Gloucester B 3-0 Aston by Happy Again
Aston travelled further than they had ever done before, for this Midland Challenge Trophy fixture at Longlevens.
With the wind at their backs in the first half, the visitors were eager to impress, as indeed were their hosts who were keen to put the previous week’s disappointing performance behind them. This resulted in a fast and furious start with the next tackle never far away.
All of Gloucester’s best opportunities of the half came courtesy of good wing play, Randall and Williamson driving down the flanks and delivering quality crosses on numerous occasions, but nobody managed to get on the end of any of them.
For their part, Aston’s main attacking threat came through the centre. Three shots in quick succession were saved by keeper Sargeant, while a free kick from distance further tested the keeper, but he superbly pushed the ball onto the bar to deny Hegarty an opening goal. The half appropriately ended all square, but the nil-nil scoreline was certainly not indicative of the endeavours of the two sides.
Early in the second half, Randall continued his great personal display by closing down the left back quickly, winning the ball and crossing for Harris to tap-in following the keeper’s initial save. With their tales up, the home side began to pour forward, Fortey at the centre of most things yellow and when the tenacious Limbrick won the ball on the right hand side and fed Randall, Harris knew where to be and turned the winger’s cross in for a quick-fire brace.
As Aston began to regroup, the city defensive unit of Ansermoz, Thomas, Hayes and Laverton were equal to all they could muster before Taylor put the result beyond doubt with a lovely quick turn and strike for Gloucester’s third.
Thomas got the sizeable crowd going with a late, lung-busting run across the pitch in his own half and right the way down to the opposition by-line before still managing to get his cross in.
An exciting game played in a great spirit from start to finish, The Yellows finally running out winners by three goals to nil.
Gloucester: Sargeant; Thomas, Ansermoz, Lavender; Randall, Limbrick, Taylor, Williamson; Harris; Hates, Fortey.
With the wind at their backs in the first half, the visitors were eager to impress, as indeed were their hosts who were keen to put the previous week’s disappointing performance behind them. This resulted in a fast and furious start with the next tackle never far away.
All of Gloucester’s best opportunities of the half came courtesy of good wing play, Randall and Williamson driving down the flanks and delivering quality crosses on numerous occasions, but nobody managed to get on the end of any of them.
For their part, Aston’s main attacking threat came through the centre. Three shots in quick succession were saved by keeper Sargeant, while a free kick from distance further tested the keeper, but he superbly pushed the ball onto the bar to deny Hegarty an opening goal. The half appropriately ended all square, but the nil-nil scoreline was certainly not indicative of the endeavours of the two sides.
Early in the second half, Randall continued his great personal display by closing down the left back quickly, winning the ball and crossing for Harris to tap-in following the keeper’s initial save. With their tales up, the home side began to pour forward, Fortey at the centre of most things yellow and when the tenacious Limbrick won the ball on the right hand side and fed Randall, Harris knew where to be and turned the winger’s cross in for a quick-fire brace.
As Aston began to regroup, the city defensive unit of Ansermoz, Thomas, Hayes and Laverton were equal to all they could muster before Taylor put the result beyond doubt with a lovely quick turn and strike for Gloucester’s third.
Thomas got the sizeable crowd going with a late, lung-busting run across the pitch in his own half and right the way down to the opposition by-line before still managing to get his cross in.
An exciting game played in a great spirit from start to finish, The Yellows finally running out winners by three goals to nil.
Gloucester: Sargeant; Thomas, Ansermoz, Lavender; Randall, Limbrick, Taylor, Williamson; Harris; Hates, Fortey.
