Boco make flying start with nine-goal win against Avon

AEK Boco Under-13s got their season off to a flying start with a 9-0 Division I win over Avon Athletic.

They were rewarded for a bright opening when a cross-shot by Will Brant dropped into the roof of the net.

A lovely passing move in the middle of the park led to Jack Robson taking on two defenders before striking the ball high into the goal for Boco’s second.

Bradley Wheadon came close to making it 3-0, only to be denied by the crossbar, but patient build-up play from the back saw new signing Jo Cox notch his first league goal for the club following a pinpoint cross from Brant.

Alex Whale rounded off the half with a fine individual strike to make it 4-0 at the break.

Jack Madge was forced into early second-half action and it was he who launched a quick counter-attack which ended with the fleet-footed Callum Ball delivering a perfect cross for Jack Green to bury Boco’s fifth goal.

Avon began to gain more possession and Keaton Lacey produced a superb headed goal-line clearance to prevent them getting on the scoresheet.

At the other end, Tom Norley’s diving header from Ball’s cross made it 6-0 and Cox scored again with a well-placed header over the keeper. Robson got his second following a cross by Wheadon, who went on to complete the rout with Boco’s ninth goal.

Bitton and Yate United, who gave a debut to recent signing Jack Thompson, drew 1-1 in another Division I fixture.

Substitute Callum Wright gave hosts Bitton a half-time lead with a sweetly-struck free-kick that the Yate keeper was unable to hold.

The first half was a cagey affair but Yate skipper Harley Warren struck a long-range effort just wide moments before Bitton made their breakthrough.

Straight from the half-time restart, Yate produced a quality passing move which ended with Connor Gould htting a tremendous first-time, right- foot shot into the top corner of the net for the equaliser.

Yate pushed on and during one attack had a succession of shots blocked by Bitton defenders bravely putting their bodies on the line in front of goal.

As the second half wore on, the game became stretched and Gould broke through again, only for the Bitton keeper to produce a fine save to keep the score level.

The Yate defence started to come under more pressure as Bitton went for the win, but a combination of last-ditch defending and good saves from Billy Vardon kept them out.

Yate nearly grabbed a winner when Nathan Hull got his head to a corner, but the ball fell agonisingly on top of the bar and over.

Bitton replied with a dangerous cross from the right which set up a great chance, but the final shot drifted inches wide, while Wright was unfortunate to see a 25-yard free-kick whistle narrowly over the top.

Brislington were given a harsh lesson on their return to Division I by a rampant Warmley Rangers side eager to start their campaign on a positive note.

The writing was on the wall for Bris when, after five minutes, Jay Vile chipped the keeper from the edge off the box to open the scoring.

Defensive mistakes by Brislington gifted further goals to Ryan Davis and Matt Etheridge as Warmley went into the interval 3-0 up.

Four minutes into the second half, Theo Miller extended the lead to 4-0 with a fine strike from the edge of the box and moments later Ravi Heer got number five with a powerful header from a corner by Fraser Venables, who scored direct from a flag-kick two minutes later to make it 6-0.

Etheridge bagged his second of the game and further goals from Jack Richardson and Connor Brealey completed a 9-0 rout.

In Division II,

Visitors Thornbury began brightly and Dan Worsley was thwarted by a great save. Asher Budd was a livewire on the left flank and Harry Shipp was excellent in the middle of the pitch, both providing their forwards with plenty of opportunities.

However, it was Yate who took the lead following a defensive error with a well-taken long-range shot.

Thornbury were quick to respond and Worsley headed the equaliser from a floated Budd cross, while Elliott Bradburn went close to giving them the lead with a free-kick from distance, only to be denied by the Yate keeper.

A period of sustained Thornbury pressure resulted in a corner which Jonny Skinner delivered perfectly for captain Ewan Sinclair to head them into a 2-1 lead.

Josh Vokins made some effective runs to pile the pressure on the overworked Yate defence and Worsley headed goal number three from another Budd centre.

Yate kept going and pulled one back from the penalty spot. The home side piled on the pressure in the second half but Thornbury, led by the tenacious Jordan Saxton and Kieron Bancroft, soaked up the onslaught to claim all three points.

Coalpit Heath ran out impressive 3-0 winners over Nicholas Wanderers in Division III thanks to goals from Charlie Geering, Cassidy Langman and Ali Mitchell.

Hat-trick hero Ross Fisher ensured

Fisher opened the scoring with a well-taken finish after a good run and the marksman soon doubled their advantage.

Keynsham keeper Will Nichols pulled off a fine save at the feet of an onrushing forward before Whitchurch finally hauled themselves back into the game with a breakaway goal.

From the restart, an excellent diagonal ball to the right wing by Taylor Bateman saw the lively Owen Smale go close with a fine run and shot. But the home side were not to be denied and Jay-Dee Snook showed excellent strength on the left to create the chance for Fisher to complete a first- half hat-trick.

Whitchurch posed some problems for the Keynsham defence after the break but Ross Millen, Daniel Money, Elliot Saunders and Bateman held firm.

The Keynsham midfield of Nathaniel Dewfall, Ben Ponsford and Ollie Maggs-Usher gradually began to reassert their control of the game and the Whitchurch keeper made a great save at his near post to beat out a shot from Harry Ollis.

The battling Ollis did not have to wait long to open his account for the season, however, when a run and cross from Fisher set him up for a fine goal.

Fisher was again the provider as Ollis netted again to make it 5-1.Whitchurch reduced the deficit with their second goal before Ollis broke clear and unselfishly set up Snook to strike a fine shot into the roof of the net for Town’s sixth.

Bristol Rovers JSC B began their Division IV campaign with a 3-1 victory at Bradley Stoke.

The outcome was partciularly pleasing for manager Mark Jeffries, who has teamed up with a new assistant coach in 18-year-old George Dempsey.

Both sides played positive football and created a hatful of chances, but Rovers’ superior finishing, along with the form of their outstanding keeper Kyran Wilson, who saved two penalties, gave them the edge.

Rovers led 3-0 at the break following goals from Alex Gould, Charlie Mulcahy and Brandon Tyler.

Stoke Lane battled hard in the second half and, although Adam Gunn and George Morgan came close on several occasions for Rovers, the home side notched a well-deserved consolation goal, Farai Chiwai scoring with a scorching drive.

More Avon Youth League reports: Pages 4-5