Football

Bristol Churches FA Division One

Hope, WSM 2 Thornbury Baptist Church 4

THORNBURY Baptists overcame the bitter disappointment of a controversial week in the Bristol Churches League to complete a fantastic season with a convincing 4-2 win away at Hope Weston-Super-Mare.

Controversy stemmed from Hope WSM’s inability to field a side in their previous fixture against Woodlands FC who needed a point to secure the title ahead of Thornbury.

Woodlands therefore picked up three points by default and were awarded the title without having to don their boots.

Thornbury’s victory on Saturday saw them reach 41 points for the season and therefore a point more than the Champions had earned in competitive league football.

It was an unfortunate end to a season that has been as competitive as any before it, with the title and relegation both going to the final fixtures of the season.

Few would dispute that Woodlands FC were worthy Champions but the nature of the circumstances left Thornbury with somewhat of an added incentive to ensure they finished their season in style against very capable opposition, who themselves finished fourth in the division.

After a cagey opening Thornbury led on 35 minutes when a trademark jinking run from Stu Kelly ended with him firing low past the Hope keeper.

That lead was surrendered with some calamitous defending that saw the Hope centre-forward bundle home an equaliser on 41 minutes, but Thornbury had the perfect riposte before half-time.

Ben Paddy broke free down the left and when his cross was only cleared to Lloyd Williams on the edge of the box, he turned and fired a half-volley into the bottom left-hand corner.

The talented midfielder who has played a big part in the title challenge this season picked a nice way to mark his last game for the club for the foreseeable future as he embarks on a career move to London.

Thornbury let the lead slip again barely ten minutes into the second half despite having begun with an onslaught on the Hope goal.

The equaliser was a fine solo finish from the Hope lone striker who had beaten the offside trap and escaped the challenge of Dan Blanchard who was welcomed back to the Thornbury defence after a long injury lay-off.

On 65 minutes, Stu Kelly was denied a second goal by a good low save from the Hope keeper but when the rebound fell perfectly for wing-man Ben Ingram, his effort was equally well-saved by the Hope centre-half who threw out a right-hand leaving a simple penalty decision for the referee and leaving Jimmy Cooke to convert for his 20th goal of the season.

Thornbury were a class above their opponents by now and dominated possession throughout the last 25 minutes before deservedly sealing the points with ten minutes to play.

James Ponting set Jimmy Cooke free down the right and he pulled the ball back for Lloyd Williams who coolly slid the ball on to Ben Ingram who smashed the ball past the advancing keeper for the fourth Thornbury goal.

Thornbury’s second place finish is their highest in more than a decade and closes a superb season with just a hint of ‘what might have been’.

Woodlands can still secure a treble having already won the GFA Intermediate Cup, they will face Clevedon in the BCFA Cup Final on May 10.