This weekend BotP headed back to the picturesque village of Bibury for what looked to be an interesting Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division 1 clash between Bibury and Dursley Town. I last visited Aldsworth Road back in April 2022 when the home side were still in Division 2. On that day they Bibury were edged out 2-1 by Viney St Swithans (A Game Of Justice?) and both teams missed out on promotion. However, the following season Bibury were promoted to Division 1 via a third placed finish.
This season, in the top flight, Bibury came into today's game in sixth spot with 22 points from their 18 games. Their opponents, Dursley Town, started the day in second, three points adrift of the leaders, Whaddon United, but with a game in hand. It had been a mixed bag in 2026 for the visitors. A 3-0 defeat at Longlevens reserves and draws with English Bicknor and, last week, at home to Brockworth Albion, were interspersed with solid wins against Cheltenham Civil Service and Stonehouse Town Reserves.
Bibury meanwhile were looking to get back to winning ways at home after losing their last two fixtures at Aldsworth Road both by 3-1 score lines.
This would be the first meeting of the teams this season. However, last season, Bibury had taken a point at Dursley but been beaten 2-1 at home.
Thanks to referee Robert Green for sharing the team sheets prior to kick-off
This season, in the top flight, Bibury came into today's game in sixth spot with 22 points from their 18 games. Their opponents, Dursley Town, started the day in second, three points adrift of the leaders, Whaddon United, but with a game in hand. It had been a mixed bag in 2026 for the visitors. A 3-0 defeat at Longlevens reserves and draws with English Bicknor and, last week, at home to Brockworth Albion, were interspersed with solid wins against Cheltenham Civil Service and Stonehouse Town Reserves.
Bibury meanwhile were looking to get back to winning ways at home after losing their last two fixtures at Aldsworth Road both by 3-1 score lines.
This would be the first meeting of the teams this season. However, last season, Bibury had taken a point at Dursley but been beaten 2-1 at home.
Thanks to referee Robert Green for sharing the team sheets prior to kick-off
Bibury couldn't break through the Dursley defence After the promise of Spring breaking last week, the weather had taken another turn back towards Winter and, the game got under way under leaden skies, a sprinkling of rain and a chilly breeze.
However dreary the weather, Dursley were soon brightening things up, taking the lead after only six minutes. Logan Weyman, who went on to terrorise the Bibury defence for much of the game, was the provider, sending over a cross from the right that Alfie Mann headed past Jamie Penfold. 0-1.
Bibury's response was almost very swift. Only a minute later Sam Simmonds drove down their left flank before cutting the ball back to the edge of the box where it was met by Dec Kenn who, slightly off balance, could only put his effort over Jordan Schofield's crossbar.
Following that early goalmouth action, the game fell into more of a midfield battle for a while. Dursley were gaining the upper hand but didn't unduly trouble Penfold. Adam Price probably came closest, but his 26th minute snapshot didn't really trouble the keeper.
The visitors almost paid the price two minutes later when Schofield was forced into a good save to prevent Keen from levelling the scores. As it happened the flag had already gone up, but the keeper was not to know that at the time.
Right on the stroke of the half-hour, Dursley almost doubled their lead when a defensive header from a ball in from the right looped over everyone and seemed to come back off the post. A follow-up header was then scrambled off the line and the home side survived.
At the other end, Schofield's main activity of the day had been chasing after errant back passes, preventing them from going for a corner. This had already happened a couple of times before Sean Monday did it again, but this time the ball was on target for the goal. Thankfully Schofield was quick enough to get back and make the clearance relatively comfortably.
The visitors goalkeeper then played a major part in their second goal. Launching a huge kick downfield, the ball travelled into the Bibury penalty area. Penfold came but only got a slight touch to the ball, allowing Logan Weyman to nip in and slot the ball past a defender on the line. 0-2
As we approached the final five minutes of the half, Penfold made some amends by saving well from Luke Brunsdon, but, just before the half-time whistle, the keeper was helpless to prevent a third Dursley goal. Once again Weyman was the architect, sending over a ball into a dangerous spot for Josh Barclay to put a diving header into the bottom corner. 0-3
HT Bibury 0 Dursley Town 3. Whist Dursley controlled much of the half, they only had a one goal advantage until the final few minutes. Those additional two goals look to have given them an unassailable lead going into the second half.
However dreary the weather, Dursley were soon brightening things up, taking the lead after only six minutes. Logan Weyman, who went on to terrorise the Bibury defence for much of the game, was the provider, sending over a cross from the right that Alfie Mann headed past Jamie Penfold. 0-1.
Bibury's response was almost very swift. Only a minute later Sam Simmonds drove down their left flank before cutting the ball back to the edge of the box where it was met by Dec Kenn who, slightly off balance, could only put his effort over Jordan Schofield's crossbar.
Following that early goalmouth action, the game fell into more of a midfield battle for a while. Dursley were gaining the upper hand but didn't unduly trouble Penfold. Adam Price probably came closest, but his 26th minute snapshot didn't really trouble the keeper.
The visitors almost paid the price two minutes later when Schofield was forced into a good save to prevent Keen from levelling the scores. As it happened the flag had already gone up, but the keeper was not to know that at the time.
Right on the stroke of the half-hour, Dursley almost doubled their lead when a defensive header from a ball in from the right looped over everyone and seemed to come back off the post. A follow-up header was then scrambled off the line and the home side survived.
At the other end, Schofield's main activity of the day had been chasing after errant back passes, preventing them from going for a corner. This had already happened a couple of times before Sean Monday did it again, but this time the ball was on target for the goal. Thankfully Schofield was quick enough to get back and make the clearance relatively comfortably.
The visitors goalkeeper then played a major part in their second goal. Launching a huge kick downfield, the ball travelled into the Bibury penalty area. Penfold came but only got a slight touch to the ball, allowing Logan Weyman to nip in and slot the ball past a defender on the line. 0-2
As we approached the final five minutes of the half, Penfold made some amends by saving well from Luke Brunsdon, but, just before the half-time whistle, the keeper was helpless to prevent a third Dursley goal. Once again Weyman was the architect, sending over a ball into a dangerous spot for Josh Barclay to put a diving header into the bottom corner. 0-3
HT Bibury 0 Dursley Town 3. Whist Dursley controlled much of the half, they only had a one goal advantage until the final few minutes. Those additional two goals look to have given them an unassailable lead going into the second half.
Dursley go close If Bibury did have any lingering thoughts of making a second half comeback, they were fully extinguished three minutes before the hour. Luke Brunsdon latched onto a sloppy back pass, took the ball around penfold and slotted the ball in from a tight angle. 0-4 and the points were heading back to the home of Harry Potter's aunt and uncle.
Whether Dursley took their foot off the accelerator or Bibury finally got their game going a little, I don't know, but after the fourth goal went in, the pendulum seemed to swing a little.
Home substitute Leo Jones struck a good effort just wide of the Town goal and, although Dursley sub Billy Herbert glanced a Brunson cross wide, the chances were starting to come at the opposite end more often.
With 20 minutes to go Sam Simmonds was sent through but, with no-one up alongside him, was forced into having a pop from outside the box, sending the effort over the bar. Two minutes later, Simmonds robbed Monday just outside the box but was thwarted by a good save from Schofield.
That close call must have sparked Dursley back into life because they immediately broke down the left. Mann's cross was met by Herbert, but Penfold got across to parry the ball away, only for Luke Brunson to follow in and smash home number five. 0-5
With less than fifteen minutes remaining, there was little more action. Schofield did have to another decent stop when an attempted clearance ricocheted off a defender and almost crept inside his left-hand post. However, the points were safely in the bag, and pretty soon referee Green called an end to proceedings.
FT Bibury 0 Dursley Town 5. A comfortable win for Dursley who remain three points behind Whaddon, who also won, with a game in hand. English Bicknor are a further five points back with another game in hand. Longlevens Reserves are also a threat, nine points adrift of Whaddon with five games in hand. Bibury drop to seventh in a very tightly congested mid-table. They are only five points above second from bottom Cheltenham Civil Service. Coincidentally, next weekend Bibury travel to Cheltenham, whilst Dursley don't have a game. Their next outing is a massive trip to Whaddon United on the 21st of March. The following week they entertain Longlevens Reserves.
Bibury: 1.Penfold, 3.Davies, 9.Hopegood, 5.Knowles, 6.Carter, 4.Day(c), 16.Milner, 17.Carpenter, 10.Simmonds, 2.Keen, 11.Griffin. Subs: 12.Jones, 7.Potter, 8.Willetts, 14.Coram, 15.Shannon
Dursley Town: 1.Schofield, 2.Billings, 5.Deakin, 6.Monday, 3.Barclay, 4.Fowler, 8.Gray(c), 10.Weyman, 7.Mann, 15.Price, 16.Brunsdon. Subs: 9.Harper, 11.Walker, 12.B.Dolbear, 14.J.Dolbear, 17.Herbert
Ground Number: Re-visit
Att:
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
Whether Dursley took their foot off the accelerator or Bibury finally got their game going a little, I don't know, but after the fourth goal went in, the pendulum seemed to swing a little.
Home substitute Leo Jones struck a good effort just wide of the Town goal and, although Dursley sub Billy Herbert glanced a Brunson cross wide, the chances were starting to come at the opposite end more often.
With 20 minutes to go Sam Simmonds was sent through but, with no-one up alongside him, was forced into having a pop from outside the box, sending the effort over the bar. Two minutes later, Simmonds robbed Monday just outside the box but was thwarted by a good save from Schofield.
That close call must have sparked Dursley back into life because they immediately broke down the left. Mann's cross was met by Herbert, but Penfold got across to parry the ball away, only for Luke Brunson to follow in and smash home number five. 0-5
With less than fifteen minutes remaining, there was little more action. Schofield did have to another decent stop when an attempted clearance ricocheted off a defender and almost crept inside his left-hand post. However, the points were safely in the bag, and pretty soon referee Green called an end to proceedings.
FT Bibury 0 Dursley Town 5. A comfortable win for Dursley who remain three points behind Whaddon, who also won, with a game in hand. English Bicknor are a further five points back with another game in hand. Longlevens Reserves are also a threat, nine points adrift of Whaddon with five games in hand. Bibury drop to seventh in a very tightly congested mid-table. They are only five points above second from bottom Cheltenham Civil Service. Coincidentally, next weekend Bibury travel to Cheltenham, whilst Dursley don't have a game. Their next outing is a massive trip to Whaddon United on the 21st of March. The following week they entertain Longlevens Reserves.
Bibury: 1.Penfold, 3.Davies, 9.Hopegood, 5.Knowles, 6.Carter, 4.Day(c), 16.Milner, 17.Carpenter, 10.Simmonds, 2.Keen, 11.Griffin. Subs: 12.Jones, 7.Potter, 8.Willetts, 14.Coram, 15.Shannon
Dursley Town: 1.Schofield, 2.Billings, 5.Deakin, 6.Monday, 3.Barclay, 4.Fowler, 8.Gray(c), 10.Weyman, 7.Mann, 15.Price, 16.Brunsdon. Subs: 9.Harper, 11.Walker, 12.B.Dolbear, 14.J.Dolbear, 17.Herbert
Ground Number: Re-visit
Att:
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
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