Gloucestershire County League

Thornbury Town 1 Bishops Cleeve Reserves 2

THORNBURY Town may have lost out in their Gloucestershire County League fixture against Bishops Cleeve Reserves but it was an entertaining affair between two well-matched sides, writes Malcolm Carr.

The visitors are enjoying their best start to a County League season for many years and pressed Thornbury straight from the kick-off.

But despite their possession, they were unable to create any clearcut chances, with Town’s defence always looking composed.

It was Town who created the first effort on goal, Danny Thompson getting clear of his marker but his final shot went wide.

Thorns created panic in the visitors’ defence on 12 minutes when Toby Bennett’s corner was headed back across goal by Pete Fowler to Marcus Wormwell but the young striker’s shot went just the wrong side of the post.

The visitors took the lead on 24 minutes after Town lost possession in midfield.

A quick break led to Alex Lippiatt saving well from Hammond but, from the resulting corner, Paul Ireland was able to steer the ball into the net off the inside of the post.

The visitors didn’t hold the lead for long as Wormwell equalised with a spectacular effort into the top corner of the net from 25 yards out in the 32nd minute.

Town almost took the lead a few minutes later when first Bennett’s shot was blocked and then Luke Franklin’s follow-up effort was gathered at the second attempt by the visitor’s keeper Benbow.

The second-half continued in the same vein, and Hammond fired over the bar for Cleeve when well placed.

The visitors then had to thank their ex-Cheltenham Town keeper Benbow for keeping them in the game on the hour mark.

Thorns patient build-up led to a goalbound Franklin effort from the edge of the box but somehow Benbow managed to dive full length to push the ball out for a corner.

Ten minutes later, Benbow was in action again tipping a Bennett free-kick over the bar.

With ten minutes remaining, the visitors scored again, a little against the run of play, when Ben Maguire was given too much room to pick his spot and fired home from distance.

Straight from the restart, Thorns were denied again when strikes from both Craig Lancastle and Bennett were saved by Benbow.

In the dying seconds, the keeper was in action again saving a Jordan Saxton effort at full stretch.

Whilst disappointed to have lost Town will know that they will play a lot worse and win. They now look forward to Saturday's County Cup fixture at the Mundy Fields against Toolstation Premier league side Cribbs, kick off 2:00pm.

Meanwhile the Reserves kept their winning start to the season going when they beat Dursley Town reserves 2-1 on Saturday. The Thorns should perhaps have won more convincingly but some last ditch defending and some missed chances kept the scoreline close . In the end goals from Ollie Bradley and Rich Curtis steered Town to a deserved win.