Bristol Churches FA Division One

FC Emmanuel 0 – 3 Thornbury Baptists

THORNBURY Baptists Church FC got their 2015/16 season off to the perfect start with this 3-0 win away from home against a strong Emmanuel side. The clean sheet was the icing on the cake as they turned out a performance considerably better than pre-season form had indicated might be the case.

The visitors were ahead as early as the third minute and that was not the first opportunity, after some neat interplay from debutant Phil Mansfield and the returning Stu Kelly had seen Kelly fire just wide. This time it was the veteran winger James Hancox bursting into the box and when he was tripped not once but twice, the referee had no option but to award an early penalty. Skipper Jimmy Cooke stepped up to convert the spot kick and Thornbury could scarcely believe the start.

Emmanuel looked rather like this was their own pre-season and were caught cold by a hungry Thornbury side who had their second before the ten minute mark, this time Sam Nichols combining with Mansfield down the left before John Cordle fed Stu Kelly and he fired hard and low to the keeper’s left and into the far corner of the net.

This was largely the pattern for the first half as Mansfield, Hancox and Cordle all forced saves from the Emmanuel keeper and at the other end Dave Lane was tested only late on by a free-kick he dealt with comfortably at the near post.

Emmanuel are a good young side though, to be under-estimated at your peril and Thornbury knew a third goal would be essential. The game turned after half-time with the hosts having the majority of possession yet a revamped Thornbury defence excelled against some of the League’s more renowned strikers. Phil Loadwick, Jonny Skinner, Nic Tymko and Steve Clare all made crucial interceptions or tackles as the game wore on and their work was rewarded at the other end on 68 minutes when a Cooke corner wasn’t dealt with by the goalkeeper and James Hancox was on hand to nudge the ball home.

Thornbury held on for the clean sheet and might have had a fourth but for a good save to deny Aidan Maddox but will be delighted with the three points as they face a run of tough early season fixtures away from home.