Bristol Churches FA

Edge Church FC 3 Thornbury Baptist Church FC 2

THORNBURY Baptists' season came to a disappointing end on Saturday despite the visitors taking a two-goal lead within the first ten minutes.

Thornbury led as early as four minutes in, when Phil Loadwick broke down the left and his cross caused chaos in the Edge Church defence.

Both Stu Kelly and John Cordle fired snap-shots at the loose ball before it fell nicely for Jimmy Cooke to nod home his 21st League goal of the Season. That goal put him one behind the leading scorer in the league and but for some poor finishing from the Skipper, he might have had a hat-trick in this game and put some real pressure on the front runner Chris Spurrey.

As it was, Cooke did have an assist five minutes later when he intercepted a clearance and beat his man on the left of the box before squaring for Stu Kelly to fire home at the back post.

Thornbury were rampant at this stage, playing a high pressing game and creating multiple chances in front of goal.

Even Jonny Skinner found himself free in the box after a marauding run from right back but he could only fire just wide of the left-hand upright to be denied a first goal for the club. Kelly and Cooke should both have added to their tally and Sam Nichols was inches away from heading home another.

The game turned on 25 minutes when out of nowhere, the Edge Church centre-forward was given space to carry the ball from half-way and when not closed down, he tried his luck from 25-yards out and beat Doug Nash in goal to find the bottom left corner.

Shortly before halftime, Thornbury then allowed a throw-in to bounce twice in the box, and an opponent time to turn and fire home almost unchallenged to level the scores.

The second half saw the complete swing in momentum as a free kick was saved by Nash but fell straight to the Edge striker who added their third and suddenly Thornbury looked a shadow of the side that had started the game so powerfully.

Dave Tushingham and James Ponting were introduced from the bench and Thornbury did continue to create chances but were unable to convert and were left to wonder how they hadn’t put this game to bed within 20 minutes.

The result means Thornbury will finish fourth in the league and will remember the 2015/16 Season for the magnificent GFA Minor Cup Final victory just a few weeks ago.