Gloucestershire County League

Little Stoke 1

Thornbury Town 0

THERE were certainly no fireworks on Saturday at Little Stoke Park where a dour encounter saw Thorns suffer a narrow defeat.

The hosts started at a fast tempo giving Town no time on the ball with their main threat coming from crosses into the box but the Stoke forwards failed to capitalise.

Meanwhile Tom Webb was causing all sorts of problems for the home side’s Ollie Bacon and it was from his run down the left and cross into the box after 20 minutes that saw Nathan Irwin’s diving header hit the post before being scrambled away.

10 minutes later Luke Franklin’s long throw caused panic in the home defence but none of the Thorn’s strikers could force the ball home.

Franklin was then in action again but home keeper Langson saved his long range shot easily.

Moments before the break Church lifted a free kick high over the Town bar to send the teams in all square at the break.

Early in the second half Pete Fowler’s header from a throw in forced Langson into a save and a quick counter attack saw Simmons clear on the Town goal but his shot was pushed round the post by Lee Mason.

The hosts scored what proved to be the winning goal in the 60th minute when Bacon’s long range effort beat Mason at the foot of the post.

Thorns went in search of an equaliser and Craig Lancastle tried to chip the ball over Langson but the keeper managed to save.

Stoke substitute Sasha Tong broke clear with 15 minutes remaining but Mason saved well, whilst at the other end Nathan Irwin’s effort was gathered by Langson.

In the dying minutes Lancastle’s shot went wide but the cross back in to the box saw Nathan Sage’s header pushed over the bar by Langson, to secure the win for Little Stoke.

Thorns will be looking for an improved performance this Saturday when they entertain Rockleaze Rangers at the Mundy Field, kick off 2:00pm.

MEANWHILE, the Reserves had a long trip to the north of the county to play Apperley in the County Cup.

Despite missing a number of key players they had enough of the play to have grabbed a win but in the end had to settle for a 3-3 draw, with goals from Dan Worsley, Fred Mullen and Tom Blake.

With no extra-time being played the game went straight to penalties which saw Apperley progress to the next round 4-3.

This Saturday the Reserves are back in League action where they face a trip to Tetbury Town Reserves.