Bristol Churches Football Association Division 1

Thornbury Baptist Church 1 City Church 0

A 30TH-MINUTE strike from centre-forward Ash Tuck proved enough for Thornbury to take all three points to stay top of the league.

It was a goal that also turned out to be the first Thornbury Baptist Church FC goal to be broadcast over the radio, as club and league chairman David Finney happened to be giving an interview to Radio Bristol on the sidelines at the time.

When these two sides met earlier in the season, Thornbury were on the end of a 5-4 upset and this return game proved to be just as frenetic, but without the composure in front of goal on a challenging surface, after weeks of bad weather.

Tuck looked the likeliest scorer playing in the lone-striker role, as manager Chris Beddoes set up with the 4-5-1 formation that has served Thornbury so well this season, but it was from a set piece that the hosts got in front.

A long throw-in from the right flank was flicked on by Jimmy Cooke and fell to the feet of Steve Clare at the back post.

As he was challenged by the defender, he selflessly rolled a deft pass across goal for Tuck to fire into the empty net.

Thornbury generally retained control of the game, but couldn’t put it to bed despite chances for Stu Kelly, Phil Mansfield and Aidan Maddox.

At the other end, keeper Dave Lane made a couple of vital saves, but City Church striker Ken Oni, widely acknowledged as the best in the league, was denied any clear sight of goal by Nic Tymko and Jon Braid who were resolute at the back throughout.

With Radio Bristol running a feature on the league’s Solomon Trophy, which is awarded for Fair Play to the team with the highest average score over the season, it was fitting that this game was both fiercely competitive, but also played in a great spirit.

The win keeps Thornbury’s title aspirations alive.

Thornbury host Castle Green on Saturday at Alveston.