Shirehampton.......................2

Brimscombe and Thrupp.......4

By Scott Boulton

OLLIE PITT bagged a brace as Brimscombe and Thrupp progressed to the next round of the Gloucestershire FA Challenge Trophy after beating Shirehampton 4-2.

Pitt opened the scoring from 25 yards after his shot hit an awkward bobble to take it away from goalkeeper Ryan Scott.

Ben Deakin had been denied by a defender’s block 12 minutes in and Pitt’s goal came five minutes later.

The hosts could have easily equalised, but were denied by Lewis Skyers and after that scare the Lilywhites made themselves a little more comfortable by doubling their lead through Deakin who knocked the ball in via the inside of the post.

Brimscombe still pushed and Pitt’s free-kick was saved well by the home goalkeeper.

And they went three up through an own goal after Joe Williamson crossed it towards Karl Nash but the ball was hit in by the Bristol team’s centre-back Joe Richards giving the Lilywhites a three-goal advantage at the break.

It did not take long for the hosts to pull a goal back through Scott Bamford in the 49th minute.

Both teams had a few chances in the second half, but the next goal was scored late on when Reece Davis was brought down by Ryan Scott, up stepped Pitt to slot it away from the penalty spot before being subbed off and manager Sam Prior took his place.

The hosts had the final word when Joe Harvey superbly hit the ball into the bottom corner from 20 yards.