Bristol Churches FA Division One
Thornbury Baptist Church 2, Shirehampton Corinthians 1

THORNBURY Baptists made it four consecutive victories with a hard-fought win over last season’s runners-up Shirehampton.
It was even more impressive as Shirehampton arrived boasting a 100 per cent record in the league this season as the teams went into their fixture.
Thornbury Baptists are making a habit of starting games fast, but it was the visitors who threatened the scoresheet of the early exchanges.
Baptists goalkeeper Dave Lane was forced to make a good early save to his near post before Thornbury began to exert some dominance with Jimmy Cooke and Ash Tuck, up front, coming closest to breaking the deadlock between the two sides. 
It was Stu Kelly who brought the game to life though, with a wonderfully controlled right-foot strike on 25 minutes.
Kelly collected a poor headed clearance from a corner very neatly on his instep before turning his marker just inside the box and with almost no back-lift sent a fizzing drive into the top right-hand corner leaving the Shirehampton goalkeeper helpless. 
It was great reward for the experienced forward who is relishing a free role just in front of the midfield on his return to the club this season after a long absence largely due to injury. 
Cooke hit the post with a curling shot on 28 minutes, but it was Sam Nichols who extended Thornbury’s lead on 37 minutes when a Cooke free-kick was only parried by the diving goalkeeper and midfielder Nichols was quickest to the rebound to hammer home the goal. 
 As the second half wore on, the Baps lost the commanding Jon Braid at the back to a hamstring injury but looked set to put the game to bed when a Shirehampton defender was harshly adjudged to have handed the ball in the box.   
Tuck’s penalty was saved, however, and Thornbury were left with a nervy finale after the visitors pulled one back with five minutes to go.  
The back four held out which meant that the Baps return to the top of the table with their unbeaten record remaining intact. 
Next up are for the Baptists are current Division One champions and GFA Minor Cup winners Woodlands Rangers in the BCFA Cup first round.