Taverners progress after penalty shoot-out

Gloucestershire County League round-up

Just two fixtures involving Gloucestershire County League clubs beat the weather, with Thornbury Town at home to Kingswood in the league and Taverners' meeting with Chipping Sodbury Town, in the second round of the Les James Cup, surviving.

Thornbury looked as though they meant business in the first few minutes as Steve Thompson pulled his shot wide of keeper Chris Fox and a post.

Kingswood had the advantage of the wind in the first half and Paul Bleaken hit a tremendous free-kick, which took a deflection off a Town defender, sending goalkeeper Jamie Lewis the wrong way before nestling in the bottom corner.

Four minutes later, Gavin Dibden wriggled his way past two Thornbury defenders before being brought down by Lewis in the box.

Dibden hauled himself up to place the ball past Lewis from the spot.

Chris Parry had an effort saved by the visitors' keeper and Steve Alexander was foiled by a tackle just as he was about to shoot.

Thornbury were forced into making a change in the 42nd minute, after Riki Lippiatt sustained an ankle injury.

Kingswood could easily have made it 3-0 as Ryan Mudd broke clear of Town's defence, but his shot was well saved by Lewis, who parried the ball and scrambled back to recover it.

Thornbury began to take control of the second half and were back in the game on 56 minutes as Thompson scored a superb goal, curling the ball into the far corner from just inside the box.

Town were attacking more and more and Fox pulled off a great save to deny Steve Alexander.

The visitors found it tough to get forward in the second half, but on one of the few occasions they did, Dibden saw his shot well saved by Lewis.

Taverners moved into the semi-finals in the Les James Cup, with a 3-2 win on penalties after their match had finished 3-3.

The home side were up against it in the first 45 minutes and Chipping Sodbury kept the pressure on the right from the kick-off.

The deadlock was broken in the 30th minute when Sodbury's Alex Fox sprang the offside trap to round keeper Duane Portlock.

Sodbury continued to press and Craig Roberts and Mike Thornton were forced into goal-line clearances.

Taverners thought they had levelled the score on 55 minutes, as Tom Burridge headed home from a corner – only to have the goal ruled out for a foul on the visitors' keeper.

Five minutes later he headed in again from a corner and this time the goal stood.

The home side went ahead after a low drive at goal was handled in the box and Mike Thornton netted the resulting penalty.

And it became 3-1 in the 67th minute as a ball into the box was flicked into his own net by Ian Preece.

Substitute Chris Power pulled the score back to 3-2 and Paul Harris Paul Harris levelled.

Mike Thornton, Craig Mills and Matt Spring were successful from the spot to send Taverners through.

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