Gloucestershire County League

Kingswood 1 Thornbury Town 2

AFTER a four week lay-off, Thornbury Town got back to action on Saturday and secured an important win at Kingswood to move out of the bottom two.

In a game that was badly affected by wind and torrential rain, good football was at a premium, but Thorns did their best to keep the ball down on the deck and play their usual passing game.

Town had the perfect start, taking the lead in spectacular fashion after just four minutes. A Nathan Irwin shot following a penetrating run from Dan Thompson rebounded off a defender but straight to Steve Thompson lurking 30 yards out. His first time shot flew into the net past the helpless Chris Fox in the Kingswood goal.

Kingswood recovered from the setback and, whilst they enjoyed a fair amount of possession, they did not carve out any clear-cut chances and it was always Thornbury who looked the most likely to score.

Fox saved well from Dan Thompson and moments later Josh Pirie was put clear but although his shot only found the side netting.

On the half-hour mark Kingswood had their first shot on target, Alex Lippiatt saving well from Ryan Mudd, but it was Thorns who extended their lead ten minutes before the break when Dan Thompson latched on to a Ricki Lippiatt clearance and out-paced his marker before sliding the ball to Pirie, who steered his shot round Fox and into the far corner of the net.

Town then gifted Kingswood a goal five minutes later when a mix-up between Tom Webb and Alex Lippiatt saw Mudd go clear and he steered the ball into the empty net.

Luke Franklin almost restored Thorns' two goal advantage moments before the break but Fox pulled off a good save and the ball was cleared.

The second half was dominated by the monsoon conditions and whilst Kingswood enjoyed a lot of possession they rarely troubled a determined Town defence.

Thorns continued to look dangerous on the break and Franklin found the side netting early on before a couple of Dan Thompson efforts were comfortably saved by Fox.

Midway through the half a Kingswood attack down the right saw Mudd fire in a shot from 20 yards that Lippiatt did well to get two hands to and push the ball away from danger.

Town will be hoping to build on that valuable win this Saturday if the wet weather relents, when they entertain Henbury, 2pm.

Kingswood visit Bristol Academy.