Bolshoi
Another three-figure attendance made its way through the big green gates as Gloucester took on Wycombe in the first round of the Shires Cup at a pristine-looking Longlevens. Raffle ticket and programme sales were rapid, with the grimacing visage of Hanlon Junior peering menacingly at the assembled throng from the left hand side of the Dinglewell-based magazine cover.
With visitors Wycombe having defeated St Albans by a few a couple of weeks ago, this game was always going to be a big challenge and so it proved. The pace of the Buckinghamshire side was a concern to the hosts, but from the off, the excellent city rearguard of Pargeter, Peirce and Kelly looked aware, organised and up for the confrontation.
As Wycombe pressed, twice Franks swooped left, albatross-like, to deny the dangerous-looking visitors, while Gloucester were thrice forced into some frenetic defending to ensure parity was preserved.
At the other end, Mitchell worked hard in the lone striker’s role, while Walters and the First Knight prompted intelligently from central midfield. And it was Walters himself who created the hosts’ best opportunity of the first thirty, his fine pass releasing the Second Knight who was denied by the advancing keeper.
On 24 minutes Walters, who had been simmering inwardly for some considerable time due to not being the star of the day’s programme cover, removed the hard-working Hanlon from the fray with a flailing boot so high, Rudolf Nureyev himself would have been proud of the arabesque that preceded it.
Hanlon limped off, blood on his face and the dulcet tones of ‘We Will Rock You’ ringing in his ears. The First Knight stared up at the height of the incident then down at his own ballet shoe-like boots before deciding not to go there, even if he could.
Half time arrived and the city team settled down for their half time Jaffas, only to discover that Scarface had left the energy-givers by the side of the tunnel, having been inundated by requests from young supporters to ‘Sign my cover, mate,’ while lining up ready for the grand entrance. Adichareh was dispatched to retrieve the confectionary, and warm up at the same time.
The second half began as the first had ended, but five minutes in Gloucester were ahead, Adichareh’s half time jog proving fruitful as he opened his season’s account following the First Knight’s corner and soon afterwards it was two, Walters and the First Knight combining in a Pas de deux before the latter finished clinically into the bottom corner. Scarface, having no idea whatsoever what the vanity mirror secreted in the first aid kit next to him might reveal should it be removed from its sleeve, managed half a smile.
Still Wycombe pressed, but still the PPK Alliance stood firm. The city midfield, with Mustoe relishing the battle, tackling, surging, passing and crossing with aplomb - and on one occasion doing all four at the same time, was now on top. The Second Knight threatened constantly down the left while the Ballet Boys worked tirelessly through the centre and from Kelly’s fine pass, Nureyev made it three with a toe poke of stunning accuracy into the far corner. Scarface grimaced at the thought.
A great team move starting with Franks and continuing via Pargeter, Kelly and the Ballet Boys led to the Second Knight’s drive coming back off the far post with the keeper beaten, but there was still time for Mustoe to emphatically net Gloucester’s fourth at the back post following another right wing corner.
The crowd jigged, the midfield pirouetted and the dance class in the adjacent community centre paid silent homage to a terrific team performance.
As the players left the field to a smattering of applause, the autograph hunters gathered around the entrance to the tunnel and changing area. Yet despite staring intently at each passing figure, no-one could identify the face on the front cover of the day’s match programme.
Gloucester: Franks; Peirce, Pargeter, Kelly; Scarface, Nureyev, First Knight, Second Knight; Mitchell; Mustoe, Adichareh
With visitors Wycombe having defeated St Albans by a few a couple of weeks ago, this game was always going to be a big challenge and so it proved. The pace of the Buckinghamshire side was a concern to the hosts, but from the off, the excellent city rearguard of Pargeter, Peirce and Kelly looked aware, organised and up for the confrontation.
As Wycombe pressed, twice Franks swooped left, albatross-like, to deny the dangerous-looking visitors, while Gloucester were thrice forced into some frenetic defending to ensure parity was preserved.
At the other end, Mitchell worked hard in the lone striker’s role, while Walters and the First Knight prompted intelligently from central midfield. And it was Walters himself who created the hosts’ best opportunity of the first thirty, his fine pass releasing the Second Knight who was denied by the advancing keeper.
On 24 minutes Walters, who had been simmering inwardly for some considerable time due to not being the star of the day’s programme cover, removed the hard-working Hanlon from the fray with a flailing boot so high, Rudolf Nureyev himself would have been proud of the arabesque that preceded it.
Hanlon limped off, blood on his face and the dulcet tones of ‘We Will Rock You’ ringing in his ears. The First Knight stared up at the height of the incident then down at his own ballet shoe-like boots before deciding not to go there, even if he could.
Half time arrived and the city team settled down for their half time Jaffas, only to discover that Scarface had left the energy-givers by the side of the tunnel, having been inundated by requests from young supporters to ‘Sign my cover, mate,’ while lining up ready for the grand entrance. Adichareh was dispatched to retrieve the confectionary, and warm up at the same time.
The second half began as the first had ended, but five minutes in Gloucester were ahead, Adichareh’s half time jog proving fruitful as he opened his season’s account following the First Knight’s corner and soon afterwards it was two, Walters and the First Knight combining in a Pas de deux before the latter finished clinically into the bottom corner. Scarface, having no idea whatsoever what the vanity mirror secreted in the first aid kit next to him might reveal should it be removed from its sleeve, managed half a smile.
Still Wycombe pressed, but still the PPK Alliance stood firm. The city midfield, with Mustoe relishing the battle, tackling, surging, passing and crossing with aplomb - and on one occasion doing all four at the same time, was now on top. The Second Knight threatened constantly down the left while the Ballet Boys worked tirelessly through the centre and from Kelly’s fine pass, Nureyev made it three with a toe poke of stunning accuracy into the far corner. Scarface grimaced at the thought.
A great team move starting with Franks and continuing via Pargeter, Kelly and the Ballet Boys led to the Second Knight’s drive coming back off the far post with the keeper beaten, but there was still time for Mustoe to emphatically net Gloucester’s fourth at the back post following another right wing corner.
The crowd jigged, the midfield pirouetted and the dance class in the adjacent community centre paid silent homage to a terrific team performance.
As the players left the field to a smattering of applause, the autograph hunters gathered around the entrance to the tunnel and changing area. Yet despite staring intently at each passing figure, no-one could identify the face on the front cover of the day’s match programme.
Gloucester: Franks; Peirce, Pargeter, Kelly; Scarface, Nureyev, First Knight, Second Knight; Mitchell; Mustoe, Adichareh
