Gloucester County League

Thornbury Town 1 Kingswood 2

THORNBURY Town missed the opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the Gloucestershire County League when they suffered a second successive home defeat, writes Malcolm Carr.

This time it was a loss to in-form Kingswood, who had won four of their last five fixtures before kick-off.

And the defeat has made for a sizzling top of the table, with just a handful of points separating top side Thornbury from fourth-placed Kingswood.

It was a tight battle throughout the game with Thorns turning in a subdued performance whilst the visitors closed down Thorns quickly, effectively stifling Town and not allowing them to play their normal passing game.

However it was Thorns who created the first chance when a free kick was met by Nathan Irwin but his header went just wide of the post.

The visitors had a couple of wayward efforts from Simon Clarke before midway through the half a quickly taken throw found Ryan Mudd whose shot was tipped over the bar by Tom Sheppard. Town responded minutes later when Tom Webb’s shot was saved by Fox in the visitors goal but Kingswood took the lead on 28 minutes when Clarke’s free kick was met by Mudd who ran across a hesitant Thorns defence to head past keeper Tom Sheppard.

Five minutes later, Luke Franklin’s long-range effort was saved by Fox but Kingswood maintained their advantage to the break.

An early Toby Bennett free-kick caused some panic in the visitors defence after five minutes but it was generally the visitors who dominated the early stages of the second half.

Jamie Evans had a chance to increase Kingswood’s lead but his shot was straight into Sheppard’s arms. 20 minutes in to the second half Craig Lancastle came close to levelling with a spectacular scissor kick effort from Nathan Irwin’s cross but just two minutes later, Kingswood extended their lead.

Gary Simmons' cross from the right eluded Town’s defence and was stabbed in at the far post by Frank Hitchings.

The last 15 minutes saw Thorns dominate but despite their pressure they struggled to create any clear cut chances.

With eight minutes left, they won a corner on the right which caused a scramble in the visitors six yard box from which they pulled a goal back, Nathan Sage getting the final touch.

Town pressed hard for the equaliser but the visitors defence held firm.

Town will be hoping to get their title challenge back on track this Saturday when they visit struggling Bishops Cleeve Reserves, kick off 3pm.

Meanwhile, Thornbury Town Reserves, who suffered a 2-0 reverse at unbeaten league leaders Minchinhampton last Saturday, are at home to Chalford Reserves, kick off 2pm at the Mundy Playing Field.