Hat-trick of wins takes Rockleaze to the title
Rockleaze Rangers clinched their second title success on the spin after three quickfire wins saw them pip St Vallier to the Division IV trophy.
With a 13-match unbeaten run to draw strength from, they began their trio of crucial games with a 5-2 victory at Bristol Phoenix with goals from Ollie Lock (2), Matt Taylor, Charlie Taylor and a superb solo effort by Ollie Lloyd. Adam Rugman grabbed two late goals for Phoenix.
Rockleaze then beat St Vallier 5-4 in a thrilling top-of-the-table clash thanks to two Matt Taylor strikes, his second a stunning winner three minutes from time, and goals from Danny Sharp, Jack Welch and Lock.
With Vhyluk firing a hat-trick for St Vallier, the game – and the championship race – was always in the balance until those dramatic last few moments.
Promotion and the title were then secured with two matches to spare thanks to a 4-3 home victory against another leading team, Stoke Lane Athletic B, Max Edwards, Charlie Taylor, Sharp and Jack Welch, with a clinical winner, seeing them home.
Rockleaze were denied a fifth by an excellent penalty save from visiting keeper Matthew Appleford, while Liam Bridgeman (2) and Michael Jones scored the Stoke goals.
Brislington Juniors claimed three vital Division I points with a 4-2 win over Keynsham Town A.
Mitchell Greenslade headed the first and Joe Goddard's long-range shot doubled their advantage before Lewis Sealy pulled one back before half-time with a well-taken free-kick.
Harrison Creber levelled for Keynsham after the break. But despite some good defending by Town's Joe Money, Brislington finished strongly and further goals from Luca Porcaro and Greenslade eased their concerns near the bottom.
In Division II, Ciaran Furzland and Nick Sibanda shone for Avon Athletic B as they edged a tight game with Nicholas Wanderers.
Furzland curled a free-kick into the top corner of the net from 22 yards on 50 minutes for the only goal of the game.
Avon appeared to have taken the lead on six minutes when a well-worked move down the right ended with Rory Langdon converting Adam Cockburn's cut-back, only for the effort to be disallowed for offside.
Avon were then awarded a penalty for a push inside the box. Connor Matthews, who later struck the crossbar, took the spot-kick but was denied by a terrific save.
Tom Gale turned in a brilliant performance up front as Oldland Abbotonians won 6-2 at Yate Rangers A.
Yate took the lead after eight minutes but Oldland, with Liam Noble tenacious in the tackle, soon got into their stride and when the lively Gale was brought down inside the box, Will Harrison made no mistake from the spot.
Further goals by Harrison (pen), Zion Duharty, Ryan Smith, with his first goal for the club, Max West and Gale (pen) put Oldland firmly in charge before their opponents pulled one back.







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