Bristol ChurchesFA League Division 1
Thornbury Baptists 1-2 Woodlands FC

THORNBURY suffered a disappointing second consecutive defeat to league champions Woodlands FC going down 2-1 on Saturday despite a late rally after a Steve Clare goal with ten minutes remaining.

Unlike the previous Saturday’s BCFA Cup defeat, Thornbury could not claim to be so unlucky on this occasion and there was little dispute that the visitors deserved their three points.

Thornbury started unusually slowly and Dave Lane was forced into some important early saves. The Baps looked solid enough at the back but were struggling to retain the ball in the midfield leaving Ash Tuck and Stu Kelly with very little service up front. Manager Chris Beddoes introduced John Cordle from the bench to bolster the midfield but disaster struck for him on his return from a 5-week lay-off with a hamstring injury when within 15 minutes, he pulled up again and will be re-visiting the treatment table.

Woodlands struck the crucial blow just before half time when veteran striker Andy Baynton swung his right-foot at a loose ball and his volley looped agonisingly over Lane into the far corner from about 20 yards. Intended or not, it brought about a deserved lead for the visitors.

Ash Tuck thought he had an equaliser when he latched onto a Phil Mansfield pass and finished neatly passed the keeper only to see the linesman flagging for offside. Then in bizarrely identical circumstances he found himself through on goal in almost the same position just minutes later but lifted the ball just over the bar.

The second half saw a much improved display from Thornbury and they began to create some chances. Jimmy Cooke headed a Phil Loadwick free kick just wide and Ash Tuck fired a good effort just wide of the near post. At the other end though, Woodlands continued to threat, particularly down the left flank and they had their second when a smart passing move initially down the left saw a cross to the far post and the ball fed back to a grateful striker to seemingly seal the points. 

Thornbury pushed hard to get back into the game though and when Stu Kelly fed Jimmy Cooke on the left, his cross come shot was clipped beautifully into the roof of the net by Steve Clare arriving from midfield. Nick Tymko came close to the equaliser from a late corner but it was to prove to be a morning of ‘what might have been’ and Thornbury will look to bounce back as the enter the GFA Cup in Round 2 next week.