MATCH REPORT: BRISLINGTON 7-1 NAILSEA & TICKENHAM

Three matches on from their last encounter – when Brislington edged a narrow win – Matchday 11 offered both sides a chance to measure their progress.

Bris manager Matt Lewton was forced into major changes, with several key players absent: goalkeeper Schofield (facing a lengthy spell out with a knee injury), captain Dunn, Withey, Scaddings and in-form left back Clarke all missing. That opened the door for three new signings to step straight into the starting line-up: young keeper Will Tubbs, winger Alfie Clark, and striker Ibby Olateju. With seven teenagers in the matchday squad, it was a youthful Brislington side tasked with stepping up.

From the opening moments, it was clear this would be a very different game to the cagey reverse fixture. Both sides pressed at a ferocious pace, but it was Brislington who struck first. After just six minutes, a seemingly harmless long throw from Saunders was turned into danger by the sheer strength of debutant Olateju, who shrugged off his marker and calmly slotted home for 1–0.

Nailsea almost levelled ten minutes later with a sweeping counter-attack, but Tubbs produced a sharp save before Winstone cleared the rebound off the line. It was a warning sign, though Bris responded in style. Even the early loss of Evans to a hamstring pull – with Lovell coming on – didn’t disrupt the hosts. Just three minutes later, Olateju turned provider, slipping in Mannings who rounded the keeper for 2–0.

The visitors continued to battle and rattled the woodwork on 28 minutes, but Brislington’s grip on the game was firm. At half-time Lewton’s instructions were simple: keep doing the same.

The second half saw Brislington move up a gear. On 54 minutes, Olateju again showcased his quality with a clever spin and composed finish for his second of the night, before being replaced by Borges to ensure the Nailsea defence had no respite.

By now the hosts were rampant. On 64 minutes, Mannings bullied his way past three defenders before smashing home his second. Four minutes later, he turned provider, squaring for substitute Borges to tap in number five.

Nailsea pulled one back with a neat finish on 72 minutes, but the contest was already out of sight. Mannings wasn’t done, though – completing his hat-trick and then adding a fourth, taking Brislington’s tally to seven on a night when they racked up 20 shots on goal.

It was a magnificent display from the Foxes, and a clear glimpse of the attacking intensity Lewton is beginning to demand. With so many teenagers at the heart of it, this result was as much about the promise of the future as it was about the emphatic scoreline.