On the Road again, away to Little Thatch where we played so well last season. The weather, as ever in Keynsham, was blowing a gale.
The first half was hard work, playing up hill into the wind and the sun.
For the first 20 minutes the work rate was first rate as Kev and Craig snuffed out all attacks before causing any real problems. At the other end BSTFC created pressure around the Little Thatch back 4 but other than the goal Liam slotted near post 15 minutes into the half nothing else was really falling quite right. In the last 15 minutes of the first half one of the Little Thatch full backs pushed up into the midfield creating a problem. Thatch now had one man free at all times and the attacks were occasionally breaking through.
Most resulted in wild shots going out for goal kicks, but Smith in goal did have to save a blast at close range just before half time.

The second half began with a murmur of Bradley Stoke lethargy. Little Thatch were pushing forward and creating good pressure as Bradley Stoke were doing just enough to stay in control. Thatch pushed forward and controlled the ball well at times but could not breakdown the final Stoke defence. On the other hand most of the possession that Bradley Stoke had was wasted with through balls that the wind and slope just carried away into the hands of the Little Thatch keeper. For much of the second half it carried on in this fashion. Towards the final 15 minutes things became much more open across the pitch as Dave S, Liam came very close to scoring a few times then Andy F blasted a loose ball in the roof of the net at the near post. The drama was not entirely over as not long after Andy G conceded a hand ball in the box. Smith predicted the directing of the following penalty drove low and to the keepers right, but not that the ball would skip up off a divot on the pitch and over his frustrated body.

This lead to and anxious final few minutes as Andy G made up for his penalty with a last ditch sliding tackle on a forward through on goal... Not the resounding victory like the last visit but 3 points are good enough.

Match report courtesy of Roger Smith.

P.S. Both assists have been credited to Matt Dobbins!!