One-Nil Lee was content (say it all together)
The away day experience started as it normally does, waiting for people to arrive….after the designated times. However, much to our surprise, it wasn’t the Balkwill family this time. Even more surprising was the bag of Jelly Babies that came our way, courtesy of G.Balkwill’s fine for being late previously. It’s always a good start when you feed the coaches. As most people often say, we do look malnourished.
Anyway, everyone present, we head off for Newbury Festival and it wasn’t long until we heard songs such as; ‘Ruben uses too much gel….’ and ‘When he woke up last night….’. Add this to the copious amounts of “How long until we get there?”, Coaches Wixey and Harris tried overdosing on Jelly Babies just to get them through.
On to the Services
The first Services stop of the season went by without many issues. Some boys were too confused when dealt with the dilemma of choosing Subway, Burger King or KFC for breakfast. Some left wallets around or left money on the floor. Ball was so flabbergasted at the amount paid for his Subway, he went around the whole service station telling everyone. Burr filled up Subway and Cookies, Little Harris had Subway and Chocolate, the Balkwills still looked confused as to what to choose and Butcher walked around looking like he’d forgotten why he was there at all. All in all, a successful first Services stop.
On to the Games
Eight 9-a-side games of eight minutes made for some very low-scoring games.\
Group 2: Newbury 0-0, Portsmouth 1-0 (Fogg), St Albans Y 0-1, Sutton 0-1.
Within this group phase, the boys had to learn quickly that things were going to be very different from their ‘warm-up game’. Luckily, G.Balkwill was in fine form and saved the team from going behind on numerous occasions. With only 1 shot in our first two games, the linking up going forwards proved difficult. That being said, our only shot of the first two games led to our only goal of the day. Foggy picking the ball up on the left of the pitch hit a drive towards to Portsmouth GK, only for him to fumble the ball into the net.
The following two games showed the boys what happens at this level when you fall asleep for even a moment. Although the effort in these games were much better and the desire to try and play some better football improved, two moments of not wanting the ball enough led to a relatively lucky hit towards goal looping in and a quick attack being neatly finished to lead to two 0-1 losses and a 4th place finish in the group.
Group B (on a very big pitch): Chiltern 0-1, St Albans Y 0-1, Portsmouth 0-0, Swindon 0-0.
I think overall, these games showed that the boys have just got to find a bit more grit and strength in order to finish teams off. Personally, I think we were the better team against both Portsmouth and Swindon and had chances to score against both other teams, but it was that lack of belief maybe that was the difference in finishing well.
As the festival went on, G.Balkwill maintained how he started, Evans seemed to look stronger and more convinced of himself, the versatile Moroney read the game really well and held possession better, Burr tracked back really well, Little Harris made some great interceptions, Young wanted to be everywhere and pushed the team forwards, D.Balkwill ran tirelessly back-and-forth, Foggy, Badham & Ball tried to get the ball down and play some football and Butcher tried to get at defences as much as possible and had a number of efforts at goal.
Grit and desire can’t be taught, but there’s definitely things to build on and I’m sure things will look bright in the near future. Onwards and Upwards.
Gloucester B: G.Balkwill, J.Harris, C.Evans, J.Moroney, R.Burr, J.Young, D.Balkwill, G.Ball, J.Fogg, L.Badham, H.Butcher
Anyway, everyone present, we head off for Newbury Festival and it wasn’t long until we heard songs such as; ‘Ruben uses too much gel….’ and ‘When he woke up last night….’. Add this to the copious amounts of “How long until we get there?”, Coaches Wixey and Harris tried overdosing on Jelly Babies just to get them through.
On to the Services
The first Services stop of the season went by without many issues. Some boys were too confused when dealt with the dilemma of choosing Subway, Burger King or KFC for breakfast. Some left wallets around or left money on the floor. Ball was so flabbergasted at the amount paid for his Subway, he went around the whole service station telling everyone. Burr filled up Subway and Cookies, Little Harris had Subway and Chocolate, the Balkwills still looked confused as to what to choose and Butcher walked around looking like he’d forgotten why he was there at all. All in all, a successful first Services stop.
On to the Games
Eight 9-a-side games of eight minutes made for some very low-scoring games.\
Group 2: Newbury 0-0, Portsmouth 1-0 (Fogg), St Albans Y 0-1, Sutton 0-1.
Within this group phase, the boys had to learn quickly that things were going to be very different from their ‘warm-up game’. Luckily, G.Balkwill was in fine form and saved the team from going behind on numerous occasions. With only 1 shot in our first two games, the linking up going forwards proved difficult. That being said, our only shot of the first two games led to our only goal of the day. Foggy picking the ball up on the left of the pitch hit a drive towards to Portsmouth GK, only for him to fumble the ball into the net.
The following two games showed the boys what happens at this level when you fall asleep for even a moment. Although the effort in these games were much better and the desire to try and play some better football improved, two moments of not wanting the ball enough led to a relatively lucky hit towards goal looping in and a quick attack being neatly finished to lead to two 0-1 losses and a 4th place finish in the group.
Group B (on a very big pitch): Chiltern 0-1, St Albans Y 0-1, Portsmouth 0-0, Swindon 0-0.
I think overall, these games showed that the boys have just got to find a bit more grit and strength in order to finish teams off. Personally, I think we were the better team against both Portsmouth and Swindon and had chances to score against both other teams, but it was that lack of belief maybe that was the difference in finishing well.
As the festival went on, G.Balkwill maintained how he started, Evans seemed to look stronger and more convinced of himself, the versatile Moroney read the game really well and held possession better, Burr tracked back really well, Little Harris made some great interceptions, Young wanted to be everywhere and pushed the team forwards, D.Balkwill ran tirelessly back-and-forth, Foggy, Badham & Ball tried to get the ball down and play some football and Butcher tried to get at defences as much as possible and had a number of efforts at goal.
Grit and desire can’t be taught, but there’s definitely things to build on and I’m sure things will look bright in the near future. Onwards and Upwards.
Gloucester B: G.Balkwill, J.Harris, C.Evans, J.Moroney, R.Burr, J.Young, D.Balkwill, G.Ball, J.Fogg, L.Badham, H.Butcher
