Gloucester 3 Stevenage 2 by Ian Poulter
Gloucester won through to the semi finals of the Shires Cup after edging out visitors Stevenage in a hard-fought encounter by the odd goal in five.
Stevenage played with the elements in their favour during the first half at a rain-soaked Longlevens and the homesters were indebted to some resolute defending from Richards, Weir-Roberts and Hylton who, together with the hard-working midfielders Roddis, Gore, Pledger, Townsend and Coldridge did well to prevent the visitors from gaining an early advantage.
The Hertfordshire team was enjoying the majority of possession but it was the hosts that claimed the lead, Jenner’s tenacity following Roddis’s crossfield pass being followed by a neat finish from a narrow angle by the city striker for his eighth score of the campaign.
Troke brought off two fine saves to deny Stevenage an equaliser, while a fine last-ditch tackle from Hylton prevented Gilbert getting in a close range effort.
With Townsend employed to negate the influential Stevenage midfielder Laird after the latter’s mazy run had almost brought his team level, the hosts were doing well to stem the flow and at the other end Jenner twice went close to adding a second. Firstly the pacey frontman saw his effort following Pledger’s corner cleared off the line before his header at the far post after a great right wing cross from Coldridge was scrambled clear, Bettles bravely blocking Pledger’s follow up.
It had been a great team effort from all the Gloucester players to reach the interval a goal to the good, but ninety seconds after the restart Stevenage were level. The hosts failed to clear Bloxham’s right wing corner and Cook was on hand to extricate the ball from the resulting goalmouth melee before stabbing in the equaliser.
While this setback would have been expected to provide the scorers with the momentum to go on to turn the game to their advantage, the city side initially worked hard to ensure they didn’t concede a second before going on to reclaim the lead on the forty minute mark.
Richards’ right wing corner found its way to Gore who, from just inside the penalty area, arrowed a great drive into the bottom corner.
Four minutes later Gloucester extended their lead yet further, a fine run and cross from Coldridge was met by an equally fine header from Roddis that gave Bettles no chance whatsoever.
The city side was now enjoying a period of ascendancy, Gore driving just wide of the far post, while the elusive Jenner twice lost his marker to go within inches of increasing the margin.
As the rain lashed down midway through the second half back came Stevenage, Brass reducing the arrears after cutting in from the left to loop an effort into the top far corner. Laying siege to the home goal, the visitors went close on several occasions, Troke saving well from close range to thwart Cook and both Weir-Roberts and Hylton scrambling the ball to safety from within their own penalty box.
Coldridge and Gore worked tremendously hard in supporting the defensive widemen, while Roddis and Townsend never stopped running in support of stalwart centre back Richards who turned in another excellent rearguard display.
With the game moving into injury time and the clock ticking down Gloucester won three successive corners, and as the third flag kick was cleared the clock gave its final tock to leave the city team celebrating an incredibly hard-earned victory over a fine Stevenage outfit.
Gloucester: Troke; Weir-Roberts, Richards, Hylton; Townsend, Roddis, Gore, Pledger; Jenner. Sub: Coldridge.
Stevenage played with the elements in their favour during the first half at a rain-soaked Longlevens and the homesters were indebted to some resolute defending from Richards, Weir-Roberts and Hylton who, together with the hard-working midfielders Roddis, Gore, Pledger, Townsend and Coldridge did well to prevent the visitors from gaining an early advantage.
The Hertfordshire team was enjoying the majority of possession but it was the hosts that claimed the lead, Jenner’s tenacity following Roddis’s crossfield pass being followed by a neat finish from a narrow angle by the city striker for his eighth score of the campaign.
Troke brought off two fine saves to deny Stevenage an equaliser, while a fine last-ditch tackle from Hylton prevented Gilbert getting in a close range effort.
With Townsend employed to negate the influential Stevenage midfielder Laird after the latter’s mazy run had almost brought his team level, the hosts were doing well to stem the flow and at the other end Jenner twice went close to adding a second. Firstly the pacey frontman saw his effort following Pledger’s corner cleared off the line before his header at the far post after a great right wing cross from Coldridge was scrambled clear, Bettles bravely blocking Pledger’s follow up.
It had been a great team effort from all the Gloucester players to reach the interval a goal to the good, but ninety seconds after the restart Stevenage were level. The hosts failed to clear Bloxham’s right wing corner and Cook was on hand to extricate the ball from the resulting goalmouth melee before stabbing in the equaliser.
While this setback would have been expected to provide the scorers with the momentum to go on to turn the game to their advantage, the city side initially worked hard to ensure they didn’t concede a second before going on to reclaim the lead on the forty minute mark.
Richards’ right wing corner found its way to Gore who, from just inside the penalty area, arrowed a great drive into the bottom corner.
Four minutes later Gloucester extended their lead yet further, a fine run and cross from Coldridge was met by an equally fine header from Roddis that gave Bettles no chance whatsoever.
The city side was now enjoying a period of ascendancy, Gore driving just wide of the far post, while the elusive Jenner twice lost his marker to go within inches of increasing the margin.
As the rain lashed down midway through the second half back came Stevenage, Brass reducing the arrears after cutting in from the left to loop an effort into the top far corner. Laying siege to the home goal, the visitors went close on several occasions, Troke saving well from close range to thwart Cook and both Weir-Roberts and Hylton scrambling the ball to safety from within their own penalty box.
Coldridge and Gore worked tremendously hard in supporting the defensive widemen, while Roddis and Townsend never stopped running in support of stalwart centre back Richards who turned in another excellent rearguard display.
With the game moving into injury time and the clock ticking down Gloucester won three successive corners, and as the third flag kick was cleared the clock gave its final tock to leave the city team celebrating an incredibly hard-earned victory over a fine Stevenage outfit.
Gloucester: Troke; Weir-Roberts, Richards, Hylton; Townsend, Roddis, Gore, Pledger; Jenner. Sub: Coldridge.
