GreenUn Bristol Post 23 September 2013 by Creative Services Studio

GreenUn

MON

Your 20-page Monday sports special

23 SEP 2013

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People are always going back to their old clubs and scoring and it was nice to get a goal – City’s defender Aden Flint on opening the scoring against his former club Pages 2-3

Marco Mama on target as Bristol secure first win of the season

O’Toole rescues

Rovers

Pages 10-11

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We didn’t get the three points but at least people will go home thinking that if we play like we did in the second half we will be alright – Bristol Rovers’ boss John Ward

Non-League football | Pages 10-12

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Pages 6-7

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Monday, September 23, 2013

Swindon Town vs Bristol City | County Ground, Saturday, September 21

Player Rating (out of 10) ● Frank Fielding: Sound handling and good distribution, he could not be faulted

● James O’Connor: Had a sound game until injury forced him off early

● Derrick Williams: Won more battles than he lost before making way for a change in shape

City need to tighten up

● Brendan Moloney: Effective as wing-back and right-back, he almost equalised at the death

● Scott Wagstaff: Fully-committed, he worked hard and caused Swindon problems

● Marvin Elliott: Used his experience and did the simple things well throughout

● Marlon Pack: A driving force in midfield, he passed the ball well and produced a goal assist

● Nicky Shorey: A calming influence, he hardly put a foot wrong despite positional switch

● Jay Emmanuel-Thomas: Wrong options offset by a well-taken goal, he was a threat

● Sam Baldock: Lacked service at times, but kept the centre-backs occupied and worked hard

Star man ● Aden Flint: Brave in his defending, he did well against Ranger and scored a goal

Swindon Town Wes Foderingham – 6 Nat Thompson – 6 Grant Hall – 5 Darren Ward – 6

Jay McEveley – 6 Yaser Kasim – 8 Nicky Ajose - 7 Massimo Luongo – 7

Louis Thompson - 6 Danny N’Guessan – 7 Nile Ranger – 6

Substitutions Swindon: Mohammed El Gabbas for N’Guessan (90 mins) City: Joe Bryan for Williams (46 mins), Greg Cunningham for O’Connor (52 mins), Marlon Harewood for Shorey (88 mins)

Anthony Taylor (Cheshire) – got most of the big decisions right

Match facts

Shots off target Corners

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Home 6

Offsides

7 10 1

Attendance

11,598

Fouls conceded

Andy

Stockhausen

Expert analysis Swindon Town

Bristol City

Aden Flint headed his first goal for the club from a Marlon Pack corner and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas issued a further reminder of his ability to punish defences with an unerring left foot as City twice prised open the home side in a first half they controlled for long spells. And had Brendan Moloney’s injury-time shot crept under the crossbar instead of striking the underside and staying out, few would have argued that City were not worth a share

8 ● The number of league games that City have gone without a win this season of the spoils. Those are the plus points and, taken in isolation, they suggest a first League win in six months is not far away. Yet City’s best efforts continue to be undermined by their inability to keep a clean sheet. Swindon scored three goals and, once they imposed themselves in the second half, could easily have had five on a day when they were missing three of their most creative players through injury. O’Driscoll has a reputation for deploying well-organised teams and he will feel let down by the lapse in concentration that permitted the home side to poach their first equaliser from a throw-in. Nathan Thompson launched the ball over the head of an unsuspecting defender and Nicky Ajose skipped past exposed centre-back Derrick Williams to beat Frank Fielding with an angled shot. Similarly, when Massimo Luongo went on a run along the edge of the opposition penalty area, no defender closed him down. It was too easy for

the midfielder to deliver a low cross that travelled a long way before being turned in by Ajose. If City’s game-plan was to disrupt Swindon’s supply lines and hustle the home side out of possession, it worked reasonably well during the opening 45 minutes. O’Driscoll then decided to deploy two banks of four after the break to further frustrate Mark Cooper’s team, only for the move to backfire within five minutes. Having withdrawn Williams and introduced another midfielder, City’s head coach was presented with a problem when James O’Connor pulled up injured. Without a recognised centre-half on the bench, he was forced to deploy left-back Greg Cunningham at the heart of the back four. While the Irishman made a good fist of it, he was unable to prevent the muscular Ranger from turning him and smashing the ball into the roof of the net in the game’s defining moment three minutes from time. But then that is symptomatic of the way things are going for City right now. That said, teams make their own luck to a large degree and, until they can find a means to better protect their own goal, the Robins will remain vulnerable. City are being punished for their failings in both penalty areas and a number of promising attacking situations were squandered for the want of a clinical final ball, notably when substitute Joe Bryan was unable to find Sam Baldock in space close to goal when it was 2-2. Such is the treadmill nature of the English league, there is no time to dwell on ifs, buts and maybes. City must necessarily move on and O’Driscoll will doubtless highlight the positive aspects of his team’s latest performance – and there were many – in order to instil the belief that Colchester United can be beaten at Ashton Gate on Saturday.

Fan’s view with Matthew Withers

Referee

Shots on target

FOLLOWING two seasons of struggle in the Championship, Bristol City players and fans could be excused for anticipating an easier ride in League One. Unfortunately for the Robins and their followers, it has been a depressing case of more of the same. If nothing else, a frustrating sequence of eight League games without a win has caused everyone connected with the club to recalibrate their expectations for the remainder of this season. Far from comprising a multitude of overtly-physical and technically-limited teams hell-bent on playing long-ball football, the third tier has shown itself to be full of surprises. West rivals Swindon are merely the latest in a procession of opponents to have demonstrated a penchant for playing attractive pass and move football at a high tempo. And as City will testify after losing out to Nile Ranger’s 87th-minute winner, the third tier has quality players capable of hurting even the best-organised defences. Lodged in the bottom four and still searching for their first win, City are being taught a chastening lesson; there are no easy games at this level. While supporters stress, it is incumbent upon head coach Sean O’Driscoll and his staff to fashion a team and a style of play capable of improving the club’s fortunes on the pitch. And sooner rather than later. While a majority of fans can be relied upon to exercise patience and remain on-side so long as they can see progression, others have already lost faith. Rather than bellyache about the overall situation, it is perhaps more helpful to analyse performances game by game. City may have lost a blood-and-thunder derby by the odd goal in five, but there was much to admire in their work against a Swindon team expected to be challenging for the play-offs. O’Driscoll’s players put in a shift, working hard off the ball, putting their bodies on the line and displaying a level of commitment that prompted many fans to stay behind and show their appreciation after the final whistle. Enterprising in possession, the visitors also moved the ball quickly and created sufficient goal-scoring opportunities to have won the game several times over.

Away 3

5 4 11 1

I WOULD have been disappointed to leave Swindon Town’s County Ground with just a point on Saturday, but to have to walk out with nothing was a real kick in the guts. I witnessed 45 minutes of total ineptitude on Tuesday night against Shrewsbury Town and would go as far as to say that it was one of the worst performances that I had seen in years. The improvement against Swindon was clear to see, but we are still searching for that first win of the season. The display against Shrewsbury

was hard to take, especially as it followed a poor result against Peterborough at home just a few days before. Ashton Gate is not an easy place to play when things are not going well. I have never, and will never, boo the team, but what I saw in that first 45 minutes was unacceptable. The players showed no effort or energy against a team who should not be a match for us at this level with the differences in finances and sizes of clubs. Fans pay their money and if some

choose to boo then that’s their right, in the same way as it’s a fan’s right to applaud the team off when they have been poor. I will always take losing when I see that the players have tried and that was not the case in that first 45 minutes on Tuesday. The atmosphere was negative on Tuesday and the players have to give the fans something to cheer about. When they did the fans got right behind them and City could so easily have gone on to win the game. The fans turned out in their numbers for the short trip up the M4 to

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Monday, September 23, 2013

at the back to secure first win

● Jay Emmanuel-Thomas

Swindon v City match reaction ADEN Flint insists it is only a matter of time before City claim that elusive first victory in League One. While he was bitterly disappointed not to leave the County Ground with at least a point, the big central defender felt the visitors performed well enough to warrant a win. And the former Swindon man believes more performances like that will eventually yield the three points he and his team-mates crave. He said: “We have to keep the faith and keep believing in what we are doing, because some of the football we played was excellent. “It was nearly as we good as we can be and we have to take encouragement from that. If we continue to work hard and play like that, then that first win will come eventually. “This was a great game for the neutral and for both sets of fans as well. There were goals, lots of shots on target and some really good football played.

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People are always going back to their old clubs and scoring and it was nice to get a goal

Aden Flint

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● Brendan Moloney takes control

● Bristol City’s Aden Flint celebrates his side’s first goal against Swindon Town on Saturday

City couldn’t hold on and Williams was caught out by a quick throw and then lost his footing to gift Swindon an equaliser. I’m still of the belief that goalkeeper Frank Fielding is struggling to find his best form and while not at fault for any of the Swindon goals, I’m not sure how confident his defenders are in front of him and I think Elliott Parish should be given an opportunity. The fans stayed behind the team and were rewarded when this season’s talisman Jay Emmanuel-Thomas scored another

wonderful strike. JET doesn’t lack self belief, but I wish he showed a desire to want to be involved and dictate the game a little more. What I mean by that is at this level JET can be unplayable and can almost go past players at will and fire in a thunderbolt of a shot, and yet he only does this a few times in a game when he should be doing it far more. Yet again, City couldn’t hold onto the lead and more sloppy defending allowed Swindon to snatch an equaliser late in the first half. Both

● Sam Baldock is beaten in the air

teams played some decent football in the second half and for the last 15 minutes halfway through the game was there for the taking. I felt a change was needed perhaps bringing Bobby Reid on. We didn’t and sadly we were made to pay when Nile Ranger held off Cunningham to score the winner. There were positives to take out of the game, but we need to show a higher tempo and energy at home and if we do this from the start and put our foot in then the fans will get right behind the team .

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Swindon. The Swindon Robins have been playing some decent football and this was always going to be a test for Sean O’Driscolls side. The head coach opted to start with a back three of Aiden Flint, Derrick Williams and James O‘Connor with Brendan Maloney and Nicky Shorey operating as part of a five-man midfield alongside Marlon Pack, Marvin Elliott and Scott Wagstaff. Jay Emmanuel Thomas and Sam Baldock played up top as a pair. Flint scored a decent opener, but

Pictures: Rogan Thompson

“We’ve kept the ball, we’ve knocked it about well and we’ve scored two good goals. “We’ve played our part in a really good game and deserved to get something. We haven’t and that’s disappointing, but we just have to keep plugging away. “If we can improve on our positioning at the back and stop the opposition scoring, we will win games playing like that.” Flint gave City the lead and refused to celebrate out of respect for Swindon’s players and fans. “It was on the cards that I was going to score,” said Flint, who climbed high at the back post to head his first City goal from Marlon Pack’s ninth-minute cor ner. “People are always going back to their old clubs and scoring and it was nice to get a goal. It meant a bit more because it was against Swindon, but it would have meant even more had it helped us get the result we wanted. “I’m not fussed about whether I score or not, I’m more concerned about us getting that first win. “We’ve had enough chances in the second half, but were either in the right place at the wrong time or could not get onto the end of balls going into the box. “Then they go up the other end and score a goal like that – it’s heart-breaking.”

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Monday, September 23, 2013

Swindon Town vs Bristol City | County Ground, Saturday, September 21

● Bristol City’s Aden Flint rises to head his side into the lead against Swindon Town at the County Ground on Saturday

Pictures: Rogan Thompson

● City’s Scott Wagstaff holds off a challenge from a Swindon defender

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● City head coach Sean O’Driscoll

● City’s Joe Bryan passes his way out of trouble against Swindon

● Brendan Moloney puts in a cross against Swindon Town

● Marvin Elliott looks for a pass

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Monday, September 23, 2013

Swindon Town vs Bristol City | County Ground, Saturday, September 21

● A City corner is played dangerously in to the Swindon penalty area

● City’s James O’Connor is carried off after suffering an injury

● Bristol City’s Jay Emmanuel-Thomas is beaten in the air by Swindon’s Grant Hall in Saturday’s 3-2 defeat

● The travelling City fans look on during Saturday’s game against Swindon

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● City’s players and mascot meet the officials before the game against Swindon at the County Ground on Saturday

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Fan’s view with Dennis Payter WE did deserve the point thanks to our battling second-half performance. However, it was sad to admit that at half-time we were ready to settle for that draw even though we were at home to Hartlepool United. We were so poor in the first half, but our football was so much better after the break when we abandoned the big boot tactics and played some decent stuff, creating several chances as we laid siege on the visitors’ goal. Once again, we conceded from a set piece as Tom Parkes and Mark McChrystal struggled to cope with the visitors’ attacks. There seemed to be little understanding at the back as Hartlepool carved us open far too easily and once again the left-hand post at the Blackthorn End came to our rescue. Steve Mildenhall kept us in the game with some fine saves, but I was surprised to read that he thinks ‘football reports are written by people who don’t appear to have an understanding of what goes on in the game.’ That could be me Steve, but I do understand that if you boot the ball long and high neither Mitch Harding nor Eliot Richards are going to win it in the air. I felt sorry for young Harding, who hardly got a decent pass, although he did plenty of running to chase the long balls which I presume he was brought in for. Our best attacks, once again stemmed from the in-form full-backs Michael Smith and Lee Brown, while Matt Harrold’s goal came thanks to a surging run down the flank from Brown who opened up the United defence. Mildenhall might have seen the light, because the best move in the game came after he threw the ball out and some quick one-touch football ended with a shot just wide when it was so nearly the goal of the season. Now our ‘keeper, who obviously knows more about the game than me, started throwing the ball out more and suddenly we were looking a lot more positive as the introduction of Ellis Harrison increased the pressure on the visitors’ defence. John- Joe O’Toole looked set to be the villain of the day as he lost the ball only for Mildenhall to pull off a great save before John-Joe turned hero with the equaliser. It came soon after Hartlepool should have gone 3-1 up as one of their big defenders headed wide when unmarked from a corner. How such a tall defender can be unmarked at a corner is beyond me and our defending in these situations is a constant worry. Clearly more work is needed on the training ground, and maybe big Steve can use his knowledge to organise things at corners, while I have not been over impressed with the arrival of Andy Bond. If he is going to play wide then we might as well stick with Harrison or Alefe Santos.

Monday, September 23, 2013

Bristol Rovers vs Hartlepool | Memorial Stadium, Saturday, September 21

A point halts the run of defeats for Ward’s men SCORING a last-minute goal to secure a draw at home against Hartlepool United may certainly not be a cause to bring out the bunting – but John-Joe O’Toole’s 90th-minute leveller did, at the very least, serve to make for a slightly more relaxed atmosphere at John Ward’s post-match press briefing. It was hard to disagree with Ward as he waxed lyrical over his players’ ‘attitude’ and ‘mental toughness’ to halt a recent losing streak that was on the verge of being extended to four games, but those words would have certainly carried less credence had Rovers slipped to another defeat. Had the result been different, supporters, too, would possibly have been less willing to recognise the vast-improvement in performance – particularly in the second-half – that finally offers Ward something positive to build on following recent defeats. Aside from the collective, there were also plenty of individual bright spots to ponder; Lee Brown produ-

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We didn’t get the three points, but, at least people will go home thinking that if we play like we did in the second-half all the time we will be alright

John Ward

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cing his finest display of the season; Matt Harrold appearing to be overcoming his recent struggle for fitness, while Tom Lockyer was impressive on his return to the side alongside O’Toole in central midfield. Andy Bond, too, looks as though he may be a useful addition in an attacking sense – even if he lacks the raw pace of an out-and-out winger down the right-hand side – while Michael Smith and Steve Mildenhall remain consistent performers among the relative inconsistency of others. That said, however, Ward was not shying away from the fact that some problems still need to be addressed if

James

McNamara Expert analysis Bristol Rovers

Hartlepool

Rovers are to perform to a standard that reflects the quality of the squad on paper. The players fell well below that standard during an opening period where they huffed and puffed, but lacked the quality when in charge of the football to find a meaningful passage towards Hartlepool’s goal. Hartlepool, meanwhile, warmed to their task the longer the game remained goalless and, orchestrated by experienced central midfielder Simon Walton, looked the more likely to break the deadlock. Winger Jonathan Franks was also offered too much time and space on the edge of the penalty area to wrap the post with another effort before Rovers managed to finally edge in front – somewhat unsurprisingly as a result of a moment of individual brilliance amid the mediocrity of the collective – when Harrold took the ball deftly on his chest before executing a neat pirouette and finish all in one sharp movement to score his first goal of the season. If the players thought scoring the opening goal was a case of ‘job done’, however, they were offered a rude awakening immediately from the restart; left-back Jack Crawford aiming a diagonal on to the head of Andy Monkhouse, which was flicked into the path of excellent young striker Luke James, who equalised with a clinical shot from the edge of the box. Minutes later, the set-piece lethargy that has resulted in three goals against in the last fortnight reared its head again to offer James the chance to grab his second goal of the day

when turning on a sixpence to smash the ball in after it had been swung into the six-yard box following a short cor ner. Ward, however, was quick to point to individual error rather than any deep-rooted problem when asked about Rovers’ recent run of poor form when defending set-pieces; the perceived offender on this occasion seemingly Richards, if Mildenhall’s angry dash to the edge of his own penalty area to remonstrate with the striker was anything to go by. The manager gave those who had got themselves in such a mess an opportunity to atone for their sins by refraining from major change at half-time – although Mitch Harding, who had been handed a surprise start up front for the first time since the opening day of the season, and Richards, who had been moved out wide, swapped places in a move that served to offer Rovers greater attacking threat. Harrold deflected a stinging Richards shot on to the crossbar and Brown had an effort cleared off the line as Rovers played higher up the pitch and switched their mode of attack from one of long punts in the general direction of their strikers to one of keeping the ball on the floor and moving it regularly into wider areas. Even then Rovers required a good save from Mildenhall to deny James the opportunity to kill the game off after O’Toole’s pocket had been picked late on, while defender Christian Burgess also missed a gilt-edged chance to score with a header. That would have been harsh

● Bristol Rovers’ striker Matt Harrold fires in in the face of Rovers’ vastly-improved and dominant second-half display, however, and last-gasp reward eventually came when O’Toole arrived late to carefully steer Brown’s cross into the net in the final minute. “We didn’t get the three points, but, at least people will go home thinking that if we play like we did in the second-half all the time we will be alright,” Ward said in his final analysis. The biggest challenge this week will be to find a way of reproducing that form against Southend United on Friday night. Read James’ stories by following JamesMcNamara at www.bristolpost.co.uk

Match reaction STRIKER Matt Harrold hopes John-Joe O’Toole’s last-minute equaliser to secure a draw against Hartlepool United at the Memorial Stadium on Saturday will be the catalyst to drag Bristol Rovers out of their recent slump. O’Toole pounced to score a 90th-minute equaliser after a first-half brace off the boot of striker Luke James looked as if it was going to be enough to see Hartlepool claim their second successive league vic-

tory of their League Two campaign. The midfielder’s strike was enough to end Rovers’ recent three-game losing streak, and when asked whether the goal could prove to be a turning point, Harrold, pictured, who had opened the scoring with what was his first goal of the season, replied: “I hope it will, but we need to go on from here. “We have to build on this performance when we go to Southend on Friday night.

“That will be a tough game for us, so we have to go there with the same sort of determination and positivity we showed as a group today if we are to bring something back home. “The only disappointment for me is that I really felt the game was there for us to win and I think we have dropped two points. “We must have got about 20 crosses into the penalty area and threatened their goal a hell of a lot in the second half. “A point is a point, though, and any point is a good one when you have been on a bad run. “The last couple of weeks have not

W:11.4434cm H:4.97cm

● Bristol Rovers and Hartlepool United take to

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Monday, September 23, 2013

Player Rating (out of 10)

es in his side’s first goal in the 2-2 draw against Hartlepool United at the Memorial Stadium

Pictures: Neil Brookman

● Steve Mildenhall: The save to deny Luke James a hat-trick in the second-half was crucial in Rovers’ efforts to end the day with a point

● Michael Smith: No messing about when in defensive situations and was a constant and consistent attacking outlet down the right flank

● Tom Parkes: Made a couple of decent tackles and drove out with the ball from the back on occasion

● Mark McChrystal: Had a tough afternoon up against a tricky performer in the shape of striker James

● Lee Brown: Played a part in the build-up to both goals. Probably his best game of the season

● Andy Bond: Hasn’t got the pace of an out-and-out winger, but has a nice touch and was involved in a number of chances created from the flanks

● Tom Lockyer: Made a welcome return to the side and produced a disciplined display alongside O’Toole in the middle of the park

● John-Joe O’Toole: In the right place at the right time to score a last-minute equaliser that could prove vital in helping Rovers out of their current malaise

● Mitch Harding: Struggled to impose himself on the game in the first-half, but wasn’t helped by a lack of suitable service

● Eliot Richards: Criticised for failing to close down a short corner from which Hartlepool scored their second goal – but better in second-half

Star man

● Matt Harrold: Has struggled for fitness, but looked his usual self on Saturday. Scored a brilliant goal and was a constant menace with his aerial prowess

Hartlepool Scott Flinders – 7 Neil Austin – 7 Jack Baldwin – 8 Michael Duckworth – 7

Christian Burgess – 7 Matty Dolan – 7 Jonathan Franks – 7 Simon Walton – 8

Jack Compton – 7 Andy Monkhouse – 7 Luke James – 9

Substitutions ● Rovers’ Tom Lockyer blocks a Hartlepool pass

been good for us, so the club as a whole is not as happy as it would be if we were doing better. He added: “We know the script. This is my third season at the club now and we know we have to try to be nearer to the top (of the league) than the bottom. “We have to deal with those kinds of things and be strong mentally and show the character to battle through when we are in a bad spell. “When things do go well we know everyone will be behind us and really special things can happen – we saw that last season.” Harrold, meanwhile, opened the

scoring with a clinical finish after taking the ball out of the air with a deft touch off his chest and was pleased to have made amends for missing a chance to equalise from the penalty spot before Rovers went on to lose at Dagenham & Redbridge last weekend. “It’s a relief to get off the mark for the season and I’m pleased to have scored to make up for missing the penalty last week,” he said. “I held myself a bit responsible for us losing the game at Dagenham, so I felt I had something to prove. I was desperate to score and to help the team get something from the game.”

Hartlepool: Sam Collins for Franks (78 mins), James Poole for Monkhouse (85 mins)

Referee Charles Breakspear No complaints

Match facts Shots on target Shots off target Corners Fouls conceded Offsides Attendance

Home 5 13 8 8 1 5,579

Away 4 4 7 10 1

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ake to the field on Saturday afternoon

● Rovers’ David Clarkson, second from left, meets a corner

Rovers: Ellis Harrison for Harding (65 mins), David Clarkson for Richards (86 mins)

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Monday, September 23, 2013

Bristol Rovers vs Hartlepool | Memorial Stadium Saturday, September 21

● Bristol Rovers’ players congratulate Matt Harrold after he opened the scoring against Hartlepool United at the Memorial Stadium on Saturday

Pictures: Neil Brookman

● Rovers’ Lee Brown keeps his eye on the ball against Hartlepool

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● Ellis Harrison shows his fun side

● John-Joe O’Toole in an aerial battle with Hartlepool United's Simon Walton

● Rovers’ mascot enjoys her time in front of the Blackthorn End

● Fans exchange notes

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Monday, September 23, 2013

Bristol Rovers vs Hartlepool | Memorial Stadium Saturday, September 21 W:10.4989cm H:12.6524cm

● Two Rovers’ fans enjoy the build-up to the game against Hartlepool

● The pre-match warm-up in full swing for Rovers’ players

● Rovers players show their relief after John-Joe O’Toole’s 90th-minute equaliser against Hartlepool United

● Another chance goes begging for Bristol Rovers against Hartlepool

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● Rovers’ fans show their appreciation as the players take to the field against Hartlepool on Saturday

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Minute by minute

29 38 40 54 60

London Scottish, who had defended for most of the game, hit back when Miles Mantella scores in the corner and Lee Millar converts – 7-7 Scottish ensure a half-time lead when Millar knocks over a drop goal from more than 30 metres – 7-10

Bristol retake the lead through a penalty try following a scrum, which Jarvis converts – 14-10

James Merriman goes over for Bristol’s third try, with Jarvis again converting – 21-10

Millar hits back for Scottish with a long-range penalty following a scrum – 21-13

Mike Doneghan sets up Millar for Scottish’s second try, but the fly-half hits the post with the conversion attempt – 21-18

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After dominating the early stages without being able to force a score, Marco Mama bursts over from close range, with Adrian Jarvis converting – 7-0

Jarvis gives Bristol some breathing space again with a penalty from 22 metres – 24-18

Glen Townson dives over in the dying seconds to give Bristol the bonus point they had craved – Jarvis converts – 31-18

Monday, September 23, 2013

Bristol vs London Scottish | Memorial Stadium, Sunday, September 22

Bristol show attacking intent to open account BRISTOL got their GKIPA Championship season underway at the second attempt with a performance that brimmed with attacking intent, even if it was not quite matched with cutting edge. That said, a bonus point was secured, thanks to the hosts’ four tries – three of which were scored by forwards, the other courtesy of a penalty try earned by said pack. The performance was by no means perfect – but the signs were encouraging, as Bristol dominated long spells of territory and possession. Aspects of their play will have concerned their coaches – notably the ease with which London Scottish carved them open to score two tries, and the fact they bossed the first half, but still trailed at the interval. However, one thing shone through: Bristol’s mindset was different to how it had been in their opening-day defeat against Cornish Pirates. They were not willing to settle for keeping the scoreboard ticking over with penalties – they wanted tries.

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I thought we set the pace in the game really well in the first 20 minutes.

James Merriman

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Andy Robinson, the director of rugby, has highlighted how his team need to take more try-scoring bonus points than last season – and it showed in the way they tried to play the game. In doing so, Bristol displayed bravery. Not the physical bravery that is a given at this level of rugby, but an attacking bravery, to keep going for the jugular even when they were being repelled by a physical and well-drilled Scottish defence. It would have been easy for the hosts to play it safe, and take the three points when they came on offer, but Bristol – with several incisive backs still to return from injury, have made it clear they believe attack is the best

Steve

Cotton

Expert analysis Bristol

London Scottish

form of defence. Flanker James Merriman, who scored the third of their four tries, said: “I thought we set the pace in the game really well in the first 20 minutes. We want to give ourselves a bit of a brand of rugby – and we went all-out at them. “I think we’re going to do a lot of that this season, and try to dictate that first 20 minutes and really set our stall out. We have to attack teams. We can’t really afford to sit off them – we’ve got to really set the tempo in the first 20 minutes of these games. We feel if we can do that, teams are going to drop off in that last 20 minutes, which showed today. “Getting the bonus point was crucial for us. I said to the boys when I went off that we had to get that bonus point – and we got it, which I think that could make a big difference come the end of the season.” Quite how Bristol did not lead at half-time was something of a mystery. Scottish did not carry the ball into the Bristol 22 until the 32nd minute of the game – and, when they eventually did, they conceded a penalty. However, on their second visit, after James Grindal’s forward pass had given away possession, Jim Thompson chipped through for Miles Mantella to score. When Lee Millar converted, it was 7-7, after Marco Mama had opened the scoring for Bristol in the 29th minute. Scottish did incredibly well to keep their hosts out until that point – thwarting wave after wave of attacks. But when Merriman was stopped just short on the right, and Adrian Jarvis

and Luke Eves combined on the left, Mama proved unstoppable. Bristol, as baffling as it seemed, trailed at the break, following Millar’s drop goal – but the second half belonged to the hosts. It was not necessarily pretty – their three second-half tries were more about grunt and grit than guile and grace, but their attacking intent remained, except for one occasion when Jarvis slotted a penalty to turn a 21-18 lead into 24-18 with four minutes to play. Before that, though, Bristol had forced a penalty try from a scrum, before Merriman was driven over from a line-out. While their running game was at times predictable, the set-piece proved a useful attacking tool throughout the afternoon. And Robinson has made it clear that he wants his team to have balance and variety in their attacking options. Their lead of 21-10 became 21-18 after Millar went over when Mike Doneghan was allowed to dance through the Bristol defence following a quickly-taken line-out, before the fly-half sent over a penalty. But Jarvis’s late penalty gave the hosts breathing space, before replacement lock Townson was set up by the quick thinking of fellow replacement Ruki Tipuna – who livened up his team – to go over for an all-important fourth Bristol try. Bristol will play better this season – but they have made their intentions quite clear: opposing teams will be asked a variety of questions when they visit the Memorial Stadium.

● Bristol lock Mark Sorenson

Key incidents BRISTOL got their season up and running with a bonus-point victory over London Scottish at the Memorial Stadium – scoring three second-half tries. After dominating the first half, without taking full advantage, Bristol somehow trailed 10-7 at the break. But they were much more clinical in the second period – and, although Scottish came back to within three points with eight minutes to go, Glen Townson went over in the final play to grab the bonus point. After Marco Mama’s first-half score, Bristol were granted a second-half penalty try, before James Merriman and Townson crossed. Adrian Jarvis finished with a 100 per

cent kicking record, adding 11 points in the process. Despite Bristol’s early pressure, the match was pointless until the 29th minute, when – after repelling wave after wave of home attacks – the visitors had no answer to a slick Bristol move. Merriman went close on the right, before Jarvis and Luke Eves worked the ball wide to Mama, who burst over from close range. But, on only their second foray into the Bristol 22, Scottish drew level. James Grindal’s forward pass conceded the attacking initiative, and Scottish quickly worked the ball wide, with Jim Thompson sending through a kick, which was chased by pacy winger Miles Mantella. He gathered possession and dived over,

with Lee Millar converting from the touchline to make it 7-7. Two minutes later, Scottish took the lead when Millar sent over a drop goal from more than 30 metres to give his side a 10-7 advantage. Bristol’s scrum power earned them a penalty try 14 minutes after the restart, before Merriman was driven over from a line-out. Millar’s penalty brought Scottish back into it a 21-13 – before the fly-half finished off a pacy break from Mike Doneghan by going over in the corner. He was unable to convert his own try, and Jarvis soon increased the lead with a penalty. In the final minute, Ruki Tipuna ran a penalty and Townson powered over, with Jarvis converting.

W:11.3939cm H:5.6936cm

● Bristol centre Andy Short

www.bristolpost.co.uk

Monday, September 23, 2013

Player Rating (out of 10)

● Bristol celebrate a try against London Scottish yesterday

● Adrian Jarvis

Pictures: johnwhitemedia.co.uk

● Adam D’Arcy: Enjoyed a solid enough home debut as Bristol controlled territory and possession

● Charlie Amesbury: Started brightly as Bristol dominated the early exchanges, before suffering an injury on the stroke of half-time

● Andy Short: Worked hard in the midfield, albeit for little reward, as Bristol’s backs were unable to get across the line

● Luke Eves: Played in Mama for the opening try and competed well from start to finish

● Ryan Edwards: A sound, hard-working performance on his 23rd birthday – was Bristol’s liveliest back

● Adrian Jarvis: Kicked his goals and was a calm presence behind an impressive pack, but made the occasional uncharacteristic error

● James Grindal: (capt) Started with bags of endeavour, but forward pass led to Scottish’s second try, before Tipuna injected zest to Bristol’s attack

● Kyle Traynor: Made gains in the loose and worked tirelessly in the tight as he played a major part in his team’s triumph

● Ollie Hayes: Delivered an extremely solid performance, with his throwing spot-on and his scrummaging sound

● Jason Hobson: The tighthead gives Bristol’s pack its edge – which proved crucial in overcoming Scottish

● Ben Skirving: Showed his experience in an extremely resolute scrummaging and line-out display in the second row

● Nick Koster: Some impressive moments from the on-loan Bath man, who proved he can become a key asset for Bristol

● James Merriman: Played a key part in first try, scored the third, and played at his usual high tempo

● Marco Mama: Bristol’s first try-scorer, Mama made a positive impact across the field

● The Bristol pack drives on

Star man ● Mark Sorenson A commanding performance, befitting of a player with the New Zealander’s big-game experience and nous

Referee Greg McDonald

London Scottish

Match facts Home Pens conceded 8 Handling errors 14 Line-outs won 15/15 Successful kicks at goal 5 Missed kicks at goal 0 5,320

Away 18 15 9/13 3 1

Jim Thompson 6 Mike Doneghan 7 Oli Grove 6 PJ Gidlow 6 Miles Mantella 7

Lee Millar 7 Jordi Pasqualin 6 Mark Irish 6 Ted Stagg 6 Eric Fry 6

Neil Best 7 David Lyons 6 Chevvy Pennycook 6 Ben Russell 6 Mark Bright (capt) 6

Replacements Bristol: Ben Mosses 6 (for Amesbury, 40); Ruki Tipuna 8 (for Grindal, 47); Redford Pennycook (for Merriman, 62); Glen Townson TRY (for Koster, 66); Rhys Lawrence (for Hayes, 73); James Hall (for Hobson, 73). Not used: Tristan Roberts London Scottish: Nick Mayhew 6 (for Russell, 47-55 & for Irish, 55); Harry Allen 5 (for Stagg, 50); Lewis Thiede 6 (for Fry, 55); Joe Trayfoot (for Russell, 55); Jamie Stevenson (for Thompson, 62); Andy Reay (for Gidlow, 66); Alex Karonias (for Best, 78)

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Attendance

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Monday, September 23, 2013

Somerset County League and Hellenic League

Leaders Nailsea sweep aside Shire challenge NAILSEA United continue to set the pace at the top of the Premier Division after a 4-1 home victory against previously unbeaten Shirehampton. Louis Keane gave Nailsea, the defending champions, the lead shortly before half-time with a close-range finish. Shirehampton, who had scored 24 goals in their previous three games, equalised in the 52nd minute when Kyle O’Donovan beat Nailsea goalkeeper Scott Kendall at the second attempt. A 67th-minute cross-shot from Keane put Nailsea back in front, and he completed his hat-trick 11 minutes later when he fired a shot past Shirehampton goalkeeper Mark Winkler. Skipper James Lee completed Nailsea’s victory with a superb strike in the 89th minute. Third-placed Clutton had a 3-2 home win against Fry Club, and fourth-placed Stockwood Green went down 2-0 at Ilminster Town. Cutters Friday put a disappointing start to the season behind them

with an 8-2 home success against bottom side Odd Down Reserves. Nailsea Town suffered a 3-0 defeat at Bridgwater Town Reserves, while Yatton and Berrow battled out a goalless draw. In Division One, second-placed Broad Plain House were 3-0 winners at Congresbury, while fifth-placed Wrington/Redhill maintained their unbeaten record with a 6-1 hammering of Clevedon United. Wrington’s goals came from Neil Andow (2), Simon Riggs, Wes Bracey, Jake Murray and Joe Berry, while Dan Fowler netted for Clevedon. ● Tytherington Rocks lost 2-1 at Clanfield to suffer their first defeat of the Hellenic League Division One West season. The home side went 2-0 up, thanks to a headed goal from Adam Pendle and a penalty from Steve Olphert, before Stuart Nelson scored a spot-kick to pull a goal back. Tytherington’s misery was compounded by the 70th-minute dismissal of Adamo Missiato.

Calor Southern League

Powell pounces as Mangos sink Supermarine Mangotsfield United

Swindon Supermarine

AN error by Supermarine’s Jake Johns gifted Mangotsfield the points in Division One South & West. Second-placed Supermarine enjoyed the greater possession before the break, but Mangotsfield’s defence worked hard to contain the visitors. Super marine’s best chance came in the 51st minute when Kayden Jackson broke down the right and his low ball was met by Sam Morris, whose shot was superbly saved by Mangotsfield goalkeeper Kevin Sawyer. The hosts came into the game as the second half progressed, and they were rewarded in the 73rd minute, when Johns casually played the ball across the penalty area, only for it to be intercepted by Lewis Powell, who slid his shot past goalkeeper Kent Kauppinen. Soon after, Mangotsfield almost scored again when a volley from Dave Stone struck the crossbar and Powell’s follow-up effort was saved by Kauppinen. Despite late pressure from Supermarine, Mangotsfield held on for their second win of the season, which lifted them to 16th in the table.

● Mangotsfield’s Dave Stone

Clevedon claim opening victory

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● Nailsea United’s Louis Keane, centre, is congratulated after scoring

Clevedon Town

Guildford

CLEVEDON chalked up their first victory of the season against fellow strugglers Guildford to get off the bottom of the Division One South & West table. The hosts were given a massive boost during the first half, when City goalkeeper Will Dukes was dismissed for handling the ball outside his penalty area. Guildford defender Ryan Bernard

took over between the posts for the ten-men visitors, and kept his goal intact until two minutes before the interval. Danny Wring created an opening for Joe Flurry and his shot found the net via the body of stand-in goalkeeper Bernard. Clevedon doubled their lead four minutes into the second period when Reeko Best played in Matt Thorne and he chipped Bernard in style. Alex Afful and Oli Barton had chances for the visitors before George Bowerman pulled a goal back on 75 minutes, but the home side comfortably held on.

● Mangotsfield goalscorer Lewis Powell gets a

Gloucestershire County League

Calor Southern League

Patchway knock unbeaten Longlevens off perch

Win takes Yate above rivals

PATCHWAY became the first team this season to inflict defeat upon reigning champions Longlevens. The Gloucester side slipped off the top of the table following their 1-0 defeat, which came when Dave Rich turned John Pugsley’s 30th-minute effort into his own goal. Gala Wilton took over at the summit after they triumphed 1-0 at Bishop’s Cleeve Reserves. Henbury needed to forge ahead four times before finally seeing off Bristol Telephones 4-3, the hosts hitting three swift equalisers in a

Cinderford Town

Yate Town

thrilling encounter. Craig Davis’ early opener was cancelled out by Jack Fillingham, while Ben Griffiths did likewise after Aaron Anglin had put Henbury back in front. Anglin’s second was matched by Dani Golding, but Davis struck the decisive blow from the penalty spot with five minutes left to play. Ellwood almost blew a three-goal lead at home to Chipping Sodbury before running out 5-2 winners. Darryl Addis and Mike Nelson built up a two-goal advantage by half-time and Derek Roberts made it

three before Kyle Ford and Jason Bradford replied for the visitors. The hosts sealed the win with goals from Jon Bowdler and Lee Scotford. Frampton won 5-1 in their derby clash at Berkeley, while Yate Reserves were beaten 3-0 at home by King’s Stanley. Thornbury remain the only team without a point, as they were beaten 2-1 at home by Kingswood, Toby Bennett scoring their goal. Rockleaze and Hanham drew 0-0, while Bristol Academy host Southmead this evening.

YATE leapfrogged mid-table opponents Cinderford with a hard-fought win in Division One South & West. The home side went close early on when Martin Horsell saved from Lewis Sommers, while Alex Harris denied Mike Bryant and Lewis Haldane at the other end. Bryant put a chance wide and

Ricky Hulbert fired over, but Yate made the breakthrough through Haldane in the second half. The former Bristol Rovers forward continued his fine run in front of goal when latching onto a header from team-mate Jordan Rogers. Greg Lewis was thwarted by Horsell at the other end before Bryant doubled the advantage with a header from Ross Staley’s free-kick. Andy Lewis pulled a goal back for the Foresters, but Horsell refused to be beaten again as Yate secured all three points at the Causeway.

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Monday, September 23, 2013

Skrill South

Russell watches as Bath slide to home defeat

● Mangotsfield players celebrate Lewis Powell’s goal

gets a shot away

● Mangotsfield’s Ashley Williams on the charge

Bath City

Dover

BATH City slipped to a second successive defeat as their miserable week continued. There was a surprise name on the City bench – 40-year-old Alex Russell, who last featured for the club in April 2012 and spent last season at Clevedon Town before announcing his retirement from the game in March. The visitors were the first to settle and produced the opening chance, with Nathan Elder shrugging off Will Salmon and firing in a stinging shot, which Jason Mellor tipped over. Thomas Murphy then placed an effort millimetres wide of the post from the edge of the box, while Mellor again came to the rescue by pushing Rogers’ dipping 25-yard strike over the bar as Dover turned the screw. The breakthrough came from the subsequent corner. Mellor managed to claw it away under pressure, but when Tom Wynter played the ball back in, the keeper was beaten by Elder’s header. Lee Howells was clearly unhappy with what he had seen and made a switch for the second half, with Joe Burnell going on in midfield for the ineffectual Ben Adelsbury. City finally produced their first shot at goal in the 52nd minute, when Dave Pratt’s angled drive was pushed out by Mitch Walker as far as Stearn, but he couldn’t keep his shot down. City were slightly better in the second half, but were still struggling to create chances, prompting another change with 16 minutes to go, when Chris Allen came on for Noah Keats. And the substitute was involved in City’s best chance, earning a corner and then putting it into the area. It was flicked on and fell to Will Salmon in the six-yard box but his header dropped onto the bar. Another set-piece, this time a free-kick, led to a half-chance as Pratt’s downward header missed the outstretched foot of Dan Ball. Dover keeper Walker was flapping at every cross, but City were unable to test him often enough. Mellor was City’s best player, but he was unable to prevent Dover doubling their lead five minutes from time as Modeste’s cross was nodded home at the far post by Thomas Murphy.

Calor Southern League

Skrill South

Five-star Rovers go back to top

Weston still unbeaten after stalemate in Sussex

Paulton Rovers

Merthyr Town

Whitehawk

Weston-super-Mare

WESTON extended their unbeaten Skrill South run to five games on their first visit to the Enclosed Ground to face last season’s Ryman League winners. Although the home side had goalkeeper Chris Winterton sent off for handling outside his penalty area ten minutes into the second half, they

dug in well and hung on for a point. Weston started strongly, forcing a couple of early corners, and Tristan Plummer’s effort came back off a post after 11 minutes. Minutes later, Kane Ingram had a strong effort blocked from Ashley Kington’s free-kick. Whitehawk mounted their first attack on 22 minutes, when Danny Mills headed over from Jake Robinson’s cross. Then Weston keeper Luke Purnell brought off a fine save to deny Hakeem Adelakun. Whitehawk made a bright start to

the second half, with Robinson going close, and then Sam Gargan hit the underside of the Weston bar and Purnell managed to punch the rebound to safety. With the departure of Winterton, Gargan took over in goal and the home side went on the defensive, pulling everyone behind the ball and relying on occasional break-outs. Near the end, Weston brought on new signing Jake Harris, released by Hereford United, and he forced Gargan to concede two late corners from snap shots.

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FIVE-goal Paulton returned to the top of the table with a tremendous display against fellow high-fliers Merthyr in the Calor Southern League Division One South & West. Rovers took just five minutes to make the breakthrough, James Billing converting after Ben Lacey had pulled the ball back.

Ian Traylor equalised for Merthyr four minutes into the second period, but Lacey scored a tremendous individual goal to restore the Paulton lead two minutes later. However, Paul Keddle levelled for the Welsh side within 60 seconds, but Billing then got his second goal. Paulton built a two-goal cushion with a little over 20 minutes remaining when Nick McCootie beat goalkeeper Craig Morris to the ball. The hosts wrapped-up the victory when Ollie Price arrived at the far post to tap in from a corner.

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Monday, September 23, 2013

FA Vase and Toolstation League

Green resist Roman advance to seal Vase win Keith Watson epsport@b-nm.co.uk LONGWELL Green held off a late rally from opponents Roman Glass St George to win their FA Vase second qualifying round tie 3-2 at Oaklands Park. Playing on the newly-laid 3G surface at GFA headquarters, Longwell Green took a two-goal lead into the break courtesy of a Danny Hunt double. Alex Grimshaw added a third goal before Ian Power and Mikey Golding struck for the home side to make it a tense finish, although Longwell Green held on. Winterbour ne also secured a 3-2 away win – Ben Dowdell, Karim Rendall and Jack Rhys-Jones scoring in the triumph at United Services Portsmouth. Hallen progressed with a 2-0 home victory over Cowes, Tom Collett’s penalty and an Ashley Bennett strike both arriving after the interval. Keynsham took the lead against Ashton & Backwell through Joshua Rice, but were beaten 3-1. Almondsbury UWE beat Radstock 1-0 thanks to a Brett Agnew goal, while the visitors had three men sent off in a melee inside the last five minutes. Odd Down hammered Wootton Bassett 7-0, with Brad Norris scoring the first two goals and Rory Kay adding a third before the interval. Norris completed his hat-trick shortly after half-time before Kye Simpson, Mike Baker and Rich Dawley inflicted further punishment upon the hapless visitors. Bristol Manor Farm came from

behind to beat Corsham, Pete Sheppard scoring the winner in extra-time after George Brimson had cancelled out Dan Lardner’s opener. Cribbs slipped to a 2-0 home defeat against Hamworthy, Greg Horlock breaking the deadlock on 70 minutes and Paddy Hester’s penalty making the game safe late on. Hengrove also slipped out of the competition with a 1-0 home reverse, against Laverstock & Ford, Elliott Wykes scoring the only goal 20 minutes from time. Bradford went through with a 4-2 victory over visiting Downton, Dan King, Sam Jordan, with two, and Kieran Baggs on target for the home side. Shepton Mallet, meanwhile, took a 3-1 win at Camelford with goals from Ashley Wilmott, James Vincent and Lee Davidson. The Toolstation League will also have continued representation in the Vase from Warminster, who won 2-0 at Brockenhurst; and Willand, who beat Sherborne 5-3. Buckland progressed with a 2-0 triumph at Exmouth, while Barnstaple must replay with Newquay, following their 2-2 draw in the Cornish resort. However, Slimbridge crashed out 4-1 at Farnham, Melksham lost 4-2 at Folland and Street were beaten 2-1 at home by Bovey Tracey. Larkhall moved to the top of the Premier Division table, following their 3-0 home victory over previous leaders Gillingham. Tyler Sibbick’s penalty put the hosts ahead at the break and goals from Jamie Lyons and Ross Lye wrapped up the points. Bitton enjoyed a 5-0 home win over

● Danny Hunt, left, celebrates scoring for Longwell Green on Saturday struggling Bishop Sutton, although Jordan Richards’ goal was the only one of the opening period. Luke Bryan, Connor Britton and Dave Pollinger were on target in the second half, before Bryan completed his double in scoring Bitton’s fifth. Brislington and Cadbury Heath

drew 1-1, with the hosts coming from behind to equalise in the second half through David Peters after Matt Huxley had scored for Heath. Bridport beat Ilfracombe 2-1, Chris Luke replying to Stan Paxton’s leveller after Dan Wise had opened the scoring from the penalty spot.

In the First Division, Wellington scored twice in the last ten minutes to win 2-1 at Oldland, who took the lead through Jerome Ingram. Simon Dennehy levelled matters with ten minutes remaining before James Clough grabbed the winner in stoppage time.

For Ever 5, Highridge Utd walkover v Avonmouth, Ridings High 1 Olveston Utd 3, Hallen Res w/o v Southmead Utd Res, Eden Grove 2 Cribbs Res 5, Wick 2 Nicholas Wdrs 2 (Wick won 5-3 on pens), Longwell Green Spts Res 2 Tytherington Rocks Res 0, Wessex Wdrs 1 Totterdown Utd 7, Old Sodbury 4 Bitton Res 0, Greyfriars Ath 3 Sneyd Park 3 (Sneyd won 4-2 on pens), DRG Frenchay 1 Lawrence Weston 3, Frampton Ath 5 Downend Foresters 1, Little Stoke 2 Mangotsfield Spts 1, Glenside 5 OB 0 Shaftesbury Crus 0 (Shaftesbury won 4-3 on pens), Stoke Gifford Utd 5 Brislington Cktrs 1, Lebeq Saturday w/o v Winterbourne Utd Res, Mendip Utd 7 St Aldhelms 1, AEK Boco 5 Lebeq Utd 1, Patchway Tn Res 2 Rockleaze Rgrs Res 1, Sporting Greyhound 9 Totterdown POB 2, Oldland Abbots Res 3 Clifton St Vinc 12, CAB Olympic SC w/o v Stockwood Wanderers Res, Sea Mills Park 8 Cadbury Heath Res 2, Old Georgians 1 Bristol Manor Farm Res 2. Gloucestershire FA Minor Cup, Round I: Glenside 5 OB Res 1 Clifton St Vinc A 2, Shireway Spts 1 Sneyd Park A 2, AEK Boco Colts 4 Stanton Drew Res 2, VCF Santos 4 Brandon Sports 1, Thornbury Baptist 4 Rangeworthy Res 2, Wessex Wdrs Res 1 Wellington Wdrs 6, Shaftesbury Crus Res 8 Bendix Res 0, Portland OB Res 2 Old Elizabethans 8, Crosscourt Utd Res 3 Westerleigh Spts 4, Luccombe Garage 1 Helios 7, Oldland Abbots A v Bengal Tigers w/o, Sea Mills Park Res 3 Greyfriars Ath A 2, Cadbury Heath A w/o v SAS Utd, Stoke Gifford A 0 Soundwell Vic Res 3, Green Park Rgrs 3 Talbot Knowle Res 5, Mendip Utd A 4 Hillfields Baptist 3, Torpedo A 5 Warmley Saints Res 1, Iron Acton A 3 Cesson 4, Old Georgians Res 0 Lawrence Rov Res 4, Brislington Cktrs Res 6 Old Sodbury Res 1, Retainers Res 2 Evergreen 2 (Retainers won 4-2 on pens), Castle Green 0 Easton Cowboys Res 2, Wick A 2 Highridge Utd A 1, Old Sodbury Res 5 Patchway NE Res 2, Severnside 5 Cotham OB 3, Fishponds Ath 8 North Bristol Catalans 1, Bradley Stoke Tn A 4 Filton Ath Res 3, Staple Hill Orient 6 Counterslip Baptist 2, Cosmsos 1 Woodland Rgrs 13. Gloucestershire FA Primary Cup, Round I: DDAS 3 Tebby Res 1, Brimsham Green Res w/o v Suburbs

Utd, Westerleigh Spts Res w/o v Clifton Rockets Res, Clifton St Vinc B 3 Bristol Revolutions 6, Retainers A 0 West Town Utd 2, Bristol Sports 7 Seymour Utd A 1, Warmley Utd 1 Cribbs B 2, Lion Res 0 Hanham Ath B 5, Stoke Lane Ath 12 NCSF Utd 0, Real Fishponds w/o v Jersey Rgrs Res, Wanderers Res w/o v Cutters A, Dodington 2 Iron Acton B 4, Brandon Sports Res v Avonmouth A, Bradley Stoke Tn B 4 Cosmos Res 1, Greyfriars B 5 Bristol Deaf 3, Sea Mills A 6 Torpedo B 5, Kellaway Rgrs Res 2 Sneyd Park B 4, De Veys Res 3 Woodland Rgrs Res 1, Real St George 7 Long Ashton A 1. Bristol Premier, Div I: Roman Glass St George Res 0 Seymour Utd 1. District, Senior Div: Portville Warriors v AEK Boco Res (K Rawlings), Longwell Green Spts A 0 Bsl Barcelona 3, De Veys 1 Hallen A 4, Shire Res 0 Pucklechurch Spts 0, Warmley Saints 0 Nicholas Wanderers Res 0, Wick Res v Henbury Res 8 Wick Res 2. Div I: Bradley Stoke Tn 2 Hambrook 2, Chipping Sodbury Tn Res 3 Winterbourne Utd A 6, Lebeq FC Res 1 Talbot Knowle Utd 3, Seymour Utd Res 3 Mendip Utd Res 2, Soundwell Vic 3 Stanton Drew 0, St Pancras 5 Rangeworthy 1, Totterdown Utd Res v Miners pp. Div II: Frys Club A 2 AEK Boco 2, Bendix 4 Frampton Ath Res 4, Chipping Sodbury Tn A 0 Real Thornbury 8, Nicholas Wdrs A 0 Cribbs A 5, Hanham Ath Res 4 Greyfriars Ath Res 3, Iron Acton Res 4 DRG Frenchay Res 3, LLoydy Coalpit Heath 3 Hartcliffe 2. Div III: Hallen B 8 Hillfields OB 2, Hambrook Res 3 Henbury A 2, Olveston Utd Res 1 Horfield Utd 1, Patchway NE 2 Bsl Barcelona Res 0, Pucklechurch Spts Res 3 Made For Ever Res 0, South Bristol Central 0 Stapleton 5, Yate Ath 7 Roman Glass St George A 2. Suburban, Premier Div I: Fishponds OB 1 Ashton Utd 2. Div I: Broad Plain House Res 2 Ashton Backwell Colts 2, Filton Ath 0 Oldbury 0, Kellaway Rgrs 1 Avonmouth Res 5, Stoke Rgrs 3 Stoke Gifford Utd

Res 2, Tyndalls Park Rgrs v St Aldhelms Res pp. Div II: Almondsbury UWE A 3 Old Cothamians 2, Frys Club OB 5 Wanderers 1, Hanham Ath Sub 1 Ridings High Res 4, Keynsham Tn A 8 AFC Mangotsfield Res 1, Lawrence Weston Res 4 Bristol Telephones Res 4, St Annes Tn 1 Ashton Utd Res 4. Div III: Downend Foresters Res 1 Bristol Bilbao 6, Old Cothamians Res 0 Severn Beach Res 0, Rockleaze Rgrs A 6 Coupland Insulation 3, Sartan Utd 4 Fishpond OB Res 0. Div IV: Park Knowle 1 Winford PH 4. Div V: Lockleaze Community 2 Lawrence Weston A 1. Div VI: Park Knowle Res 3 Bsl Spartak 3, TC Sports 8 Winford PH Res 5. Bristol & Avon: Broad Walk Community Res 3 Broad Plain A 6, Whitchurch Phoenix 7 Wessex Wdrs A 1. Downs, Div I: AFC Bohemia 1 Retainers 1, Ashley 4 Portland OB 2, Cotswool 5 Jersey Rgrs 0, DAC Beachcroft 4 Jamaica Bell 0, Lawes Jrs 3 Saints OB 3. Div II: Clifton Rockets 0 Tebby AFC 1, Clifton St Vinc Res 3 Ashley Res 0, Corinthians 1 Torpedo Res 4, Easton Cowboys 8 St Andrews 2, Hare On The Hill 5 Sporting Greyhound Res 1, Lion FC 2 Sneyd Park Res 0, Old Cliftonians 7 Saints OB Res 1. Weston-s-Mare & District, Atwell Shield Prelim Rd: Clevedon Utd Res 9 Draycott 2. Div I: Berrow Res 1 Portishead Tn A 0, Churchill Club 70 Res 0 Tickenham Utd 5, Hutton 0 Cleeve West Tn Res 0, Nailsea Utd A 2 Yatton Ath Res 0. Div II: Langford Rov Res 5 Congresbury Res 6, St George(EIG) Res 4 Nailsea Utd B 6. Div III: AFC Nailsea 1 Shipham 2, Banwell Res 2 Axbridge Tn 4. Div IV: Kewstoke Lions Res 1 King Alfred SC 1. Div V: Congresbury A 1 Selkirk Utd 2, Portishead Tn Colts 3 Shipham Res 1, Priory Rgrs 1 Portishead CT 2. Div VI: Axbridge Tn Res 3 Burnham Utd B 2, Banwell A 3 Wedmore Res 2, Berrow A 5 Worle Rgrs Res 5, Westend Res 1 AFC Nailsea Res 0.

EPB-E01-S3

Results SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 Football league Youth Alliance, South West Under-18: Bournemouth 3 Plymouth 0, Cheltenham 1 Bsl Rovers 1, Exeter 1 Oxford Utd 5, Newport County 2 Swindon 2. South West Counties Youth: Bsl Academy 3 Bath City 5, Cirencester Acad 2 Andover Tn 3, Dorchester Tn 0 Poole tn 7, Forest Green Rov 4 Newport Co 2, New Coll Acad 1 Salisbury City 2. FA Vase, Second Round Qualifying: Almondsbury UWE 1 Radstock Tn 0, Bradford Tn 4 Downton 2, Bristol Manor Farm 2 Corsham Tn 1 (aet), Brockenhurst 0 Warminster Tn 2, Camelford 1 Shepton Mallet 3, Cribbs 0 Hamworthy Utd 2, Exmouth Tn 0 Buckland Ath 2, Fareham Tn 4 Bsl Academy 1, Folland Spts 2 Melksham Tn 2, Hallen 2 Cowes Spts 0, Hengrove Ath 0 Laverstock & Ford 1, Keynsham Tn 1 Ashton & Backwell Utd 3, Newquay 2 Barnstaple Tn 2, Odd Down 7 Wootton Bassett Tn 0, Roman Glass St George 2 Longwell Green Spts 3, Saltash Utd 5 Longwell Green Spts 3, United Services Portsmouth 2 Winterbourne Utd 3, Willand Rov 5 Sherborne Tn 3. Calor Southern League, Premier Div: Arlesey Tn 1 Bideford 1, Banbury Utd 2 Hitchin Tn 1, Cambridge City 3 AFC Totton 0, Chippenham Tn 1 Bedford Tn 4, Corby Tn 2 Chesham Utd 1, Frome Tn 0 Hungerford Tn 2, Hinckley Utd 2 Bashley 0, Poole Tn 0 Burnham 0, Redditch Utd 2 Biggleswade Tn 2, St Albans City 1 Stourbridge 2, St Neots Tn 2 Truro City 0, Weymouth 0 Hemel Hempstead Tn 3. Div I South & West: Cinderford Tn 1 Yate Tn 2, Clevedon Tn 2 Guildford City 1, Didcot Tn 0 Bishop Cleeve 4, Fleet Tn 0 Cirencester Tn 1, Godalming Tn 1 Bridgwater Tn 3, Mangotsfield Utd 1 Swindon Supermarine 0, Paulton Rovers 5 Merthyr Tn 2, Shortwood Utd 3 Tiverton Tn 3, Taunton Tn 1 North Leigh 3, Thatcham Tn 1 Evesham Utd 1, Wimborne Tn 3 Stratford Tn 3. Uhlsport Hellenic, Div I West: Carterton 5 North Leigh Utd 2, Clanfield 2 Tytherington Rocks 1, Letcombe 0 Easington Spts 1, Purton 4 Shortwood Utd 0, Tuffley Rov 4 Old Woodstock Tn 0. Toolstation Western League, Premier Div: Bitton 5 Bishop Sutton 0, Bridport 2 Ilfracombe Tn 1,

Brislington 1 Cadbury Heath 1, Larkhall Ath 3 Gillingham Tn 0. Div I: Cheddar 2 Chard Tn 2, Devizes Tn 1 Westbury Utd 1, Oldland Abbots 1 Wellington 2, Wincanton Tn 5 Calne Tn 4. David Wilson Homes Gloucestershire County: Berkeley Tn 1 Frampton Utd 5, Bishops Cleeve Res 0 Gala Wilton 1, Bsl Telephones 3 Henbury 4, Ellwood 5 Chipping Sodbury Tn 2, Patchway Tn 1 Longlevens 0, Rockleaze Rgrs 0 Hanham Ath 0, Thornbury Tn 1 Kingswood 2, Yate Tn Res 0 Kings Stanley 2. Somerset FA Intermediate Cup, Round I: Aces 6 Meadow Rgrs 1, Alcombe Rov 5 Westhill Spts 1, Burnham Utd 4 High Littleton 2, Camerton Ath 4 Nether Stowey 0, Evercreech 0 Highbridge Tn 4. Somerset County, Premier Div: Bishops Lyd 0 Weston St Johns 2, Bridgwater Tn Res 3 Nailsea Tn 0, Clutton 3 Fry Club 2, Cutters Friday 8 Odd Down Res 2, Ilminster Tn 2 Stockwood Green 0, Minehead 2 Langford Rov 2000 1, Nailsea Utd 4 Shirehampton 1, Watchet Tn 4 Street Res 1, Yatton Ath 0 Berrow 0. Div I: Burnham Utd 4 Purnell Spts 2, Congresbury 0 Broad Plain House 3, Dundry Ath 3 Westfield 1, Frome Collegians 4 St George (EIG) 0, Middlezoy Rov 3 Banwell 2, Saltford 2 Shepton Mallet Res 2, Wrington Redhill 6 Clevedon Utd 1. Div II East: Welton Rov Res 4 Farrington Gurney 0, Ashton & Backwell Utd Res 0 Chilcompton Spts 5, Bishop Sutton Res 1 Peasedown Ath 2, Chew Magna 3 Imperial 0, Fry Club Res 3 Cutters Friday Res 0, Radstock Tn Res 3 Tunley Ath 0, Stockwood Green Res 1 Long Ashton 3, Timsbury Ath 4 Hengrove Ath Res 0. Div II West: Cleeve West Tn 0 Winscombe 0, Combe St Nicholas 6 Cheddar Res 2, North Curry 1 Burnham Utd Res 0, Portishead Tn Res 4 Nailsea Tn Res 0, Staplegrove 2 Worle 4, Uphill Castle 5 Churchill Club 70 0, Wells City Res 2 Glastonbury 2, Weston St Johns Res 1 Kewstoke Lions 2. Gloucestershire FA Senior Amateur Cup, Round I: Brimsham Green 0 AFC Mangotsfield 3, Torpedo 2 Almondsbury UWE Res 0, Bristol Athletic 1 Made

chelsea ....................(0) 2

Oscar 52 Mikel 84

liverpool .................(0) 0 Att 44,755

Newcastle ................(2) 2 Remy 10, 44 Att 51,523

Norwich ...................(0) 0 Att 26,813

West brom...............(1) 3

Sessegnon 20 Ridgewell 76 Amalfitano 90

West ham ................(1) 2 Morrison 31 Noble 76 (pen) Att 34,952

Fulham ....................(0) 0 Att 41,608

Southamptn ............(0) 1 Lovren 53

hull ..........................(1) 3 Brady 26 Elmohamady 48 Aluko 76

Aston Villa...............(1) 1 Kozak 30

Sunderland .............(0) 0 Att 24,595

everton ....................(0) 3 Baines 62, 83 Lukaku 85

Yesterday Arsenal ....................(2) 3 Stoke .......................(1) 1 Ramsey 5 Mertesacker 36 Sagna 72 Att 50,002

Cameron 26

cardiff ......................(0) 0 Att 27,815

crystal Palace .........(0) 0 Att 22,466

Man city ..................(2) 4

Aguero 16, 47 Toure 45 Nasri 50

www.bristolpost.co.uk

Monday, September 23, 2013

Spurs .......................(0) 1 Paulinho 90

Swansea ..................(1) 2 Michu 2 Dyer 48

Man Utd ...................(0) 1 Rooney 87 Att 47,156

hOMe AWAY P W D L F A W D L F A Arsenal ..............5 2 0 1 5 4 2 0 0 6 2 Spurs .................5 2 0 0 3 0 2 0 1 2 1 Man City ............5 3 0 0 10 1 0 1 1 2 3 Chelsea .............5 3 0 0 6 1 0 1 1 0 1 Liverpool ............5 2 0 1 2 1 1 1 0 3 2 Everton ..............5 1 1 0 1 0 1 2 0 5 4 Southamptn .......5 0 2 0 1 1 2 0 1 2 1 Man Utd .............5 1 1 0 2 0 1 0 2 5 6 Swansea ............5 0 1 1 3 6 2 0 1 4 1 Stoke .................5 1 1 0 2 1 1 0 2 2 4 Hull ....................5 1 1 0 2 1 1 0 2 3 6 Newcastle ..........5 1 1 1 3 3 1 0 1 2 5 Aston Villa..........5 0 0 2 1 3 2 0 1 5 3 West Brom .........5 1 0 2 3 3 0 2 0 1 1 West Ham ..........5 1 0 2 4 4 0 2 0 0 0 Cardiff ................5 1 1 1 3 3 0 1 1 1 3 Norwich..............5 1 1 1 3 3 0 0 2 0 3 Fulham...............5 0 1 1 2 4 1 0 2 1 3 Crystal Pal .........5 1 0 2 3 4 0 0 2 1 4 Sunderland ........5 0 0 2 1 4 0 1 2 2 7

Pts 12 12 10 10 10 9 8 7 7 7 7 7 6 5 5 5 4 4 3 1

barnsley ..................(1) 1

Watford ....................(3) 5

birmingham.............(3) 4

Sheff Wed................(0) 1

blackburn ................(0) 0

huddersfld ..............(0) 0

blackpool ................(1) 2

leicester .................(0) 2

brighton...................(0) 3

bolton ......................(1) 1

charlton ...................(0) 0

Millwall ....................(1) 1

Derby .......................(0) 1

reading ...................(0) 3

Scotland 14 Att 9,850

Deeney 7 Faraoni 18, Forestieri 43 Murray 69, Anya 79

Lingard 20, 29, 33, 51 Att 14,379

Zayatte 67

Att 14,582

Basham 19 Ince 90 (pen)

Konchesky 72 (pen), King 74 Att 15,317

Spearing 53 (og), Calderon 55 Buckley 57 Att 15,917

Hughes 80 Att 21,465

Doncaster ................(1) 2 Macheda 34, 52 Att 12,253

Lopez 29 (og) Att 26,319 McDonald 38

Pogrebnyak 47, 62 Blackman 90

Nottm For ................(1) 2 Cohen 39, Reid 81

colchester ...............(1) 1

crawley town .........(1) 1

Gillingham ...............(0) 0

bradford ..................(1) 1

Notts county ...........(1) 2

tranmere .................(0) 0 Att 3,938

Odejayi 24 Att 2,180

Oldham ....................(0) 1

crewe ......................(1) 1

Harrold 35 O’Toole 90

Peterboro.................(2) 2

Mk Dons..................(0) 1

Port Vale ..................(1) 3

coventry ..................(2) 2

Sears 6 Att 3,031

Labadie 7 Haber 79

MacDonald 54 Att 4,273

Tomlin 12 (pen) Assombalonga 34 Pope 40 Loft 60 Birchall 83

Att 9,510

Tansey 59 (pen)

Yeovil .......................(0) 0

QPr .........................(0) 1

Att 9,108

Austin 75 (pen)

Yesterday Wigan .......................(1) 2 Ipswich ....................(0) 0 Shotton 12 Powell 90

P W QPR ...................8 3 Burnley ..............8 2 Leicester ............8 3 Blackpool ...........8 3 Watford ..............8 2 Nottm For ..........8 3 Reading .............8 2 Bournemth .........8 3 Huddersfld ........8 2 Brighton .............8 2 Wigan ................7 2 Derby .................8 0 Leeds .................8 1 Ipswich...............8 3 Blackburn...........8 2 Middlesbro’ ........8 0 Millwall ...............8 1 Birmingham .......8 1 Doncaster ..........7 1 Charlton .............7 1 Sheff Wed ..........7 0 Yeovil .................8 0 Barnsley.............8 1 Bolton ................8 0

hOMe D L F 1 0 4 2 0 7 1 0 7 1 0 5 2 0 10 1 0 9 2 0 6 0 1 5 2 0 8 1 1 7 2 0 8 1 3 2 1 2 4 0 1 9 1 1 9 3 1 6 0 3 4 1 2 5 1 2 5 0 2 2 2 1 4 0 4 0 1 2 5 2 2 3

Att 13,747

A 1 2 3 2 4 4 4 3 3 4 5 8 5 4 4 7 8 4 6 3 5 6 12 5

W 3 3 2 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 3 2 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0

AWAY D L F 1 0 4 0 1 7 1 1 6 1 1 7 1 1 9 2 1 5 1 1 5 1 2 6 1 2 2 2 1 2 0 2 4 1 0 12 1 1 3 1 3 2 2 2 3 2 1 6 2 1 4 0 3 3 2 1 3 2 2 5 2 2 4 1 2 3 0 4 4 1 3 3

A 1 4 5 6 5 5 3 14 3 2 3 4 2 6 6 7 6 7 4 7 8 5 10 11

Pts 20 17 17 17 15 15 15 13 12 12 11 11 11 10 9 8 8 7 6 5 4 4 4 3

bristol rovers .........(1) 2

hartlepool ...............(2) 2

bury .........................(0) 1

Southend .................(1) 1

exeter.......................(0) 0

Newport county .....(1) 2

Wilson 35 Moussa 43 Att 9,218

Mansfield .................(2) 3

Northampton ...........(0) 0

Beavon 68

Morecambe..............(0) 2

Dag & red ...............(1) 2

Oxford Utd...............(0) 0

chesterfield ............(1) 1

Portsmouth .............(0) 0

Fleetwood town .....(0) 1

Turton 13

McLeod 74 Att 8,149

Wolves .....................(0) 1

bournemouth ..........(2) 3 Pitman 4 (pen), 12 (pen) Woodgate 83 (og)

rochdale .................(2) 2

Shrewsbury .............(0) 0

Att 16,319

burnley ....................(2) 2

Kamara 20, Carayol 32 Leadbitter 75 Att 13,617

Accrington Stanley.(1) 1

Jones 9

Preston ....................(0) 1

Middlesbrough ........(2) 3

Arfield 18, Vokes 42

burton Albion .........(1) 1

Sheff Utd .................(0) 0

leeds .......................(0) 1 Smith 79, Att 26,465

AFc Wimbledon ......(0) 3

Sinclair 32

Stevenage................(0) 1 Att 2,526

Swindon...................(2) 3 Ajose 19, 43 Ranger 87 Att 11,598

Walsall .....................(1) 1 Mantom 33 Att 5,002

P W L Orient ..............7 4 Peterboro ..........8 3 Wolves ...............8 3 Preston ..............8 2 Rotherham .........8 2 Bradford .............8 3 Walsall ...............8 1 MK Dons............8 2 Crawley Town ....8 2 Brentford ............7 2 Swindon .............8 3 Colchester .........8 1 Port Vale ............8 2 Shrewsbury........8 1 Carlisle...............8 1 Oldham ..............8 1 Crewe ................8 1 Stevenage .........8 0 Tranmere ...........8 0 Coventry ............8 3 Bristol City .........8 0 Sheff Utd............8 1 Notts Co ............8 1 Gillingham..........8 0

Sako 84 (pen)

carlisle ....................(1) 3 Miller 27 Robson 77 Amoo 85

bristol city ..............(2) 2 Flint 9 Emmanuel-Thomas 36

rotherham ..............(1) 1 Nardiello 21

hOMe D L F 0 0 13 0 1 5 0 1 9 2 0 7 2 0 8 1 0 12 2 1 5 2 0 7 1 1 8 1 0 4 1 0 11 2 1 4 1 1 7 2 1 3 0 3 2 1 2 4 2 1 7 1 3 5 2 2 6 1 0 13 2 2 4 1 2 3 0 3 4 2 2 2

A 3 4 4 3 5 2 6 4 7 1 4 4 7 2 10 4 9 9 12 9 8 4 6 4

W 3 3 3 2 2 1 3 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0

AWAY D L F 0 0 8 1 0 14 1 0 6 2 0 8 2 0 7 2 1 5 0 1 5 2 1 4 2 1 7 2 1 6 1 3 3 2 1 4 0 3 4 3 1 4 2 1 4 0 3 8 1 3 1 1 2 1 0 3 3 1 2 9 2 2 9 0 4 2 1 3 4 1 3 5

A 2 4 2 4 5 5 1 4 6 9 7 5 7 7 6 10 9 4 7 7 11 9 11 11

A 3 3 7 9 6 6 12 9 3 12 8 3 6 11 9 11 7 8 6 10 9 3 7 15

Pt 24 23 19 18 17 17 17 16 16 15 15 15 15 13 12 11 10 10 9 8 8 7 6 2

P Eastleigh ................ 9 Bromley ................. 9 Weston-S-Mare ..... 9 Sutton Utd ............. 9 Staines Town ......... 9 Eastbourne Borough . 8 Bishop’s Stortford .. 8 Basingstoke ........... 8 Hayes & Yeading ... 8 Concord Rangers .. 9 Maidenhead Utd .... 8 Dover ..................... 9 Whitehawk ............. 9 Bath City ................ 8 Ebbsfleet United .... 9 Havant and W........ 9 Tonbridge Angels ... 8 Boreham Wood...... 9 Farnboro ................ 5 Chelmsford ............ 8 Gosport Borough ... 8 Dorchester ............. 8

W 4 5 2 3 5 2 2 3 1 2 1 1 1 1 0 2 1 1 2 1 1 1

D 1 0 1 1 0 2 0 1 0 1 1 0 2 2 4 0 1 1 0 1 1 0

l F A W 0 6 1 3 0 17 4 2 1 4 1 3 1 11 6 1 0 10 4 0 0 7 3 2 1 4 3 2 0 8 4 1 2 4 3 3 2 8 6 1 1 5 6 2 3 3 5 3 2 3 6 2 2 6 7 1 1 2 4 1 3 6 10 0 1 3 4 1 2 5 8 1 0 3 0 0 2 6 8 1 2 3 4 0 4 6 15 0

D 0 0 1 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 1 2 3 1 1 1 0 1 1

l F A 1 7 3 2 6 5 1 7 4 1 6 2 4 4 12 2 3 4 1 10 10 3 4 6 2 7 5 1 4 5 1 7 5 2 4 2 2 8 8 1 3 3 1 7 6 1 3 4 3 6 12 3 3 8 2 6 8 3 3 8 3 3 7 2 1 3

Pt 22 21 17 15 15 14 14 13 12 12 12 12 11 9 9 9 8 8 7 7 5 4

Lund 7 Hogan 13

James 36, 45 Att 5,579

Forrester 90 Att 2,895

Coker 23

Att 4,614

Washington 23 Worley 70

Hutchinson 31 Clucas 34 Kouo-Doumbe 65 (og)

Att 3,469

Amond 53 Hughes 78 Att 1,790

Ogogo 21 Murphy 90

Att 7,187

Humphreys 30

Bradley 67 (og)

Att 15,809

Scunthorpe..............(0) 1

Plymouth .................(0) 0

torquay....................(2) 4

cheltenham .............(1) 2

Wycombe.................(0) 1

York..........................(0) 1

Esajas 62

Att 3,298

Ball 3, 45 Hawley 49 Chapell 90

Harrison 13 Gornell 65 Att 2,407

Morgan 70 Att 4,015

McGurk 64

hOMe AWAY P W D L F A W D L F A Pts Chesterfield .......8 4 0 0 7 1 3 1 0 7 2 22 Fleetwood T .......8 3 0 1 11 6 3 0 1 4 2 18 AFC Wim ...........8 4 0 0 9 3 1 1 2 3 5 16 Oxford Utd .........8 1 2 1 5 5 3 1 0 11 4 15 Mansfield ...........8 2 2 0 8 2 2 1 1 4 4 15 Wycombe...........8 2 1 1 4 3 2 1 1 7 4 14 Rochdale ...........8 3 1 0 7 2 1 1 2 3 4 14 Morecambe........8 2 2 0 7 4 2 0 2 6 7 14 Exeter ................8 3 0 1 6 4 1 2 1 3 4 14 Scunthorpe ........8 2 2 0 5 2 1 2 1 4 4 13 Newport County.8 2 1 1 8 5 1 2 1 5 5 12 Burton Albion .....8 1 1 2 4 6 2 1 1 7 7 11 Dag & Red .........8 2 2 0 6 2 0 2 2 4 9 10 Southend ...........8 2 0 2 4 4 1 1 2 4 5 10 Portsmouth ........8 1 0 3 4 7 1 3 0 8 7 9 Torquay ..............8 1 2 1 6 6 1 1 2 4 7 9 Plymouth............8 2 0 2 2 5 1 0 3 4 5 9 Bury ...................8 2 1 1 8 4 0 1 3 4 7 8 Bristol Rvrs ........8 2 2 0 6 4 0 0 4 1 6 8 Hartlepool ..........8 1 0 3 3 5 0 3 1 2 5 6 Cheltenham .......8 0 3 1 7 9 1 0 3 4 10 6 York ...................8 1 1 2 2 4 0 1 3 4 8 5 Northamptn ........8 1 1 2 6 6 0 0 4 0 7 4 Accrington S ......8 0 1 3 3 6 0 0 4 2 10 1

Arlesey.................................1 bideford ............................ 1 banbury ...............................2 hitchin ............................... 1 cambridge city ...................3 AFc totton ........................ 0 chippenham ........................1 bedford town ................... 4 corby ...................................2 chesham ........................... 1 Frome town ........................0 hungerford town ............. 2 hinckley Utd........................2 bashley ............................. 0 Poole town..........................0 burnham ........................... 0 redditch ..............................2 biggleswade town ........... 2 St Albans .............................1 Stourbridge ....................... 2 St Neots town.....................2 truro city .......................... 0 Weymouth ...........................0 hemel hempstead ............ 3 hOMe AWAY

cinderford ...........................1 Yate .................................... 2 clevedon town ...................2 Guildford city ................... 1 Didcot town ........................0 bishops cleeve ................ 4 Fleet town ...........................0 cirencester ....................... 1 Godalming town.................1 bridgwater town .............. 3 Mangotsfield .......................1 Swindon Supermarine ..... 0 Paulton ................................5 Merthyr town .................... 2 Shortwood Utd ....................3 tiverton ............................. 3 taunton................................1 North leigh ....................... 3 thatcham town ..................1 evesham ........................... 1 Wimborne town ..................3 Stratford town .................. 3 hOMe AWAY

P Hemel Hempstead. 9 Bideford ................. 9 Chesham ............... 9 Poole Town ............ 9 Cambridge City...... 9 Banbury ................. 9 Stourbridge ............ 9 Weymouth ............. 9 Arlesey................... 8 Hungerford Town ... 9 St Albans ............... 9 Corby ..................... 9 Hitchin.................... 8 Bedford Town......... 9 Chippenham .......... 8 St Neots Town ....... 9 Burnham ................ 8 Truro City ............... 8 Biggleswade T ....... 8 Redditch ................ 8 Hinckley Utd .......... 9 AFC Totton............. 9 Frome Town ........... 8 Bashley .................. 9

W 4 3 3 2 3 3 2 3 2 1 3 4 2 2 1 2 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0

D 0 1 1 3 1 0 0 1 2 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 2 2 1 2 0 1 1

l F A W 0 16 2 4 0 11 2 2 0 11 5 3 0 9 7 3 1 9 5 2 2 8 7 2 2 5 5 3 1 8 5 1 0 8 5 2 2 5 6 3 2 7 5 1 1 9 6 0 0 6 3 1 2 6 7 1 3 5 8 2 3 8 7 1 2 2 6 2 1 3 5 2 1 5 3 0 4 6 19 2 2 5 6 0 3 8 13 1 4 1 11 1 3 4 10 0

D 0 3 0 1 2 1 0 2 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 2 1 3 0 1 0 1 1

l F A 1 13 3 0 9 6 2 10 7 0 9 5 0 4 2 1 8 7 2 12 6 1 7 6 2 5 4 2 9 4 2 7 6 3 2 11 2 4 5 3 8 17 2 7 4 3 4 6 1 7 4 2 8 10 1 5 6 1 5 6 3 4 11 4 5 13 1 3 4 4 3 12

Pt 24 19 19 19 18 16 15 15 14 13 13 13 12 10 9 9 9 9 8 7 6 6 5 2

calor lge South & West

P Paulton .................. 8 Swindon S ............. 9 North Leigh ............ 8 Bridgwater Town .... 7 Merthyr Town ......... 8 Cirencester ............ 7 Stratford Town ....... 9 Thatcham Town ..... 8 Tiverton .................. 7 Yate ....................... 8 Wimborne Town ..... 9 Cinderford .............. 7 Shortwood Utd....... 8 Bishops Cleeve ..... 7 Godalming Town .... 8 Mangotsfield .......... 6 Taunton .................. 8 Evesham................ 7 Fleet Town ............. 9 Clevedon Town ...... 8 Didcot Town ........... 8 Guildford City......... 8

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 1 1 3 1 3 1 1 1 3 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 3 3 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 3 1 3

hAlF tIMe

W 3 5 4 1 3 3 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1

D 1 0 0 2 1 0 1 2 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 1 3 2 1 1 1 1

l 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 1 2 0 2 1 2 2 0 1 0 2 2 2 2

F A W 16 8 3 14 4 1 17 2 2 7 3 4 11 5 2 8 7 2 4 9 2 3 6 2 5 3 1 8 8 1 13 6 0 6 5 1 11 11 1 10 8 1 5 8 1 7 4 0 7 6 0 8 6 0 3 5 0 4 6 0 5 8 0 7 12 0

D 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 2 2 2 3 1 0 0 1 1 1 2 1 1 0

l 0 2 2 0 2 1 1 1 1 1 3 0 2 2 3 2 2 3 3 3 3 4

F 14 5 7 11 9 5 14 8 10 7 2 7 7 6 4 2 6 3 4 2 3 4

A 5 7 5 3 9 4 11 7 11 8 6 4 5 7 13 6 9 12 13 8 10 16

Pt 19 19 18 17 16 15 12 12 11 11 10 9 9 9 9 8 7 6 6 5 5 4

treble check:

Complete check for Littlewoods, Vernons and Zetters: 3 = Score Draws, 2= No Score Draw or Void 1= Home or Away

EPB-E01-S3

FUlltIMe

1 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 3 1 3 1 2 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 1

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49

P W D l F A W D l F Cambridge ........... 10 5 0 0 12 2 2 3 0 5 Nuneaton ............. 10 4 1 1 11 6 3 1 0 6 Alfreton Town ....... 10 5 1 0 15 7 1 0 3 3 Kiddermnstr ......... 10 3 0 1 8 5 3 0 3 8 Salisbury .............. 10 3 1 1 8 4 2 1 2 5 Lincoln City .......... 10 4 0 1 6 2 1 2 2 5 FC Halifax............ 10 5 1 0 13 4 0 1 3 5 Barnet .................. 10 2 2 0 8 4 2 2 2 10 Luton.................... 10 3 3 0 9 3 1 1 2 2 Forest Green ....... 10 3 1 0 13 2 1 2 3 8 Welling ................. 10 2 2 1 9 6 2 1 2 9 Braintree Town..... 10 2 1 2 4 5 2 2 1 5 Grimsby ............... 10 2 1 1 6 4 2 2 2 3 Southport ............. 10 3 1 0 6 3 1 0 5 4 Hereford............... 10 2 1 1 4 4 1 2 3 8 Wrexham ............. 10 2 1 1 6 5 1 1 4 7 Gateshead ........... 10 1 1 3 6 10 2 0 3 5 Dartford................ 10 2 0 3 6 6 1 1 3 2 Tamworth ............. 10 1 2 3 6 9 1 1 2 3 Woking................. 10 0 2 2 5 8 2 0 4 8 Chester FC .......... 10 1 2 3 3 7 1 0 3 4 Aldershot ............. 10 4 1 1 11 5 1 1 2 3 Macclesfld............ 10 1 1 3 5 7 0 2 3 4 Hyde .................... 10 0 1 5 3 9 0 1 3 5 *Aldershot deducted 10 points for entering administration

bath city..............................0 Dover ................................. 2 bromley ...............................3 basingstoke ...................... 2 concord rangers ...............4 Maidenhead Utd ............... 1 Dorchester...........................2 chelmsford ....................... 0 eastbourne borough..........4 Bishop’s Stortford............ 1 eastleigh..............................1 hayes & Yeading .............. 0 ebbsfleet United .................0 boreham Wood................. 0 Gosport borough ...............2 tonbridge Angels ............. 0 havant and W......................0 Sutton Utd ......................... 5 Staines town.......................3 Farnboro ........................... 2 Whitehawk ...........................0 Weston-S-Mare ................. 0 hOMe AWAY

McGurk 30 Att 4,005

Pts 21 19 19 16 16 15 14 13 12 12 11 10 10 8 8 7 6 5 5 4 4 4 4 3

calor lge Premier

Aldershot .............................2 Wrexham ........................... 0 Alfreton town......................3 barnet ................................ 1 braintree town....................1 Southport .......................... 0 cambridge Utd....................2 Forest Green..................... 1 chester Fc ..........................0 Grimsby............................. 0 Dartford ...............................3 kidderminster ................... 0 Fc halifax ............................1 hereford ............................ 1 hyde .....................................0 Welling .............................. 1 luton....................................3 lincoln city ...................... 2 Macclesfield ........................3 Woking .............................. 2 Nuneaton .............................1 Salisbury ........................... 2 tamworth.............................0 Gateshead ......................... 1 hOMe AWAY

Pell 55 Midson 69 Frampton 74

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Monday, September 23, 2013

Local rugby

Dings come good in the second half to secure their first victory

Clifton continue their unbeaten start to season Ampthill

Clifton

John White epsport@b-nm.co.uk

● Dings hooker Dave Wheeler was one of the try scorers as his side came from behind to win their first game of the season

Dings

Taunton

John White epsport@b-nm.co.uk DINGS forwards’ coach Jason Forester admitted he drew a huge sigh of relief following his side’s first win of the season against Taunton Titans on Saturday. Crusaders lost their opening two games against Southend and Chinnor and the former Wales and Newport Gwent Dragons flanker underlined the need for his players to buck their losing trend and register that all-important first victory. He said: “We’ve got the monkey off our back now, and I’m delighted for the boys. If I’m brutally honest, we were poor last week, and I don’t think

anyone will argue with that statement. “We spoke all week about doing the basics well – scrum, line-out, defence, accuracy and all the little things, that make a big difference. But it seemed that it was just talk, judging by the way we started the game – we just didn’t front up in the first-half. “But as the game went on, things started falling into place. We grew in confidence, and, especially during the second-half, played some good rugby. The first win of your campaign is vital for building momentum and confidence. We’re off the mark, so now the focus shifts to building on this performance and developing our game-plan.” Crusaders, in the end, deservedly toppled the Titans, but few would have predicted the final outcome after the opening quarter, as the visitors dominated proceedings and were by far the better side. Dings

looked woefully short of confidence, ideas and application during a low-key first-half, with even the normally reliable boot of full-back Mark Woodrow misfiring, as the home side struggled for inspiration. Taunton cruised into a second-minute lead, when full-back Conor Hartley strolled over for a try, after brushing past some poor defending, allowing fly-half Gary Kingdom an easy conversion to make it 7-0. The visitors were all over Dings, and threatened to cut loose – they doubled their lead thanks to a penalty try on 18 minutes. But the Titans line-out supply began to dry up, largely due to the athleticism of Dings flanker Matt Lane, who put in an impressive performance on his league début Time and time again, Lane rose highest at the front of the line-out to steal the visitors’ possession. The former Cleve flanker got

Picture: johnwhitemedia.co.uk

through a mountain of work in defence, and worked well alongside Sam Steer and Mike Uren in the back-row. After missing his first two attempts at goal, Woodrow found his radar, and two successful penalty attempts saw his side go into the break trailing 14-6. Stern half-time words by the Dings coaches appeared to do the trick, as the home side re-emerged full of vigour, and a new-found hunger. Wing Ollie Reyland, another Dings débutante became increasingly involved in the game, and caused the visitors plenty of problems with a series of powerful charges along the touchline. Crusaders rattled up 18 unanswered points, with tries by hooker Dave Wheeler and replacement prop Josh Lloyd, plus two penalties and a conversion by Woodrow, before Kingdom slotted a 70th-minute penalty, to earn the Titans a losing bonus-point.

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Weekend’s rugby results FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 Aviva Premiership: Sale 26 Wasps 22, Worcester 13 Harlequins 37. Greene King IPA Championship: Cornish Pirates 20 Leeds 27, Plymouth Alb 34 Moseley 34. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 Aviva Premiership: Gloucester 26 Northampton 24, Leicester 31 Newcastle 6, London Irish 23 Exeter Chiefs 29, Greene King IPA Championship: Jersey 26 Bedford Blues 14, Rotherham 77 Ealing 9. SSE National One: Blackheath 29 Fylde 31, Blaydon 25 Esher 35, Cinderford 31 Hull Ionians 7, Doncaster 38 Worthing 17, Henley 6 Rosslyn Park 6, Old Albanians 29 Tynedale 17, Richmond 31 Coventry 32, Wharfedale 26 Loughborough Students 29. SSE National Two South: Ampthill 20 Clifton 37, Canterbury 33 Cornish AB 25, Dings Crus 24 Taunton 17, Exmouth 33 Bournemouth 18, Hartpury Coll 19 Cambridge 13, London Irish WG 35 Bishops St 37, Redruth 38 Southend 7,

Shelford 19 Chinnor 24. National Three South: Avonmouth OB 10 Worcester 19, Barnstaple 19 Amersham & Ch 7, Bracknell 17 Weston-s-Mare 14, Brixham 10 Redingensians 30, Chippenham 10 Old Reds 21, Lydney 52 Newton Abbot 25, Old Patesians 29 Old Centralians 27. South West One West: Camborne 16 Bideford 7, Cleve 37 Wadebridge 25, Clevedon 28 Thornbury 28, Coney Hill 5 Hornets 39, Cullompton 32 Bridgwater & Alb 3, N Petherton 25 Sidmouth 6, St Austell 29 Chard 10. Western Counties North: Avon 21 North Bristol 19, Barton Hill 43 Old Bristolians 20, Berry Hill 43 Bsl Harlequins 20, Chew Valley 26 Matson 20, Cirencester 6 Drybrook 20, Midsomer Norton 16 Keynsham 24, Oldfield OB 8 Chosen Hill FP 46. Gloucester Premier: Bsl Saracens 12 Hucclecote 3, Newent 52 Southmead 0, St Mary’s OB 31 Painswick 19, Stroud 40 Gordon League 15, Tewkesbury 21 Frampton Cott 30, Whitehall v Dursley pp.

Gloucester One: Bishopston 18 Bream 14, Kingswood 15 Gloucester OB 7, Longlevens 30 Chipping Sodbury 14, Old Colstonians 24 Brockworth 20, Old Richians 22 Ashley Down OB 19, Widden OB 10 Chelt Saracens 13. Gloucester Two: Aretians 6 Bredon Star 32, Old Cryptians 48 Cotham Park 19, Ross-on-Wye 55 Cheltenham CS 5, Spartans 27 Broad Plain 6, St Brendan’s OB 17 BAC 10, Westbury 18 Gloucester AB 25. Gloucester Three: Cainscross 61 Hardwicke & Q 7, Smiths 64 Norton 10, Tredworth 34 Minchinhampton 7. Somerset Premier: Gordano 29 Yatton 7, Keynsham 15 Bsl Barb 30, Nailsea & Backwell 8 Winscombe 15, Old Reds 20 Wiveliscombe 19, St Bernadette’s OB 27 Tor 15, Stothert & Pitt 30 Taunton 0, Weston-s-Mare 31 Minehead Barb 9. Somerset I: Bridgwater & Alb 34 Wells 5, Castle Cary 31 Midsomer Norton 19, Chard 19 North Petherton 37, Hornets 30 Wellington 10, Imperial 17 Crewkerne 14, Old Reds v Clevedon away w/o,

Yatton 50 Old Sulians 11. Somerset II North: Bsl Harlequins v Chew Valley pp, Old Culverhaysians 24 Midsomer Norton 24, Oldfield OB 3 Keynsham 31, Walcot 0 Gordano 51, Weston-s-Mare 19 Clevedon 26, Winscombe 10 Nailsea & Backwell 52. Somerset II South: Bridgwater & Alb 0 Burnham-on-Sea 31, Somerton 51 Minehead Barb 17, Taunton 53 Ivel Barb 0, Tor 29 Hornets 22, Wiveliscombe 3 Cheddar Valley 29, Wyvern 41 Morganians 19. Somerset III North: Avon 36 Bath OE 17, Imperial w/o v Walcot, Keynsham 12 Bsl Barb 7, Midsomer Norton w/o v Old Sulians, Stothert & Pitt 147 Yatton 0. Somerset III South: Castle Cary 31 Chard 20, Wellington 16 Martock 10. YESTERDAY Aviva Premiership: Saracens 31 Bath 17. Greene King IPA Championship: Bristol 31 London Scottish 1, Nottingham 18 London Welsh 46.

CLIFTON moved to the top of the SSE National League Two South table, after their third straight victory of the season. Darren Lloyd’s side, fresh from wins over Canterbury and Hartpury College, continued their impressive start to their campaign with victory over newly-prompted outfit Ampthill. Clifton director of rugby Lloyd, despite being delighted by his side’s latest victory, believes that it’s too early to talk about his team as genuine promotion candidates. He said. “We were by no-means perfect in the first-half, but we improved in the second-half, and this group is beginning to understand what it takes to win tight matches. “They (Ampthill) were a well-organised side, and will cause plenty of teams headaches this season. “We introduced a number of new faces into the team, with Josh Goddard and Harry Goodfield doing well for us today, and the rest of our youngsters getting better week on week. “We’re not looking any further than our game with Bishop Stortford next week, and promotion is not something that has entered our thoughts. “We’ve only had three games, and there’s plenty of rugby to be played between now and the end of the season. We’re just enjoying our rugby at the moment, and looking forward to next week’s challenge.” For the second time this season, Clifton came from behind to secure the spoils with a magnificent second-half display. Prop Rupert Freestone, scrum-half Matt Britton and wing George Karayiannis added touchdowns to the first-half try tally from impressive centre Will Pomphrey (2), pictured, and full-back John Mason, while fly-half Charlie Foley added 12 points with the boot. There was little to choose between the sides during a tentative and mistake-ridden first-half. The lead see-sawed, with neither side able to dominate the other for any length of time. Clifton trailed 17-13 at the turnaround, but Freestone’s try early in the second-half opened the floodgates, as Clifton dominated the remainder of the contest, scoring a further 17 points, while restricting the home side to just two penalties from Rory Teague. Clifton play their first home game to be played at Clifton College against Bishop Stortford on Saturday (2.30pm).

Monday, September 23, 2013

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Formula One

Cycling

Vettel closes in on his fourth successive title Ian Parkes epsport@b-nm.co.uk SEBASTIAN Vettel was again in a class of his own as he completed a double hat-trick to further strengthen his grip on claiming a fourth successive Formula One world title. In taking the chequered flag in Singapore for the third consecutive time under the lights of the Marina Bay Street Circuit, it was also Vettel’s third straight win this season after recently triumphing in Belgium and Italy. With Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso second, the Spaniard is now 60 points adrift, with Lotus’ Kimi Raikkonen 98 down after he clambered into the top three with a bad back and from 13th on the grid. As for Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, he could only finish fifth behind Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg to leave the Briton 96 points down on Vettel. Booed again on the podium, Vettel said: “The start was quite hairy, I kept the inside clear, but Nico went in too deep (into turn one). “I was able to get the place back, which was crucial because we had good pace, but then we had the safety car. “After that again we had the pace, and the car was incredible, which doesn’t happen by accident. It was a pleasure to drive it around this crazy track.” Despite his increasing gap to Alonso, Vettel added: “I’m not really looking at the championship too much, just enjoying the moment.” Alonso was thrilled with his second place as he said: “We knew we didn’t have the pace, that we had to invent something, and the first opportunity

Wiggins marches to title in the Tour of Britain

was at the start. “This is a fantastic podium, a second place that feels like a win. Red Bull were too fast all weekend, so we have to congratulate them for a fantastic weekend, and next we have to do better.” For a matter of seconds – and only for a matter of seconds – Vettel was second-best off the line as he had to give way to Rosberg going into turn one. There would likely have been mil-

60 ● The number of points championship leader Sebastian Vettel has over his nearest rival lions around the world cheering such a move, only for the joy to be short-lived and give way to groans as Rosberg’s momentum forced him to cut the corner. That allowed Vettel to sweep back into the lead, and from there he put the pedal to the metal and blazed away into a four-second lead after just two laps. Behind the reigning three-times champion Alonso produced another of his storming starts, as he knows he has to do these days given his car’s shortcomings in qualifying. From seventh on the grid, Alonso powered past Lotus’ Romain Grosjean, Mark Webber in his Red Bull and Hamilton. Hamilton’s woes off the line saw him also fall behind Felipe Massa in his Ferrari, and although he managed to gain the place back, he went

● Sebastian Vettel shows he is still number one after the Singapore GP beyond the track limits and was ordered to cede position. From that point on, even through the first round of the pit stops, the race became a procession featuring precious little action. That was until lap 25 when Daniel Ricciardo made an astonishing error as he ploughed the nose of his Toro Rosso into the barrier at turn 18.

It sparked the ninth safety car period in six grands prix around this track, and for a short while it at least suggested Vettel’s cruise to the line was in danger. A number of drivers pitted for a second time, including the likes of Alonso, Grosjean, Massa, McLaren’s Jenson Button, Raikkonen and Sergio Perez in his McLaren.

SIR Bradley Wiggins completed victory in the Tour of Britain yesterday as Mark Cavendish won the 88-kilometre eighth and final stage in central London. Cavendish triumphed in a sprint finish at the end of 10 8.8km laps on Whitehall after a near-perfect leadout from Omega Pharma-QuickStep team-mate Alessandro Petacchi. Team Sky’s Wiggins, wearing the leader’s gold jersey, rolled in safely in the bunch to claim overall victory. In claiming his first stage race triumph since the 2012 Tour de France, Wiggins became the second British winner in the 10th edition of the race. Jonathan Tiernan-Locke won the Tour of Britain in 2012, earning a move to Team Sky, which has now won its home race at the fourth attempt. Wiggins rode last year’s event, abandoning with a chest infection and after making a U-turn at one point to go back to support Cavendish, then his team-mate. After a challenging year – he withdrew from May’s Giro d‘Italia and missed the defence of his Tour de France title as Chris Froome won – Wiggins is now in top form ahead of Wednesday’s time trial at the Road World Championships in Italy. The final-day success for British champion Cavendish, who also won stage four in north Wales and stage seven to Guildford, saw him claim victory in the concluding stage of the Tour of Britain for a third successive year. It was his tenth stage win in the race. Wiggins and Cavendish’s ability is well known, but the eight-day race showed the depth of Britain’s talents, with Simon Yates, riding for the British under-23 team, placing third overall. Yates has had a memorable year, winning the points race at February’s Track World Championships and two stages of the prestigious junior race the Tour de l‘Avenir.

Rugby

Golf

Ashton revels in Saracens’ new way of thinking

Quesne’s birdie blitz claims win

SARACENS director of rugby Mark McCall hailed “exceptional” Chris Ashton as Bath were blown away 31-17 in their Aviva Premiership match at Allianz Park. Ashton failed to breach the whitewash – fellow England wing David Strettle scored twice – but he was highly influential with his running off the ball and support work. The 26-year-old, pictured, is fighting for his Test place and McCall has seen enough in three matches this season to know he should be involved against Australia, Argentina and New Zealand this autumn. McCall said: “Chris judges himself purely on whether he scores a try or not, but for the last two weeks he’s been exceptional. “He’s taken a lot of stick over the last 12 months or so for various aspects of his game, but he was brilliant

FRANCE’S Julien Quesne surprised himself by claiming his second European Tour title yesterday thanks to a brilliant finish in the Italian Open in Turin. Quesne began the day four shots off the lead and looked out of contention when he ran up a double-bogey six on the second, but birdied the fourth and sixth and then stormed home in 31. Quesne, whose previous win came in the Open de Andalucia last year, said: “I am very proud of this back nine. My attitude was very good this week and I think this is the key. To enjoy a second win on the European Tour is like a dream for me. “After my double bogey I just kept calm. I was thinking the winner would be 15 under and I was only five under. I thought ‘just keep working and we will see what happens’. “I am surprised to be here. The

clear at the Premiership summit and have now scored 13 tries. McCall added: “Our attacking system is different, we made a big change in the summer to that aspect of our game. “We had a system that was in place for three years that we felt in the summer was handicapping some of the players we have. “We were looking for something which got our good ball carriers on the ball more often. It’s much more flexible. “It’s a work in progress, we’re nowhere near where we want to be with it. “But you can see often Schalk Brits and the two Vunipolas got their hands on the ball.”

flags were very difficult all week so it was very difficult to make birdies and easy to make some bogeys.” The victory lifts Quesne to 41st on the Race to Dubai – the top 60 qualify for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai – while Higgins climbs from 163rd to 111th. The top 110 after the Perth International in mid-October will keep their playing privileges for 2014, meaning if Higgins can advance further he will avoid a 14th visit to the dreaded qualifying school. Higgins, who had managed just one previous top-three finish in more than 200 European Tour events, birdied the 18th to match playing partner Webster’s closing 68, the 2005 champion having threatened to claim his second Italian Open title when he holed from 60ft across the 17th green.

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against Bath. One thing he’s brilliant at is scoring tries and that will happen, but his work on the ball, his collisions and his kick chase were at an international level. “It was a wonderful tackle on George Ford near the end, but the way he did things that aren’t that sexy was important as well. “David Strettle is 4-1 up in tries after three games, but Chris was exceptional. He’s hungry to get better.” Alex Goode – making his comeback from shoulder surgery – and Matt Stevens also crossed as Saracens raced into a 31-3 half-time lead that effectively secured a third successive bonus-point win. The London club are four points

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Monday, September 23, 2013

Premier League

City run United ragged with a four-goal salvo Manchester City

Manchester United

Post reporter epsport@b-nm.co.uk MANCHESTER City captain Vincent Kompany played down the impact of his side’s thumping 4-1 derby win over rivals Manchester United. Sergio Aguero’s brace and further strikes from Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri earned City a win which reflected their dominant performance. The game rekindled memories of their 6-1 away win over United in their Premier League title-winning campaign two years ago, but Kompany dismissed suggestions they had made a “statement” in the title race. He said: “I think you make a statement over the whole season. It’s too early to say it’s a defining game. “When we won 6-1 at Old Trafford, I said we needed to stay humble, it’s only three points. “But it gives us all the confidence and allows fans to celebrate for a couple of days.” Asked about why his side were so dominant, Kompany said: “Maybe the game meant a little bit more to us than to them. “We’ve been looking forward to it, our fans have been speaking about it for a long time and we needed to win. “We have a fantastic home record and we know there is no reason we should fear the opposition.” Kompany’s manager Manuel Pellegrini said: “I’m very happy. “The way we played is the way I want this team to play, very similar to against Newcastle. We played the way

we work all week.” United’s consolation goal came via a stunning Wayne Rooney free-kick late on, while captain Patrice Evra headed a corner by the England striker against a post. And Pellegrini said: “We went 4-0 up and Manchester United didn’t have a really clear chance apart from a beautiful free-kick by Rooney and one corner. “We have been playing irregular in other games, but it is normal in this moment of the season. “This was a high test today and the players had a great answer.” Opposite number David Moyes admitted: “We didn’t play well, they were better. They started much stronger and quicker. “We’ll get better, there’s a long season to go. We’ll put this behind us and move on.” Moyes accepted Toure’s goal just before half-time, giving City the two-goal cushion their first period warranted, was crucial. “Losing the second goal just before half-time changed it and they came out well again second half,” he said. “Great credit to the lads that they kept going, kept working away and got a goal at the end. “Wayne Rooney’s performance was outstanding, he didn’t deserve to be in a losing team.” United have seven points from their opening five games, having lost to rivals City and Liverpool, and Moyes repeated his unease at the testing start allocated to his side by the fixture computer. “It could be a lot better but we did say it was a difficult start,” he said. “I said at the time I wasn’t convinced, the way the balls came out of the Premier League bag, and I’m still not.”

Mourinho tells Mata to follow Essien’s lead

● City’s Samir Nasri wheels away after hitting his side’s third goal

Premier League

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A hard week at the office ends with victory for the Swans Crystal Palace

Swansea

SWANSEA manager Michael Laudrup was proud of his players after a dominant victory at Crystal Palace capped a “fantastic week”. Despite less than 72 hours earlier demolishing Valencia at the Mestalla, the Welsh side showed no sign of a Europa League hangover as they eased to a 2-0 win at Selhurst Park. Palace were left chasing shadows from the outset, with Michu’s strike after 80 seconds followed by a Nathan Dyer effort moments into the second half. It could – and should – have been a much larger margin of victory for

Swansea, with that the only frustration for manager Laudrup after the match. However, following Monday’s hard-fought draw with Liverpool and the win in Spain, the Dane’s overriding emotion was pride after winning at Selhurst Park. “It has been a fantastic week,” Laudrup said. “Before the start, I thought this particularly would be the most difficult game because it was on the back of Liverpool and Valencia. “This was the third game in only six days, with the travelling and all that. You have to play an away game here against a different type of football, more direct. “I thought this was going to be the

most difficult game, so I am really pleased with what the players did today. “It always helps when you score in the first minute, but even so you have to play over 90 minutes. “I thought we really dominated the game from the first to the last second. “The only thing is, we should have scored more goals because we had the chances to score five or six like we had on Thursday, but it is of course difficult not to be pleased when you win 3-0 and 2-0 in just three days.” One of the best performers in that six-day period has been Michu, pictured.

After starring for Swansea last season, the 27-year-old began this season comparatively slowly – until this week, that is. Michu netted against Liverpool and Valencia, before producing a man-of-the-match display in south London. “I don’t know if he is back to his best, because what is his best?” Laudrup asked. “I don’t look at him as just a goalscorer because for me he is not even a centre-forward. He has always been an offensive midfielder than can score goals, but can also play as a centre-forward. “I don’t look at Michu just as a goalscorer so I don’t see it as a problem when he does not score for three games.” Michu’s form last season saw him rewarded with a new and improved four-year deal in January.

Chelsea

Fulham

CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho has told Juan Mata to follow the example of Michael Essien in order to convince him of his worth. Ghana midfielder Essien, who spent last season on loan at Real Madrid under Mourinho, was not named in Chelsea’s Champions League squad and will on Tuesday night make his first appearance of the season at Swindon in the Capital One Cup, when World Cup winner Mata will also feature. Mourinho has not been swayed by Mata’s reputation as Chelsea player of the year in each of the last two seasons and demands more. “He’s not the same as Essien,” Mourinho said. “Essien didn’t play one single minute and I left him out of the Champions League list.” Mata’s projected appearance at the County Ground will be his fourth of the season for Chelsea, having failed to convince Mourinho of his talents in starts against Aston Villa, Everton and a substitute appearance versus Basle. While Mata must deliver as an individual, Mourinho is also targeting a collective improvement after ending a four-match winless run, and bouncing back from successive defeats, with a 2-0 win over Fulham. Others on the periphery will also play at Swindon, including David Luiz, Essien, Cesar Azpilicueta and Ryan Bertrand, while the likes of Oscar, Mourinho’s favoured playmaker, and Ashley Cole rest ahead of Saturday’s London derby with Tottenham. He added: “We have to work to improve. Now the head is cleaner, now we have to work on other things. “The boys who I give two days off, they have to enjoy their little holiday. “The beginning of the season was quite hard for us. “Now we have a period of four consecutive matches away. We play Swindon, Tottenham, Norwich and Steaua (Bucharest) all of them away from home. “We have to prepare ourselves the best we can. And everyone’s going to play, because we have four consecutive matches.” Oscar opened the scoring against Fulham and John Obi Mikel netted his third goal in 282 games for Chelsea – his first in the Premier League and his first since scoring twice in successive rounds of the FA Cup against lower league opposition in January 2007. Nigeria midfielder Mikel told Chelsea TV: “I am pretty happy about it. It has been a long time and the guys have been killing me about it. “They say you go to the national team and score but you don’t score for Chelsea so it was good for me to get my first Premier League goal. I scored in the FA Cup a couple of times. “I do practise scoring in training sometimes, but I don’t get into the positions often.”

Monday, September 23, 2013

www.bristolpost.co.uk

Premier League

Marshall’s one-man mission ends with a last-minute goal by Spurs

● Tottenham’s Brazilian midfielder Paulinho celebrates grabbing a late winner over Cardiff at the Cardiff City stadium yesterday

Cardiff City

Tottenham Hotspur

PAULINHO netted his first Premier League goal in stoppage time to give Tottenham victory and finally end the resistance of Cardiff keeper David Marshall. Spurs dominated large sections of the game at Cardiff City Stadium but were denied on countless occasions as the Scot made crucial saves from Roberto Soldado, Christian Eriksen, Paulinho and Gylfi Sigurdsson. Even when former Swansea man Sigurdsson did beat Marshall, pictured, his effort struck the crossbar, but Paulinho finally made their dominance tell as he tapped in Erik Lamela’s pass from close range to seal a 1-0 win. Cardiff created few clear chances but felt they had twice come out on the wrong end of decisions by the officials. The first came when Hugo Lloris appeared to handle outside his area

as Fraizer Campbell attempted to round him, although replays suggested it was a very tight call. The second saw Ben Turner’s header from a corner chalked off after Aron Gunnarsson was adjudged to have impeded Lloris. Although Spurs would take a stranglehold on proceedings, Cardiff made a purposeful opening, with Kevin Theophile-Catherine heavily involved on his home debut. The Bluebirds should have led in the seventh minute. Kyle Naughton’s misdirected pass was left by Michael Dawson, but lacked the weight to get back to Lloris. Campbell pounced but he was robbed of the ball as he attempted to round Lloris on the edge of the box, with replays suggesting the Frenchman had handled outside his area. Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas had bemoaned his side’s run of three games in six days earlier this week, but he need not have worried about their ability to perform, as they settled down and assumed control.

They crafted a fine chance for Soldado, after a thrilling burst from Andros Townsend, but Marshall was able to turn the Spaniard’s shot round the post. Kyle Walker followed the winger’s lead as he took off from inside his own half on a run that took him into the Cardiff box, where Ben Turner made a crucial tackle. Marshall soon found himself severely overworked saving twice from Eriksen, the second coming after Turner had recovered from being horribly exposed by Soldado to get a block in. Sigurdsson also stung the Scotland keeper’s palms, but Cardiff then enjoyed a better spell up to half-time, and they were aggrieved not to be leading at the break. Lloris’ poor control of a back pass gifted Cardiff a corner, which Turner headed in at the far post, but referee Mark Clattenburg ruled the keeper

had been impeded by Gunnarsson. It appeared a soft decision. Cardiff ’s gradual improvement continued at the start of the second half, with Craig Bellamy racing clear only for Lloris to cut out his pull-back for Peter Whittingham. But the hosts were again indebted to Marshall moments later. Sigurdsson’s shot from the edge of the box came back off the crossbar to fall to Soldado in acres of space, but he was again denied by the keeper’s legs. Sigurdsson was involved once more when he scampered round Theophile-Catherine to tee up Paulinho, but again Marshall was up to the task. Cardiff boss Malky Mackay threw on Peter Odemwingie in place of Campbell for his debut, and the Nigerian almost enjoyed a dream start as he curled wide of the left-hand upright. It proved a brief respite as Spurs continued to pile on the pressure, but Cardiff held firm as the game entered the final 15 minutes. Marshall could do nothing to keep out the Brazilian’s final effort from inside the six-yard box.

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goalsfootball.co.uk

There’s more to come from Ozil, claims Wenger Arsenal

Stoke City

MANAGER Arsene Wenger is in no doubt there is more to come from club-record signing Mesut Ozil after watching the Germany playmaker create all of his side’s goals in the win over Stoke at the Emirates Stadium, which sent Arsenal top of the Barclays Premier League. First Aaron Ramsey smashed in his seventh goal of an impressive season after Ozil’s fifth-minute free-kick was parried by Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, but Geoff Cameron swept in a deserved equaliser for the visitors. However, the class of Ozil – signed from Real Madrid on deadline day in a £43million seal – proved the difference as his corner was flicked home by compatriot Per Mertesacker to give Arsenal the lead once more before half-time, and then another pin-point deadball delivery made sure of all three points when Bacary Sagna looped in a header on 72 minutes. “I believe that once he is completely integrated we will see even more of him, but he has shown today that he is a great player,” said Wenger. “Ozil is a player, when you look at his numbers, the assists are not a coincidence, it is just the reality of his game. “You could see today he has a good pace as well. At the moment he focuses a lot on his passing, but he can create individually as well.” Arsenal have responded with seven straight wins since they were beaten 3-1 at home on the opening day of the season – and if Ozil continues his impressive displays, Wenger’s squad could be set for a long-overdue sustained assault on the Premier League title. Wenger, though, moved to play down any early talk of ending almost a decade without a trophy. He said: “Ozil gave a lift to everybody at the club and, for the rest, it will be the quality of our teamwork and our team play that will decide that. “The only thing of our position at the moment is that we are in a position where we can focus on improvement in a stable environment, so that is a good basis. For the rest, [in] the table everyone is mathematically together. “We have shown again another aspect as well, that we can dig deep and fight when we are a bit under pressure. When the third goal went in, we just kept the result.” Theo Walcott suffered a minor abdominal strain during the warm-up.

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Monday, September 23, 2013

Bristol Rovers 2013-14 The season so far . . .

Bristol City 2013-14 The season so far . . .

Bristol Rugby 2013-14 The season so far . . .

LEAGUE ONE AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

15 Cornish Pirates (Sandy Park)................................................................... 21-23 22 London Scottish (H) .................................................................................. 31-18 28 Jersey........................................................................................................... (A)

3 Bradford (H)................................................................................................................ 2-2 6 Gillingham (Capital One, First Round) (A) ................................................................. 2-0 11 Coventry (A) ............................................................................................................ 4-5 17 Wolverhampton (H) ................................................................................................. 1-2 24 MK Dons (A) ............................................................................................................ 2-2 27 Crystal Palace (Capital One, Second Round) (H)................................................... 2-1 31 Gillingham (A) .......................................................................................................... 1-1

SEPTEMBER

6 Bedford........................................................................................................... (H) 12 B&I Cup .................................................................................................... Rnd 1 19 B&I Cup ....................................................................................................Rnd 2 27 Nottingham ................................................................................................... (H)

4 Bristol Rovers (JPT, First Round) (H) ........................................................................ 2-1 14 Peterborough (H) ..................................................................................................... 0-3 17 Shrewsbury (H) ....................................................................................................... 1-1 21 Swindon (A) ............................................................................................................. 2-3 24 Southampton (Capital One, Third Round)................................................................ (A) 28 Colchester ................................................................................................................(H)

NOVEMBER

OCTOBER

LEAGUE TWO AUGUST

3 Exeter (A) .................................................................................................. 1-2 6 Watford (Capital One Cup, First Round) (H) ............................................. 1-3 10 Scunthorpe (H) ........................................................................................ 0-0 17 Newport County(A) .................................................................................. 0-1 24 York (H) ................................................................................................... 3-2 31 Northampton (H) ...................................................................................... 1-0

4 Bristol City (JPT, First Round) (A) .............................................................. 1-2 7 Plymouth (A) .............................................................................................. 0-1 14 Dag & Red (A) ......................................................................................... 0-2 21 Hartlepool (H) .......................................................................................... 2-2 28 Southend ..................................................................................................(A)

OCTOBER

2 Plymouth ........................................................................................................ (A) 9 London Welsh ................................................................................................ (A) 17 Rotherhamv (H) 23 Cornish Pirates ............................................................................................. (A)

5 Port Vale ..................................................................................................................... (A) 8 Wycombe (JPT Second Round) ................................................................................. (A) 12 Crawley Town........................................................................................................... (H) 19 Crewe ....................................................................................................................... (A) 22 Brentford................................................................................................................... (H) 26 Carlisle ..................................................................................................................... (A)

DECEMBER

1 Leedsv (H) 8 B&I Cup ......................................................................................................Rnd 3 15 B&I Cup .....................................................................................................Rnd 4 21 Ealing (A)

JANUARY 2014

5 Moseley .......................................................................................................... (H) 12 B&I Cup ....................................................................................................Rnd 5 19 B&I Cup ....................................................................................................Rnd 6 26 Plymouth ...................................................................................................... (H)

FEBRUARY

2 Jersey ............................................................................................................. (H) 8 Bedford ........................................................................................................... (A) 15 Nottingham ................................................................................................... (A)

MARCH

1 Rotherham...................................................................................................... (A) 9 Cornish Pirates ............................................................................................... (H) 22 Leeds ............................................................................................................ (A) 30 Ealing ........................................................................................................... (H)

NOVEMBER

2 Oldham .......................................................................................................................(H) 16 Tranmere .................................................................................................................. (A) 23 Sheffield United ........................................................................................................(H) 26 Leyton Orient ............................................................................................................(H) 30 Preston ..................................................................................................................... (A)

DECEMBER

14 Rotherham ................................................................................................................(H) 21 Notts County ............................................................................................................. (A) 26 Walsall ......................................................................................................................(H) 29 Stevenage ................................................................................................................(H)

APRIL

MAY

3 B&I Cup ................................................................................................ semi-final 10 Championship semi-final ......................................................................... 1st leg 17 Championship semi-final ....................................................................... 2nd leg 23 B&I Cup ....................................................................................................... final 29 Championship final.................................................................................. 1st leg

NOVEMBER

2 Oxford Utd ..................................................................................................(A) 16 Bury ......................................................................................................... (H) 23 Burton Albion ............................................................................................(A) 26 Cheltenham ..............................................................................................(A) 30 AFC Wimbledon ...................................................................................... (H)

DECEMBER

14 Morecambe ..............................................................................................(A) 21 Portsmouth .............................................................................................. (H) 26 Torquay ....................................................................................................(A) 29 Rochdale ..................................................................................................(A)

JANUARY

1 Leyton Orient .............................................................................................................. (A) 4 Coventry .....................................................................................................................(H) 11 Bradford .................................................................................................................... (A) 18 MK Dons................................................................................................................... (H) 25 Wolverhampton ........................................................................................................ (A) 28 Brentford ................................................................................................................... (A)

1 Cheltenham ............................................................................................... (H) 4 Scunthorpe .................................................................................................(A) 11 Exeter ....................................................................................................... (H) 18 York .......................................................................................................... (A) 25 Newport County ....................................................................................... (H) 28 Accrington Stanley .................................................................................. (H)

FEBRUARY

5 Moseley .......................................................................................................... (A) 12 B&I Cup .......................................................................................... quarter-final 18 London Welsh .............................................................................................. (H) 26 London Scottish............................................................................................ (A)

5 Fleetwood .................................................................................................. (H) 12 Mansfield ..................................................................................................(A) 19 Wycombe ................................................................................................ (H) 22 Accrington Stanley ...................................................................................(A) 26 Chesterfield ............................................................................................. (H)

1 Carlisle .......................................................................................................................(H) 8 Oldham ....................................................................................................................... (A) 15 Tranmere.................................................................................................................. (H) 22 Sheffield United ........................................................................................................ (A)

1 Chesterfield ................................................................................................(A) 8 Oxford Utd ................................................................................................. (H) 15 Bury ..........................................................................................................(A) 22 Burton Albion........................................................................................... (H)

MARCH

1 Northampton............................................................................................... (A) 8 Plymouth ................................................................................................... (H) 11 Dag & Red............................................................................................... (H) 15 Hartlepool ................................................................................................. (A) 22 Southend ................................................................................................. (H) 25 Fleetwood .................................................................................................(A) 29 Morecambe ............................................................................................. (H)

APRIL

5 AFC Wimbledon ......................................................................................... (A) 12 Torquay ................................................................................................... (H) 19 Portsmouth ............................................................................................... (A) 21 Rochdale ................................................................................................. (H) 26 Wycombe .................................................................................................(A)

MAY

3 Mansfield ................................................................................................... (H)

1 Gillingham .................................................................................................................. (H) 8 Shrewsbury ................................................................................................................ (A) 11 Peterborough............................................................................................................ (A) 15 Swindon.................................................................................................................... (H) 22 Colchester ................................................................................................................ (A) 25 Port Vale................................................................................................................... (H) 29 Rotherham ................................................................................................................ (A)

APRIL

JUNE

4 Championship final.................................................................................. 2nd leg

5 Preston .......................................................................................................................(H) 12 Walsall ...................................................................................................................... (A) 19 Notts County............................................................................................................. (H) 21 Stevenage ................................................................................................................ (A) 26 Crewe .......................................................................................................................(H)

MAY

3 Crawley Town............................................................................................................. (A)

Columnist

I’m ready to tackle some old City and Rovers favourites in a charity match at Hallen

EPB-E01-S3

Y appearances on a football pitch are rapidly dwindling, which is hardly surprising as I am now in my fifties. I am really too old to even play in the over-35s games that I get asked to participate in regularly on Sunday mornings. However, I have agreed to play in a charity match that is being held this Thursday at the home of Hallen FC. Organiser Mark Jakeways is arranging for former players of Hallen to take on a team of well-known ex-Bristol City and Rovers favourites, along with a sprinkling of local celebrities that have appeared on television.

Dave Payne Writes for the Green ’Un I believe Mark is hoping to attract a weather man, a chef and somebody that has appeared in a reality television show. If that doesn’t get the punters flying through the turnstiles, I don’t know what will! Mark has created a poster advertising the match, with boobs and balls being the strapline for parts of the

male and female anatomy that are affected by cancer, which will benefit from money raised at the event. Glancing through the selected players representing Hallen on the night, a few are very well known to me. Goalkeeper Dave Mogg has been a pal of mine since our junior school days, where we played alongside each other for Bristol Boys. As a youngster, Dave was very popular at school with the ladies – the dinner ladies that is! He would eat anything put on his plate, so it’s not surprising really that he’s in such great shape nowadays! I heard he had a real scare recently – apparently, someone told him his local kebab shop was closing down, but thankfully it was just a rumour.

The last time we played in a charity game together he could not even bend down to pick the ball out of his net, due to a chronic back problem. But, to be fair to him, quite a few were nestled in the corner, so it obviously got painful after a while. Another good friend of ours also playing in the match on Thursday is Grantley Dicks. He played for Hallen at one time during his playing career, but also spent several seasons at Bath City. He is now assistant manager at Hallen, and is very vocal when barking out instructions from the touchline. He told me once that although he shouts out a lot, it always makes sense to the players. I believe that if he put three letters in front of that word he would

be correct: non-sense! Funnily enough, along with Dave and Grantley, I played in an over-35s tournament held in Barbados a decade or so ago. What a fantastic time we had, especially coming home as victors. I can still recall the moment when we arrived at our hotel. Their faces both lit up when they read the sign emblazoned in bright neon lights, ‘All-you-can-eat buffet!’ The game kicks-off at 7pm at Moorhouse Lane, the home of Hallen, on Thursday, when their new floodlights will be switched on. Afterwards, in the clubhouse, there will be a memorabilia auction which features some fantastic items. Please come along to the game, where entry is by donation.