BCFA Division One

Castle Green 3 Thornbury Baptists 2

THORNBURY succumbed to an 85th minute Castle Green winner on Saturday morning after a gripping and very competitive encounter saw the hosts maintain their top-of-the-table status.

The Baps had led within ten minutes after a Jimmy Cooke header set Steve Nash free and he beat two defenders before finishing neatly to the goalkeeper's right.

It was a tight first half with periods of neat football interrupted by some classic scrapping in the midfield and manager Chris Beddoes decided to take full advantage of the rolling subs rule to keep Castle Green honest.

The equaliser came when Elliott Millard was unable to clear from the back and the Castle Green strikers combined before a deft chip over Kerien Austin went in.

It remained level until half-time despite chances at both ends but Castle Green looked the more likely to take the lead and did so early in the second half when a break down the right flank and whipped cross was smartly converted at the far post.

Austin pulled off a superb near post save to keep Thornbury in the game and then on 80 minutes they levelled when Steve Nash set the lighting-quick Ash Tuck through from the right flank and his instant left-foot strike nestled beautifully in the top-right corner, giving the goalkeeper absolutely no chance.

It was deserved reward for the fight Thornbury had showed in a strong second half display which belied the gulf in experience at this level between these two sides and the Baps looked like they had done enough to secure an impressive away point.

It wasn’t to be, though, and it was another frustrating goal from a set piece that won it for Castle Green as an 87th minute corner was headed home from close range.