Bristol Churches League Division 1

Shirehampton 4 Thornbury Baptist Church 1

THORNBURY Baptists went down to a comprehensive loss against a Shirehampton side who have their sights well set on going head-to-head with Woodlands Rangers for the title.

Thornbury had the better of their West Bristol rivals when the sides met early in the season but the Baptists looked lethargic for much of the first half and were very lucky to only be one goal down at the break.

That goal came on the half-hour mark when Thornbury failed to clear a corner and when the ball came back in to the area, it fell perfectly for the striker to fire past Dave Lane in goal.

Despite a backs against the wall opening, Thornbury had managed to hit the bar as early as four minutes in, when a James Hancox cross was headed back across goal and Ash Tuck headed against the stanchion.

Jimmy Cooke might have done better with a chance to go round the keeper and Nic Tymko headed over from a corner, but at the other end, Thornbury were hanging on with some important saves from Lane.

On a positive note, the Thornbury defence welcomed back Jonny Skinner after a broken collarbone when manager Chris Beddoes was forced into an early reorganisation, but an injury list that includes several first-team players has undoubtedly played a role in Thornbury’s recent slump in form.

Thornbury started much the brighter in the second half but struggled to make a clear-cut chance from a good spell of possession and Shirehampton finally had a deserved second goal on 60 minutes, when their powerful centre-midfield skipper beat two men before he was clipped in the box and winger Ricky Bush slotted the penalty.

Almost out of nothing, Phil Mansfield and Sam Nichols combined to bundle in a Thornbury goal from a Phil Loadwick corner, Nichols eventually claiming the goal following a post-match inquest.

As it turned out, it would be all Thornbury could take home as Shire added two more goals late in the proceedings, their third of the morning from a corner, and the final goal of the game after a nice move down the left flank saw a low cross coolly converted at the near post.