Stoke Lane edge a hard-fought game with Downend Rangers

Stoke Lane beat a strong and determined Downend Rangers side 6-3 over two hard-fought Under-10 Division A games in the Hanham Minor League.

Both sides started the first game well, creating numerous chances, before Max Butcher made the breakthrough for Lane with a well-taken individual effort.

Butcher then turned provider after his cross-cum-shot ricocheted off an upright for Mitchell Bombroff to slot home.

Lane wilted in the closing stages and Rangers struck back with a goal to set up a thrilling second game.

And it was Rangers who came out of the blocks quickest, scoring two quick goals. Lane never allowed their heads to drop, however, and goals from Denym Di Mauro, Jack Griffin and Sam Kewley and an own goal saw them to a dramatic 4-2 win.

Bristol Rovers SJC had Sam Hutchinson to thanks for handing them the points as a 1-0 victory at Bitton got their league campaign got off to a winning start.

Both sides created chances but found the respective goalkeepers in fine form in a goalless opening game.

The breakthrough came in the fourth minute of the second match as Hutchinson darted past two defenders to score with a well-driven finish.

Rovers rode their luck when a goalmouth scramble led to Bitton having several close-range attempts, only to be denied by the crossbar, while Rovers keeper Ryan Rowe pulled off three excellent saves within the space of a few seconds.

Downend Saints chalked up a 6-2 aggregate victory over Bradley Stoke Youth with two battling 3-1 wins in Division B.

After a goalless first half of the opening encounter, James Carling's brilliant run and cross was clinically finished by Jack Brice to put Saints ahead.

Brice then turned provider when his cross was volleyed home by Ben Wheaton.

After Bradley Stoke had pulled one back, Wheaton completed his brace when he drove home from the edge of the box after being played in by Luke Patel.

Karl Bessell's superb half-volley gave Saints the lead in game two before a great Santana Schooler finish doubled their lead.

Bradley Stoke pulled one back from long range but were set back again as Schooler beat three defenders before passing the ball into the corner of the net for Saints' third.

In the same section, Keynsham Town celebrated their first appearance on home soil this term with a 7-5 victory over Highridge United.

The first encounter ended 3-3, with James Ollis netting twice and star man Kieran Williams hitting the target for Town. Jordan McCarthy twice went close to scoring for Keynsham as they pressed for a winner.

Keynsham had to come from behind in game two to take the spoils 4-2, goals from Will Simpson Jarman, Todd Leech and man of the match Dan Goodwin and a tremendous free-kick from defender Harrison Thomas edging them to an aggregate victory. They were aided by strong work at the back from Bailey Davies, Thomas, Johnstone and Will Kemp. Bradley Caton and Jake Minton stood out for Highridge.

Fry Club Colts managed to squeeze home 3-2 over two tight Division B encounters with Ashton Boys B. The first game ended up 1-1, skipper Kieran Watson's deflected shot earning Fry's their equaliser after Ashton had taken the lead via a first-half penalty.

Man of the match George Mullins and his defensive partner Jack Grant worked hard to keep things all square for Fry's. Game two was again closely fought and remained 0-0 at half-time before Arthur Parsons' tenacity paid off early into the second half when he prodded Fry's in front.

Dominic Robinson soon doubled their lead, his low drive going in at the near post before Ashton pulled a goal back late on.

Again Fry's had their defensive partnership of star performer Charlie Dixon and Reece Andrews to thank for shutting the door on Ashton after that.

Longwell Green maintained their winning start to the season with a hard-fought 6-3 Division C win over Bradley Stoke.

Green snatched a superb first game 3-2 with goals from Reece Dimond, Kyle Roberts (pen) and Joe Harding, who poked home a dramatic winner. Dan Sparks and George Honeywell played well at the back and Dan Tancock and Nathan Dolan looked the part on the offensive.

Green completed the job in game two with a 3-1 win, Tomas Stanislovaitis netting a rasping strike as one of his two goals. James Gulliford also scored.

Bradley Stoke pushed hard to get back in the game and only outstanding performances from George White, Ewan Dineen and Matt Pope kept them at bay, while on the break Dan Chivers always looked dangerous for Green.

Winterbourne United suffered their third straight league defeat, going down 11-6 overall against a strong Whitchurch Sports side.

Bourne had only goals from Ryan Sharpe and Kieran Slade to show for their efforts in game one as they fell to a 6-2 reverse, although Benjamin Parker was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet in narrowly missing the target.

Chesney Blackett led the Whitchurch scoring with three good goals, Josh Winchester, Ben Carfield and Jay Selway notching the rest.

The B fixture was much closer, Will Harris hitting a hat-trick for Bourne and the tireless Arlen Fitzgerald also netting as 'Church finished the job with a 5-4 win. Callum Mould put in an impressive defensive display for Winterbourne but their opponents' attacking persistence won through.

Billy Rice-Hanlon and George James each bagged braces for 'Church while Francis Craig scored his first goal for the club with a sweetly-struck shot from distance.