Bristol Under 18 Combination League Cup second round

Dundridge u18s 1 Thornbury Town U18s 1 (Thornbury Town won 3-2 on penalties)

THORNBURY Town u18’s travelled to Dundridge Lane Bristol to play Nicholas Wanderers u18 in a second round league cup match.

Thornbury were playing their first competitive fixture for a month and in the early exchanges of the match it was the visitors who struggled to find any rhythm and cope with the pace of the game.

Thornbury then fell behind when they conceded a penalty after a clumsy challenge by Adam Barrow in the home defence. The resulting penalty was calmly converted by Brad Ind to make 1-0 to the home team.

Slowly but surely Thorns grew into the game and started to cause the home team problems with the pace of Mike Tanner on the right wing and the trickery of Dan O'Connor, Denym Di Mauro and Jake Budd up front. With game now becoming a battle in midfield both teams were cancelling each other out.

Thornbury's defence were staying strong lead by captain Sam Downes. The half ended 1-0 to the hosts with both teams guilty of wasting great opportunities to score.

Thornbury started the second half much stronger than they started the first and had several chances to draw level but the home defence held firm.

Thornbury were not to be denied and drew level when they were awarded a free kick 25 yards out centre of the goal.

Up stepped Denym Di Mauro to lift the ball over the wall and past the stranded home keeper. The visitors were now playing with their tails up and again were guilty of wasting chances to seal the win. The home team had chances of their own but Sam Blunden in goal for the visitors was alert to the danger.

The game finished 1-1 and went straight to a penalty shoot out to decide which team progressed to the third round and it was the visitors Thornbury who progressed after Sam Blunden saved three penalties leaving striker Denym Di Mauro to score the winning spot kick.