DOWNEND DOWNED BY LATE LUCAS STRIKE

Carter Bailey had given the home side the lead inside thirty seconds but Downend fought back and equalised twelve minutes into the second half through Alfie Noble. However Lucas's first goal of the season came two minutes into time added on to rescue a dramatic win for the Grove who now close the gap to leaders Bath City to just three points with two games in hand.

After last week's sunbaked Cup win at Clifton United, it was somewhat greyer skies that greeted the two teams at kickoff and things got increasingly darker for Downend just 29 seconds into the match when striker Carter Bailey lashed home his 14th goal of the season to put Hengrove ahead. It set a pattern for the first part of the first half where Grove dominated the chance count with Riley Griffiths, Harry Lucas and Carter Bailey all went close. However as the half went on, the Saints started to come more into the game and this continued after half time too with the result being that Saints levelled on 57 minutes through Alfie Noble.

At this point the game could have gone either way with Hengrove shading possession and having more chances. As the rain started to get harder, it led to a more fraught match with no quarter given by either side but still home keeper Ben Britton was the quieter of the two keepers. Griffiths headed one chance wide & Carter Bailey fired just wide but at the other end, a ball across the six yard box was somehow missed by everyone when any contact from a Saints attacker would have seen a goal.

But just as it seemed Grove's title hopes had taken a major blow and with two minutes of stoppage time having elapsed, Harry Lucas found space inside a packed penalty area and slotted home his first goal of the season to earn a vital three points for his side.

The victory leaves Hengrove three points behind leaders Bath City who have now finished their league programme. Grove are still awaiting the three points from the Rockleaze match to be awarded to them which would leave Paul Fortt and Mike Stone's team needing a point to pip the Romans to the league title.