Bristol Evening Post Star Match: FC Bristol 4 Knowle Reds 2. FC Bristol swept to an entertaining 4-2 victory over Knowle Reds in the Bristol & Avon League match played on the AstroTurf at South Bristol Sports Centre.

Francis McAleary opened the scoring for FC Bristol, Joey Dean doubled their lead shortly afterwards and substitute Richard Lennie made it 3-0 with the best goal of the match following a wonderful move.

Luke Shepherd quickly pulled one back for Knowle Reds and when FC Bristol's James Lamb put the ball into his own net the comeback was well and truly on. However, Lennie's second goal of the match in the final five minutes settled the outcome.

Bad weather forced a change of venue and this was the first Star Match in 41 years to be played on AstroTurf,

FC Bristol train on AstroTurf at the Imperial Ground, giving them a clear advantage – and this showed in the early stages of the match.

They took the lead when Kaine Etele played the ball down the left wing to Joey Dean, who moved into the area and whipped a low centre across goal. The ball missed everyone except McAleary, who scored with a first-time shot at the back post.

They went 2-0 up soon afterwards when Alex Lamb, receiving the ball 35 yards from goal, played a sumptuous pass over the top to Dean, who saw keeper Craig Elliot advancing and coolly knocked it past him.

It was not all one-way traffic, however. Reds competed well in midfield and posed plenty of problems for the FC Bristol defence.

The next goal did not arrive until the 75th minute – but it was well worth the wait. Alex Lamb cut inside after receiving a neat pass over the top from McAleary before feeding the ball wide to Victor Lewis, who had made a good run. Lewis delivered a beautiful cross to the back post where Lennie hit a wonderful volley into the top left corner of the net from eight yards.

However, just seconds later, Reds grabbed a goal back. Shepherd controlled a long ball well, turned and hit a lovely, curling shot into the bottom right corner.

The goal gave Reds the boost they needed and they upped their work-rate even more, bombarding the FC Bristol goal.

The pressure told as they grabbed a second. Manny Pullard whipped in a cross from outside the area which FC Bristol captain James Lamb headed into his own net. Reds pushed hard for an equaliser but FC Bristol kept their heads and settled the game with a breakaway goal.

A long ball from the back found Dean, who beat a defender before setting up the unmarked Lennie to bury his shot into bottom left corner of the net.

Overall, FC Bristol deserved their win as they played the better football and took their chances clinically, although Reds did well to fight their way back into the game and made it a real contest.

Paul Clubb, FC Bristol's manager, said: "We played well considering we had been out of action for three weeks. We had to swap venues but it's nice to get a game."

FC Bristol: Paul Clubb, Victor Gonzales, Kaine Etele, James Lamb, Kai Ryan, Brian Jackson, Graham Purnell, Gary Scott, Francis McAleary, Joey Dean, Alex Lamb. Subs: Victor Lewis, Richard Lennie, Robert Galligan, Michael Stutt, Oliver Corsie.

Knowle Reds: Craig Elliott, Dave Mckay, Ryan Elliott, Luke Shepherd, Darren Brett, Pat Lesse, Gerry Wiltshire, Manny Pullard, Alex Hazell, Sam Carr, Wes Barnes. Subs: Gary Elliott, Duane Brunsdon, Jay Partridge, Tom Harvey, James Chiddy.

Star Man - Francis McAleary (FC Bristol): Scored the first goal for his side and excelled after switching to central midfield, dictating play with his superb range of passing.