On a flat pitch, against what we expected to be a well organised side, the message was to get the ball down and play some football.

From the outset, it looked as though St Phillips had a bit more about them than Fishponds, putting together some good passing play through the middle and getting balls in behind the Bradley Stoke back four. However, thanks to several one-on-one stops, it was Bradley Stoke that took the early lead through Mark Harwood. This was quickly followed by a second courtesy of the boot of Liam Dixon following a smart breakaway.

However, St Phillips were not going to roll over quite as easy as Fishponds and pulled a goal back following some sloppy defending allowing the St Phillips attacker to turn inside the box and shoot into the far corner. This was then followed by a weak penalty appeal against Craig Potter, that the referee gave unsighted from the halfway line! But Palmer was a match for the spot kick, sending it back across his goal where it was met by James Collis-Pritchard to clear. Only moments later, Harwood collected the ball midway in the oppositions half and proceeded to turn and shoot, lobbing the keeper for his second of the game. Following these clear turning points in the game, Bradley Stoke began to turn on the style and closed the game off by half time, going in 6-1 up with the other goals coming from Andy Forshaw (2) and an own goal.

The second half was going to be a stroll in the park for Bradley Stoke, as the St Phillips players completely lost their shape and decided on putting their best player in as their third goalkeeper of the game!

In complete control, the rest of the goals came from Dixon getting a second, a cracker from Ashley Lloyd to open his account for the season and finally Dave Stephens (2) got back on the score sheet after being second top goal scorer last season – remarkably one of his goals came from his head! It will remain a mystery as to who got the extra goal!

Special praise should go to the man of the match for the day who was Matt Dobbins – another tireless midfield display…well done.

Match report courtesy of James Palmer.