Gloucester 1-1 St Albans, Report by Leonard Rossiter
A damp and drizzly morning greeted St Albans to Longlevens for this Cotswold Challenge Shield fixture. The weather did not dampen the spirit of either side though and a keenly fought contest ensued.
The visitors shrugged off the effects of their long trip and had the better of the early exchanges, but it was Gloucester that had the first strike on goal, Flatt cutting in from the right only to see his shot was saved.
A well timed tackle from Harding denied the visitors the lead and the same player made a great clearance off the line to further frustrate them.
Their disappointment was further compounded when midfielder Taylor latched on to Flatt’s through ball to slot the home to give the city team the lead. The advantage did not last long however and the away side equalised with a low strike from Morris from the edge of the area following a corner.
The Saints slowly gained the upper hand in the second half and began to dominate the play. Defenders Campbell, Cooper and Easterbrook did well to protect ‘keeper Cornwell who was in fine form himself, but it was another goal line clearance by the irrepressible Harding that caught the eye, the interception capping a great personal display by the centre back .
The visitors continued to pepper the city goal for most of the second half, Cornwell producing a fine save from Houghton and Latter striking the upright, but the Yellows managed to hold out to gain a creditable draw in an entertaining game.
Gloucester: Cornwell; Campbell, Harding, Cooper; Flatt, Taylor, Arrowsmith, Inyinbor; Lock. Subs: Irvine, Fieldhouse, Easterbrook.
The visitors shrugged off the effects of their long trip and had the better of the early exchanges, but it was Gloucester that had the first strike on goal, Flatt cutting in from the right only to see his shot was saved.
A well timed tackle from Harding denied the visitors the lead and the same player made a great clearance off the line to further frustrate them.
Their disappointment was further compounded when midfielder Taylor latched on to Flatt’s through ball to slot the home to give the city team the lead. The advantage did not last long however and the away side equalised with a low strike from Morris from the edge of the area following a corner.
The Saints slowly gained the upper hand in the second half and began to dominate the play. Defenders Campbell, Cooper and Easterbrook did well to protect ‘keeper Cornwell who was in fine form himself, but it was another goal line clearance by the irrepressible Harding that caught the eye, the interception capping a great personal display by the centre back .
The visitors continued to pepper the city goal for most of the second half, Cornwell producing a fine save from Houghton and Latter striking the upright, but the Yellows managed to hold out to gain a creditable draw in an entertaining game.
Gloucester: Cornwell; Campbell, Harding, Cooper; Flatt, Taylor, Arrowsmith, Inyinbor; Lock. Subs: Irvine, Fieldhouse, Easterbrook.
