Tunley Show Their Mettle with Confident 3–1 Away Win

Match Report:

Bishop Sutton 1–3 Tunley Athletic

November 8 – KO 14:00

A gorgeous afternoon for football, especially compared to last week’s wind and rain. Cool and calm, a bit of a breeze, a few clouds drifting over plenty of blue sky. Car park at one end, cattle grazing at the other. The kind of quiet, open setting that makes Somerset football what it is.

The opening spell was scrappy, both sides trying to find their footing. There were a few overhit long balls, and both keepers saw plenty of the ball without being tested. Sutton’s keeper had an early scare in the 6th minute, rushing out beyond his box to clear a Tunley through ball, but he got there just in time. A few minutes later, Owen Holland sent Tunley’s first effort wide from distance.

Ben Curtis began to come into the game down the right-hand side, showing pace and strength to get past his man and send in a few teasing crosses. There was a sense that if Tunley kept finding him, something would come of it. Still, it was the home side who took the lead in the 19th minute, a long free kick from Bishop Sutton found a mess of players in the box and somehow snuck its way into the back on the Tunley net.

It appeared to be a bit of harsh luck for Tunley, who had looked the brighter team, but it flipped the switch. From that point, they started dictating the tempo. They held possession well and began to force mistakes out of the Sutton keeper.

The breakthrough came in the 27th minute, sparked by a moment of real ambition from left back Joe Blethyn. Collecting the ball just past midfield and spotting space ahead of him, he surged forward from deep and unleashed a dipping strike from distance that caught the Sutton keeper off guard. The shot proved too hot to handle, and when it spilled loose, Owen Holland was first to react, steering home the rebound off the post for the equaliser.

It was the kind of move that summed up Tunley’s intent, with a defender driving play forward, turning pressure into purpose, and sparking the goal that got the lads back level.

The visitors kept the pressure on and found their reward just five minutes later. A perfect through ball from Curtis split the Sutton defence, and Fin Little broke through one-on-one before coolly slotting it past the keeper for a 2–1 Tunley lead. The confidence was flowing now. Another chance soon followed, a breakaway that ended with a shot over the bar, and Tunley went into halftime well on top.

Half

The second half began with both teams looking for an opening. Bishop Sutton came out with more intent, forcing a fine low save from Edmunds in the 47th and another sharp stop a few minutes later. Tunley stayed patient, moving the ball calmly through midfield and choosing their moments to attack. Curtis continued to cause trouble on the flank, drawing fouls and stretching play.

By the hour mark, the match had become more physical. What looked like a missed handball call and a few late tackles fired up both benches, but Tunley handled it well and kept their discipline. The defence, led by a steady back line, cleared their lines smartly whenever Sutton tried to push through the middle.

In the 87th minute, Blethyn was taken down hard on the left side by a Bishop player, earning a yellow card from ref and a few shouts from the Tunley supporters. It summed up the home side’s frustration as the clock wound down.

In the 91st minute, Cormac Little showed incredible hustle to seal it. From deep in Tunley’s half, he hit a brilliant first-time outlet pass that travelled nearly 60 yards and found Josh Tyler, who turned his defender inside out before driving into the box. Tyler squared it across goal, and there was Cormac again, having sprinted the full length of the pitch, to tap home the finish he had started himself. Just two Tunley players touched the ball from back to front and the match was done at 3–1. A goal full of grit, pace, and pure village football magic.

The referee played a long stretch of added time, but there was no panic from Tunley. They managed the game professionally, seeing out the final moments and keeping possession. When the whistle went, the relief and pride were written on every face in green and white.

Three goals, three points, and a dry day to enjoy it. Tunley showed confidence, teamwork, and a bit of quality in every part of the pitch. A proper away day and a well-earned win for the lads.

Scorers: O. Holland (27’) F. Little (32’) C. Little (91’)