BCFA Division One

SAS United 3 Thornbury Baptists 1

SAS administered some swift retribution on the Thornbury side that had thumped them 6-1 just a few weeks before, as some peculiar fixture scheduling saw them meet in back-to-back league games so early in the season.

Thornbury were missing seven regulars from the side that had made a record start to the season and absenteeism was particularly notable in a midfield, which manager Chris Beddoes sought to bolster with five men.

The first half was a fairly frenetic affair but with the scoreline remaining goalless despite Ash Tuck finding the net 30 minutes into his return from a broken toe, only for the linesman’s flag to be suspiciously raised for offside.

Thornbury would consider they deserved a first-half lead with Tuck also having headed wide early on and Nick Lockett-Chapman firing wide from a decent position.

At the other end Elliott Millard and Sam Alker had nullified most of the home attack and Dave Lane had been relatively untroubled in goal.

The second half saw SAS up the tempo and seize the opportunity to take three valuable points.

They were ahead on 65 minutes when a perfectly judged ball from deep was fired home.

The Baps managed an instant response though when Phil Loadwick squared for Tuck and his shot was saved agonizingly against the inside of the post.

Jimmy Cooke then had a shot cleared off the line just moments before the hosts secured the points with a second goal, Jack Brady firing in low to Lane’s left hand side.

SAS added a third in the closing minutes before Thornbury did a least secure a consolation goal in injury time, Tuck finally getting the reward for a hard slog up front on his own as he beat a defender before coolly chipping the onrushing keeper.

Thornbury face a tough fixture on Saturday against Shirehampton, who have already knocked them out of the BCFA Cup.