Match Preview

City could end their near-45 year wait for a league title on Tuesday night, needing just a point from the remaining six league fixture to be crowned Hellenic Premier Division Champions.

Following Corsham Town's 2-2 draw with Longlevens whilst City were in FA Vase action on Saturday, Corsham can now only match the current points tally of City meaning that a point from a possible eighteen is all that stands in the way of City being crowned and securing promotion to Step 4 next season.

It's been a long wait since Wednesday 9th May 1979, when City secured the Southern League Premier Division title following a 3-0 win over Kettering Town at St George's Lane. Nobby Clark was the City boss that season and his side including Barry Williams, Kevin Tudor and Dave Roberts, went down as one of the best, if not the best, City team of all time.

Cornes' side look set to secure that elusive first league title, and names like Lockett, Belmonte, Mace and Whitcombe, look set to write their own chapters in City's history.

City weren't at their free-flowing best on Saturday afternoon but still managed to record their twenty-third consecutive game, keeping up their 100% winning record in 2024, having last dropped points on 30th December 2023. Elliott Hartley's superb second half strike was the difference on Saturday, giving City the advantage heading to Great Wakering on Saturday.

Chris Cornes' side could also break another club record during this evening's fixture. With a win, the team would break the club's record of 12 consecutive league wins in a row, that record set between March and April 1977. This records won't be in the minds of the players this evening, but more history could potentially be made in Thornbury.

Cornes stuck with his winning team on Saturday from the midweek 7-0 drubbing of Roman Glass St George, with Adam Mace selected as the number four in midfield in place of an injured Calvin Dinsley, and with Chris Knight filling-in at left back. Kyonn Evans was preferred to lead the line from the start with Dylan Hart starting from the bench. Positives for City heading into yet another key week in the season were the returns of Calvin Dinsley and Jamie Insall to the bench on Saturday, who will both hope to get minutes this week ahead of Saturday's key second leg.

Connor Gater now appears to be the only major absentee from the squad having not featured since the Westfields victory in the Marsh Challenge Cup Quarter Final at the end of February. Minutes for Dinsley and Insall this midweek will likely be a big priority for City ahead of this Saturday's crunch tie.

Our hosts on Tuesday evening, Thornbury Town, aren't quite mathematically safe from relegation just yet. After Wantage Town's third win in their last four games on Saturday against Hereford Lads Club, they have given themselves a lifeline and a glimmer of hope heading into the final two games of their season. They have Lydney Town firmly in their sights, being two points behind them in the table. Thornbury are six points clear of Wantage, so could still be caught on points, but they do have the safety blanket of a +30 goal difference, which should secure their status at Step 5 for next season.

Thornbury secured their first win in seven games last weekend, on 30th March, when they overcame Fairford Town 2-0, possibly following feeling the heat after Wantage had beaten them earlier in the week by a solitary goal. That win should have secured their league status and will no doubt have been a relief to their supporters.

On what could be a historic night for City, The Faithful will no doubt be out in their numbers, hoping to celebrate more success from this season with their heroes who have done the club proud this campaign.

Thornbury play at Mundy Playing Fields, Kington Lane, Thornbury, BS35 1NA. There is limited parking at the ground and so Thornbury advise parking at either Castle Court car park (BS35 2BQ), St Mary Street car park (BS32 2AT) or Rock Street car park (BS35 2FH) and walking the short distance to the ground. All these car parks are available to park in for free. Ticket prices are £7 for Adults with Under 16's free.