Gloucestershire County League

Bristol Telephones 3 Thornbury Town 1

By Malcolm Carr

THORNBURY Town’s title hopes are hanging by a thread after their third successive defeat, this time to title rivals Bristol Telephones.

Despite the result this was a much better performance from Thorns but their hosts had a more physical approach to the game and were clinical in front of goal.

Both sides had chances in the opening few minutes with Toby Bennett’s freekick causing problems in the home defence and Luke Franklin, having been put through by Joe Guest, firing just wide of the post.

In between Telephone’s Dhani Golding fired wide of the Town goal. Play switched quickly from end to end but Thorns looked the most likely to open the scoring and midway through the half, Danny Thompson’s driven cross found Craig Lancastle and his goalbound shot saw Osborne pull off a full-length save to push the ball away.

Moments later Thorns Tom Sheppard punched a corner away under pressure and this signalled a 10 minute spell of Telephones dominance, with Nathan Sage heading away efforts from Mike Alvis and Keiron Golding.

On 40 minutes the home side took the lead when Town lost possession in midfield and a quick break saw Mike Alvis brought down in the penalty area. Ryan Hicks took the spot kick to give the hosts a 1-0 half time lead.

Town’s task was made even harder three minutes into the second half when Sheppard couldn’t hold on to a Dhani Golding shot and Ben Griffiths chipped the ball into an empty net.

Thorns buckled down and were the better side for much of the second period and went close from a Bennett free-kick that went narrowly over the bar and a couple of minutes later Lancastle got on the end of another Bennett free-kick but steered the ball wide of the post.

However Town did pull a goal back on 65 minutes after home keeper Osborne brought down Franklin in the penalty area and Lancastle made no mistake from the spot. A couple of minutes later Lancastle had the chance to equalise but his shot was straight at Osborne.

As Thorns pushed forward in search of an equaliser they started to leave gaps at the back and Hicks hit the bar after Pete Fowler had blocked a shot from Alvis.

The hosts sealed the result in the 85th minute when a long ball forward found Dhani Golding wide on the right. Tom Sheppard rushed out of goal to challenge but Golding rounded him and then steered the ball over two defenders who had got back on the line to cover.

Thorns will be looking to get back to winning ways this Saturday when they entertain Hanham Athletic, 2pm kick off at the Mundy Fields.