Thornbury Baptists.................................. 1

Clevedon..................................................... 1

BCAFL Division 1

Thornbury Baptist Church dropped points at home for the first time in more than a year after a late Clevedon equaliser at Alveston Saturday.

On balance, it was probably a fair result but Steve Clare and Jimmy Cooke both smashed late efforts over the bar from close range and Thornbury certainly had the better chances in a game that got scrappier as it unfolded in the relentless rain.

The Baptists took a deserved lead on 9 minutes when James Hancox swang a quick free-kick into the box and Jimmy Cooke headed powerfully past the keeper.

Stu Kellly was impressive in midfield for Thornbury and he was the playmaker as Thornbury continued to dominate the first half but neither side created clear goal-scoring opportunities and when Kelly limped from the field with a groin injury, the visitors began to grow into the game.

Clevedon started the second half well but the Thornbury centre-back pairing of Richard Ocone and Toby Williams was looking resilient.

It took a brilliant strike on the half-volley from about 25 yards to give Clevedon the chance of a point but it also inspired Thornbury into full throttle for a closing ten minutes where they might have scored two or three times but failed to convert.