Gloucester 3-2 Potters Bar
Gloucester Primary Schools’ B squad kicked off their campaign with an enthralling match against North London side Potters Bar, as bright sunshine and a pitch in magnificent condition greeted the visitors.
Potters Bar were quickly into their stride and had the better of the early exchanges, but the home side soon found their feet and began to match them tackle for tackle. Taylor and Arrowsmith were particularly excellent in the centre of midfield, winning many challenges and distributing the ball well.
Campbell’s energetic display meanwhile was typified when he made a charging run down the right and then the long run back to his own penalty area to break up the resultant counter attack. Cornwell in the Gloucester goal needed to make two saves to maintain parity, the second of which was a fantastic effort at full stretch when Reynolds’ header seemed destined to find the net.
The home side’s first real opportunity fell to Lock, who made a strong run through on goal but his shot went just the wrong side of the upright. His second run and subsequent cross found Arrowsmith at the far post but the midfielder was unable to sort his feet out and the chance went begging.
Arrowsmith showed great character though as his next touch was a perfect through ball to set Lock on his way once more and this time the striker held off the defender, rounded the keeper and slotted the ball home to give the homesters the lead. Flatt nearly doubled the advantage with a fine run and shot but the ‘keeper was equal to it as the first half ended with the hosts a goal to the good.
The visitors began the second period in determined fashion and equalised just two minutes in. A free-kick from distance by Keller evaded everyone and bounced straight into the far corner. With their tails up the away side were now dominant and were soon in the lead, Wingate making a run across goal and slotting the ball low into the far corner.
This seemed to spur on Gloucester and they started to force the Bar back. With Fieldhouse and Inyinbor finding space to make surging runs down the flanks, The Yellows enjoyed a period of dominance and Taylor scored a deserved equaliser with a powerful driving run that saw him win two challenges and evade the outcoming ‘keeper before calmly rolling the ball into the empty goal.
Skipper Irvine, Harding, Cooper and Campbell were resolute in defence and repelled all the North Londoners could muster until, with only a few minutes to go, Taylor set Lock off on another of his strong runs and the striker again held off the visiting defenders and neatly fired past the advancing ‘keeper to give his side a 3-2 victory in a very entertaining game.
Gloucester: Cornwell; Campbell, Irvine, Cooper; Flatt, Taylor, Arrowsmith, Fieldhouse; Lock. Subs: Harding, Inyinbor.
Potters Bar were quickly into their stride and had the better of the early exchanges, but the home side soon found their feet and began to match them tackle for tackle. Taylor and Arrowsmith were particularly excellent in the centre of midfield, winning many challenges and distributing the ball well.
Campbell’s energetic display meanwhile was typified when he made a charging run down the right and then the long run back to his own penalty area to break up the resultant counter attack. Cornwell in the Gloucester goal needed to make two saves to maintain parity, the second of which was a fantastic effort at full stretch when Reynolds’ header seemed destined to find the net.
The home side’s first real opportunity fell to Lock, who made a strong run through on goal but his shot went just the wrong side of the upright. His second run and subsequent cross found Arrowsmith at the far post but the midfielder was unable to sort his feet out and the chance went begging.
Arrowsmith showed great character though as his next touch was a perfect through ball to set Lock on his way once more and this time the striker held off the defender, rounded the keeper and slotted the ball home to give the homesters the lead. Flatt nearly doubled the advantage with a fine run and shot but the ‘keeper was equal to it as the first half ended with the hosts a goal to the good.
The visitors began the second period in determined fashion and equalised just two minutes in. A free-kick from distance by Keller evaded everyone and bounced straight into the far corner. With their tails up the away side were now dominant and were soon in the lead, Wingate making a run across goal and slotting the ball low into the far corner.
This seemed to spur on Gloucester and they started to force the Bar back. With Fieldhouse and Inyinbor finding space to make surging runs down the flanks, The Yellows enjoyed a period of dominance and Taylor scored a deserved equaliser with a powerful driving run that saw him win two challenges and evade the outcoming ‘keeper before calmly rolling the ball into the empty goal.
Skipper Irvine, Harding, Cooper and Campbell were resolute in defence and repelled all the North Londoners could muster until, with only a few minutes to go, Taylor set Lock off on another of his strong runs and the striker again held off the visiting defenders and neatly fired past the advancing ‘keeper to give his side a 3-2 victory in a very entertaining game.
Gloucester: Cornwell; Campbell, Irvine, Cooper; Flatt, Taylor, Arrowsmith, Fieldhouse; Lock. Subs: Harding, Inyinbor.
