Cheddar keep up promotion push

Oldland Abbotonians 0

Cheddar 2

Cheddar avenged their November defeat at the hands of Bristol side Oldland Abbotonians with a win by the same score.

The home side started well, with efforts from Alex Brandrick, Callum Ham, Adam Jones and Danny Griffiths going close.

Oldland’s defended resolutely and relied on the counter-attack, with Brandrick and centre-back pairing of Sam King and Danny Griffiths at their best to thwart the danger.

Minutes before half time, Jones shot narrowly wide and both Ricki Bennett and Mark Armstrong went close.

After the break, the home side fought back, with Cheddar keeper Mike Dangerfield saving well on several occasions.

When Robbi Maggs was sent tumbling by last-man Robson on the edge of the box, and subsequently shown the red card, Bennett’s free kick went just wide.

With just seven minutes remaining, the Cheesemen eventually went ahead. Coombs’ corner found Maggs, who finished off stylishly with a curling shot and with just two minutes of normal time remaining, Maggs re-paid the compliment to Coombs to wrap up the points.

Should Cheddar manage to win their last three games at Wincanton tomorrow (Thursday) and at home to Keynsham Town on Saturday, followed by Bishop Sutton on Tuesday, they will theoretically have done enough to secure one of the top two promotion places, but their fate much depends on the results of teams around them.

Cheddar faced Ashton & Backwell in a top-six clash in midweek and were held to a 1-1 draw. Taking the lead in the injury time at the end of the first-half, through a Sam King close range finish, Cheddar thought they had the game secured after dominating the early exchanges, with Booth, Coombs and Hall all having wasted good first half opportunities

The visitors were reduced to 10 men midway through the second half, but they levelled through Billy Devoy late in the game, although Maggs had the ball in the net with just three minutes remaining, this was ruled out for offside.