totterdown United.

The higher level visitors ultimately proved too strong, running out 4-0 winners and ending Longwell’s County Cup campaign.

FIVE-STAR BARCA MARCH ON

Bristol Barcelona 5 De Veys 0

Bristol Barcelona responded to their League Cup disappointment in emphatic fashion, sweeping aside De Veys 5-0.

Barcelona had enjoyed an excellent start to their league campaign, beating Longwell Green Sports Reserves 2-1 before producing that impressive 3-0 victory against Thornbury Town Reserves.

That Thornbury performance saw Elliott score twice and Gilbert produce a spectacular acrobatic finish, with Reece supplying all three assists and Dragon completing the clean sheet.

Their League Cup run may have ended against Winterbourne United, but Barca wasted no time launching another cup challenge.

And this time the goals were shared around.

Daf Pearce, Dom Enwonwu, Sam Phillips, Oli Dart and Luis Santos all found the net as five different Barcelona players contributed to an emphatic victory.

Just as impressively, Barcelona recorded another clean sheet.

Five goals. Five different scorers. None conceded.

Barcelona are safely into the next round.

COUNTY CUP WEEKEND DELIVERS

The GFA Senior Amateur Cup provided an intriguing opportunity to see Premier Combination clubs tested against teams from across the wider local football pyramid.

Some rose spectacularly to that challenge.

Shirehampton Reserves held their nerve against Gloucestershire County League opposition before winning an extraordinary shootout.

Longwell Green Sports Reserves eliminated one of the early front runners in the Bristol Suburban Premier Division.

DRG Frenchay went away to Suburban Premier opposition and returned with a victory and clean sheet.

Made For Ever added another Premier Division scalp to their increasingly impressive collection.

Old Sodbury, Hallen Reserves, Winterbourne United, Hanham Athletic and Bristol Barcelona all progressed too.

Others discovered the unforgiving nature of knockout football, with Thornbury Town Reserves and Chipping Sodbury Town Reserves both seeing strong performances end in penalty heartbreak.

For those still standing, the County Cup adventure continues.

For everybody else, attention returns to the bread and butter of the league.

MIDWEEK UNDER THE LIGHTS

There is Premier Division action on Wednesday, September 23, when:

Shirehampton Reserves v Hallen Reserves, 7.30pm
Shirehampton Recreation Ground

Both clubs arrive following County Cup victories.

Shirehampton needed penalties to overcome Stoke Gifford SGS United, while Hallen scored seven in their victory over AEK Boco Reserves.

After the excitement of knockout football, three league points are now the prize.

LEAGUE FOOTBALL RETURNS

The Uhlsport Bristol Premier Combination returns to a full league programme on Saturday, September 26, with several intriguing contests across both divisions.

In the Premier Division, Cribbs Reserves host Bristol Barcelona, with Barca returning to league action following their five-goal County Cup victory.

Hanham Athletic welcome Longwell Green Sports Reserves, with both sides entering the fixture after impressive County Cup wins.

Nicholas Wanderers host Shirehampton Reserves, while Olveston United entertain Bedminster Down.

Thornbury Town Reserves face DRG Frenchay and Winterbourne United meet Greyfriars Athletic.

But there is one fixture in particular that catches the eye.

OLD SODBURY v IRON ACTON

Two sides who have made strong starts collide as Old Sodbury welcome Iron Acton.

Sodbury’s attacking form has been relentless.

Iron Acton, meanwhile, have produced impressive league results of their own, including victories over Greyfriars Athletic, Hallen Reserves and Nicholas Wanderers.

Something will have to give.

And with Old Sodbury continuing to score at an extraordinary rate, it promises to be one of the most eagerly anticipated league fixtures of the season so far.

DIVISION ONE

Division One returns with AFC Mangotsfield Rocks Reserves hosting De Veys at noon, before Hallen A face Lawrence Weston and Patchway Town welcome Pucklechurch Sports at 2pm.

There is one exception to the league programme.

Oldland Abbotonians Reserves remain on cup duty as they welcome Gloucestershire County League side Filton Athletic in the GFA Senior Amateur Cup first round.

For Oldland, it represents an opportunity to join their fellow Combination clubs in making an impression against opposition from outside the league.

After two consecutive weekends of knockout drama, the focus is beginning to shift again.

The cups have supplied the excitement. Now the league tables are waiting.

And with Old Sodbury against Iron Acton headlining Saturday’s programme, there is every chance the next chapter will be just as entertaining.