Gloucester B 1-2 St Albans B
With the Longlevens stadium erected, the pitch in fantastic condition and eleven young men suitably excited, the stage was set for the first game of the 2018-19 season.
This Cotswold Challenge Shield match against St Albans started slowly, with both sides feeling their way into the game. The visitors, benefitting from having played together a little more, had the greater early possession but without creating many opportunities, while the home side were tentative in both the tackle and with the ball at their feet.
That tentativeness was responsible for allowing the Saints to take the lead after 18 minutes. A through ball down the visitors’ left and some defensive indecision was capitalised upon by Baker, who fired home to put the Blues ahead.
Five minutes later, a lazy tackle in midfield gave St Albans the opportunity to double their lead which they duly took, Coxall giving keeper Boakes no chance with a low drive to his right.
The half ended with Gloucester exerting some pressure on the North Londoners to at least relieve the dominance of the away side; the closest they came to a goal however was when Mulraney fired just over from a free kick.
The homesters came out in more determined fashion in the second half and Jones and Kennedy began to dominate in the middle of the park, thus giving Taylor and Mulraney more opportunity to drive at the opposition, and from Taylor’s right wing cross, Mulraney shot just over at the far post.
Gloucester’s improved performance was rewarded when Mulraney’s excellent free kick nestled in the top corner and from then on in the Yellows were in the ascendency. Fisher, Bee and Villiers all made fine runs to create chances and put the visitors under pressure while at the other end, Mason, Ball, the impressive Werner and keeper Boakes kept the Saints at bay.
However, Gloucester could not turn their dominance into an equaliser and St Albans ultimately ran out winners by two goals to one.
A very good second half display that showed the potential this team has, but an early lesson hopefully taken on board that you need to play for the whole of the game to win at this level. On to Port Talbot next week.
Gloucester: Boakes; Mason, Ball, Werner; Villiers, Kennedy, Mulraney, Jones; Bee; Taylor, Fisher.
This Cotswold Challenge Shield match against St Albans started slowly, with both sides feeling their way into the game. The visitors, benefitting from having played together a little more, had the greater early possession but without creating many opportunities, while the home side were tentative in both the tackle and with the ball at their feet.
That tentativeness was responsible for allowing the Saints to take the lead after 18 minutes. A through ball down the visitors’ left and some defensive indecision was capitalised upon by Baker, who fired home to put the Blues ahead.
Five minutes later, a lazy tackle in midfield gave St Albans the opportunity to double their lead which they duly took, Coxall giving keeper Boakes no chance with a low drive to his right.
The half ended with Gloucester exerting some pressure on the North Londoners to at least relieve the dominance of the away side; the closest they came to a goal however was when Mulraney fired just over from a free kick.
The homesters came out in more determined fashion in the second half and Jones and Kennedy began to dominate in the middle of the park, thus giving Taylor and Mulraney more opportunity to drive at the opposition, and from Taylor’s right wing cross, Mulraney shot just over at the far post.
Gloucester’s improved performance was rewarded when Mulraney’s excellent free kick nestled in the top corner and from then on in the Yellows were in the ascendency. Fisher, Bee and Villiers all made fine runs to create chances and put the visitors under pressure while at the other end, Mason, Ball, the impressive Werner and keeper Boakes kept the Saints at bay.
However, Gloucester could not turn their dominance into an equaliser and St Albans ultimately ran out winners by two goals to one.
A very good second half display that showed the potential this team has, but an early lesson hopefully taken on board that you need to play for the whole of the game to win at this level. On to Port Talbot next week.
Gloucester: Boakes; Mason, Ball, Werner; Villiers, Kennedy, Mulraney, Jones; Bee; Taylor, Fisher.
