Gloucester B 3-3 St Albans B by Dugout Dan
A continuous drizzle greeted the visitors from Hertfordshire, but it did not dampen the spirits of either side as they fought out a thrilling Geoff Richards Trophy League match.
The visitors went straight on the offensive and dominated the early stages, taking the lead when Gloucester failed to clear their lines, thus presenting Harris with the time and space to fire home.
The home side were forced to wake from their customary early slumbers and began competing with their impressive visitors, keeper Cornwell making two fine saves to deny Roberts from finishing his powerful runs down the right flank.
Wing backs Easterbrook and Inyinbor both raised their game to defend well and drive the homesters forward. Gloucester equalised midway through the half when captain Arrowsmith’s free kick was pushed onto the bar and when the ball fell back to the same player, his deflected shot again struck the woodwork. Flatt however was on hand to score from a yard out – his first goal of the season.
Almost immediately though the visitors regained the lead when another surging run and cross by Houghton drifted over everyone and into the net. A free kick near the end of the half saw Harris’s shot deflect in to give the Saints a two goal advantage their play probably deserved at the break.
The city side came out for the second half much more fired up and began competing for every ball, pushing the North Londoners back, and it was not long before they got their reward. In a near replay of their first half goal, a Campbell free kick was pushed onto the bar and Flatt knocked in the rebound, again from a yard out.
The whole team was now matching the strong St Albans side. Harding and Campbell were solid in defence, Easterbrook and Inyinbor were up and down the flanks and the midfielders Taylor and Arrowsmith were winning tackles all over the pitch.
Taylor made one surging run down the right, winning challenge after challenge, only being stopped by three players on him all at once and winning the inevitable foul.
Taylor capped this great personal second half performance by slamming in the equaliser a few minutes later following a goal mouth scramble.
With Lock holding the ball up well, Cooper and Fieldhouse competing like the players they replaced and Cornwell in inspired form in the Gloucester goal, the Yellows looked set to gain a very creditable draw. But with the clock ticking down however, St Albans scored when Houghton neatly slotted home his second of the morning to give the visitors a 4-3 win in a very exciting and enjoyable encounter.
Gloucester B: Cornwell; Inyinbor, Cooper, Campbell, Harding, Arrowsmith, Easterbrook, Taylor, Fieldhouse. Subs: Lock, Flatt.
The visitors went straight on the offensive and dominated the early stages, taking the lead when Gloucester failed to clear their lines, thus presenting Harris with the time and space to fire home.
The home side were forced to wake from their customary early slumbers and began competing with their impressive visitors, keeper Cornwell making two fine saves to deny Roberts from finishing his powerful runs down the right flank.
Wing backs Easterbrook and Inyinbor both raised their game to defend well and drive the homesters forward. Gloucester equalised midway through the half when captain Arrowsmith’s free kick was pushed onto the bar and when the ball fell back to the same player, his deflected shot again struck the woodwork. Flatt however was on hand to score from a yard out – his first goal of the season.
Almost immediately though the visitors regained the lead when another surging run and cross by Houghton drifted over everyone and into the net. A free kick near the end of the half saw Harris’s shot deflect in to give the Saints a two goal advantage their play probably deserved at the break.
The city side came out for the second half much more fired up and began competing for every ball, pushing the North Londoners back, and it was not long before they got their reward. In a near replay of their first half goal, a Campbell free kick was pushed onto the bar and Flatt knocked in the rebound, again from a yard out.
The whole team was now matching the strong St Albans side. Harding and Campbell were solid in defence, Easterbrook and Inyinbor were up and down the flanks and the midfielders Taylor and Arrowsmith were winning tackles all over the pitch.
Taylor made one surging run down the right, winning challenge after challenge, only being stopped by three players on him all at once and winning the inevitable foul.
Taylor capped this great personal second half performance by slamming in the equaliser a few minutes later following a goal mouth scramble.
With Lock holding the ball up well, Cooper and Fieldhouse competing like the players they replaced and Cornwell in inspired form in the Gloucester goal, the Yellows looked set to gain a very creditable draw. But with the clock ticking down however, St Albans scored when Houghton neatly slotted home his second of the morning to give the visitors a 4-3 win in a very exciting and enjoyable encounter.
Gloucester B: Cornwell; Inyinbor, Cooper, Campbell, Harding, Arrowsmith, Easterbrook, Taylor, Fieldhouse. Subs: Lock, Flatt.
