Bristol Combination Premier One

Stapleton 2 Real Thornbury 2

REAL Thornbury travelled to Begbrook Green Park to take on league leaders Stapleton on Saturday off the back of an abandoned League Cup game at Olveston United and a week without a fixture.

Rustiness was apparent throughout the Real side in the opening half.

Three great chances were spurned early on and the Rats were made to pay as a long ball over the top of the defence and a neat finish resulted in the hosts taking the lead.

Keeper Rowan Cartlidge made two great saves as Real weathered the storm before centre-back Matt Weaver dragged Stapleton’s centre-forward back on the half hour to hand the leaders a penalty which was confidently dispatched into the bottom corner.

Paul O’Connor and Danny Lever rang the changes at half time and Real clawed one back early in the second half on the break when Sam Jones made it four goals in four games.

The tide had turned and the midfield trio of Steve Thompson, Zac Vaughan and Andrew Rice began to dominate proceedings in an ill-tempered second-half.

The equaliser arrived as a floated free kick into the box from Mark Willis was met with a glancing header from debutant Danny Thompson at the back post to preserve Real’s unbeaten league record.

Real Thornbury return to derby duty this week as they travel the short distance to take on Olveston United on Saturday in the re-arranged League Cup tie which kicks off at 2pm.