Avonmouth today played host to Bradley Stoke United looking to continue with the recent run of good results. Within 5 minutes a Mitch Harris shot was cleared off the line, a Mitch Day shot crashed against the bar and Harris also hit wide when clean through on goal. With constant pressure a goal had to come and inevitably did after 7 minutes when from a Lukas Tsiopani pass Harris was again clean through but this time was able to place the ball into the net. On 10 minutes some great football ended up with a header from new signing Luke French going towards goal but the Stoke keeper pulled off the first of many great saves. After the initial battering Stoke managed to stem the tide tightening their defence & midfield. The next real Avonmouth chance came on 27 minutes with Harris again through on goal producing a good save by the keeper. However the deserved second goal arrived just before half time when a perfect Harris cross from the right gave Charlie Parker the chance to score at the back post.
Half Time: Avonmouth 2 Bradley Stoke United 0
After the restart Avonmouth were looking for an early goal to make the game safe & it came on 41 minutes when a ball in by Jeriel Riches allowed Harris to scramble the ball into the net. A few minutes later from a first time cross by Josh Beecham, Harris thundered a shot against the bar. The following minute a defence splitting ball by Haydn Curtis gave Harris the opportunity to run on and score but again the ball cannoned against the bar with the follow up shot by French producing a great save by the keeper. It seemed a case of how many Avonmouth goals but on 52 minutes from a rare Stoke attack, a ball from the left eventually fell to Liam Hamilton who shot into the net. The home team reacted immediately by getting goal number 4 when from a Sam Reynolds pass Harris caressed the ball past the keeper. The next 5 minutes saw shot after shot by Avonmouth but the Stoke keeper pulled off save after save. However goal number 5 had to come & arrived following flowing football involving Curtis, Reynolds & Parker which ended with a Harris shot going in off a post. There was still time for 2 more goals. For Stoke a brilliant free kick by James Skelton found the back of the net despite a great attempt by keeper Callum Davis & then Parker had time & space in the penalty box to make it 6-2.
In a very enjoyable match, Avonmouth again at times produced some good flowing football that created many good goal-scoring opportunities. There could have been many more goals but for the bar and the Bradley Stoke keeper Daniel Hayward who deserves a special mention for his excellent performance today. Good luck to him & to the rest of the Bradley Stoke team in their battle to climb the table. For Avonmouth the next 2 games are crucial as they are both against second placed Coalpit Heath B – 2 good results will be valuable in our quest for promotion to Division 1.
Full Time: Avonmouth 6 Bradley Stoke United 2
