Gloucestershire County League

Bristol Academy 4 Thornbury 1

THORNBURY Town’s four weeks of inactivity played its part as a lacklustre performance saw them slip to defeat at Bristol Academy.

Thorns edged the first half with Academy posing little threat apart from long range efforts.

Jon Barlow should have put Town ahead after quarter of an hour when he was put through one-on-one with the goalkeeper but his attempted chip over the keeper was saved.

A couple of minutes later Josh Cann gave the home side the lead with a 35-yard effort that was straight into Alex Lippiatt’s hands, but he spilled the shot and the ball crossed the line before he could recover.

Ten minutes later the Academy keeper’s clearance went straight to Danny Thompson, but his curling shot was headed clear for a corner with the keeper beaten. On 30 minutes Thompson had another good chance, Josh Pirie’s through ball putting him clear, but his shot on the run was too close to the keeper.

In first half stoppage time Thorns got the equaliser they deserved when Steve Thompson’s freekick was helped on by Ricki Lippiatt into the path of Nathan Sage, who steered the ball home at the far post.

Thorns' sluggish start to the second half saw the home side back in front when unmarked Sam Johnson was given room to slot home into an empty net on 50 minutes.

Town's shape was disrupted shortly after when Ricki Lippiatt went off with a head injury.

Dan Thompson came close to equalising 15 minutes from time but his shot was just too high.

Moments later Thorns went further behind when Toby Waterman sent Tyler Finch-Vassell clear to fire a shot across the keeper and in off the post.

The home side wrapped the game up in the 88th eighth minute through Marcus Thatcher.

Thorns will look for a much improved performance this Saturday when near neighbours Berkeley Town are the visitors to the Mundys, 3pm.