HENGROVE 2 OLDLAND 0

Saunders netted direct from a long range free kick early in the second half and then scored direct from a corner on 70 minutes. Both goals had a huge element of luck with them, luck that had deserted the O's who hit the post twice and had four other efforts cleared off the line. Harsh on the O's to lose to Hengrove who were the better side but owed their goals to a slice of fortune.

The first half was disappointing in terms of chances with the home side edging the first half hour and Oldland dominant in the last fifteen minutes. Sam Jones saved twice from shots early on and also gathered a header as Hengrove came out of the blocks fast. However after Oldland had weathered the storm, they came more into it although their chances were merely half chances really. Mike Alvis had a shot deflected for a corner, Jordan Greenwood headed over and Tom Smallman hit a 25 yarder at the keeper.

O's made the worst possible start to the second half when a long range free kick from Elliott Saunders sailed into the net under the crossbar. It was nothing more than a hopeful punt but O's defence couldn't keep it out and Hengrove had the lead. But O's weren't cowed by the goal and Ali Bamford hit the post with an acrobatic bicycle kick on 54 minutes.

Manager Dale Dempsey made a double change after the hour mark up front with Haydn Conlan and Alvis replaced by youngsters Josh Williams and Lewis Powell. Hengrove were still the better side though and after Jones had saved twice and a "goal" had been disallowed, Hengrove made it 2-0 when Saunders curled in a corner that dipped under the bar having come through a sea of players.

After the home side had missed a glorious chance to seal the game with a header from five yards out went way over the bar, the miss seemed to spur Oldland on and they were all over their hosts in the final ten minutes. Powell set up third sub Ryan Nicholls who curling shot was tipped on to the post by the keeper.

Williams had a goalbound header blocked, Smallman shot at the keeper, Lucas Hart also saw the keeper tip the ball over the bar and a Hengrove defender almost sliced the ball into his own net as Hengrove were on the ropes and three minutes into stoppage time, Powell's chip was headed off the line as it seemed destined for the net. The incessant pressure of the final ten minutes had offered six chances to grab a lifeline but none were taken and it ended in a first defeat in three for Dempsey's men.