Bitton kick off in style with awayday success

NEW-look Bitton opened their Under-14 Division I campaign with a fine 3-1 victory at St Aldhelms.

A neat lob by Jordan Hawkes gave them the lead and they doubled their advantage with a fine individual effort from Kieran Baldie.

Saints rallied and pulled a goal back early in the second half, only to have their hopes of rescuing a point dashed as Bitton sealed victory through Rashaun Keeling-Graham’s strike.

Avon Athletic also got off to a great start in the same division against Yate United, despite having only 11 fit players and no recognised goalkeeper.

Avon fell 2-0 down inside the opening five minutes, but they fought back to score four times before the break through man-of- the-match Louis Harris (2), Daniel Rugman and Shane Goodman.

The home side pulled a goal back early in the second half but their opponents stood strong to record their first victory over Yate in the Avon Youth League.

AEK Boco were quick out of the blocks against Longwell Green in their Division II clash, with early pressure earning a penalty which Luke Nash duly dispatched.

The game was tight from then on, with Boco controlling play well. Josh Curnow latched on to a Jake Howard pass to net a second goal and the same player struck again with a fine right-foot effort.

Super-sub Greg Ward came off the bench to round off the scoring as Boco ran out comfortable 4-0 winners.

Coalpit Heath A were rewarded for their patience by taking the lead five minutes before half-time of their 3-1 Division II victory over St Nicholas A when Chris Cooke scored from the move of the match.

Saints responded early in the second half with a well-struck volley from Luke Smart, but Sam Bressington struck twice as Coalpit gained the upper hand in the last quarter.

There was joy, too, for

A stunning volley from man-of-the-match Will Philips-Lewis, two goals from Hayden Watkins and one each from Nathan Lloyd and Luke Burman set up Heath for a superb win.

In Division IV, Andre Chidgey celebrated a ‘perfect’ hat-trick as newly-promoted

Chidgey, with a left-foot finish, Frankiln Stallard and an Ashley Hayes header put Southmead 3-0 up in three minutes.

The whirlwind start continued when TJ Wright ran down the right and whipped in a cross which Chidgey headed over the Almondsbury keeper and into the net and James Batt lashed home the fifth from 35 yards after collecting the ball in the centre circle and charging at the home defence.

Southmead showed no signs of easing up after the interval as Tom Head galloped skilfully into the box and, despite slipping at the vital moment, managed to pick out Chidgey, who completed his hat-trick with a searing right- foot strike from the edge of the box.

Hayes made it 6-0 with a volley following a corner by Wright. It was Wright’s third assist of the game and it was good to see him back to his best after being out most of last season through injury.

Almondsbury were denied a consolation goal by an agile save by keeper Samuel Wilmot before Connor Ryan and James Batt, with a 30-yard chip, completed the scoring for rampant Southmead.