Gloucester B 3-1 St Albans B by Sicky McSickerson
After a relatively poor month leading up to the festive period and having not done much sport during the intervening weeks, the hosts were looking to start 2018 with a much-needed improved performance - and this is what they gave, for a half at least.
The ever-disabling Manflu had hit half the coaching staff and some sort of illness must have hit Ansermoz, as halfway through the second half it was noticed that the young defender had forgotten to put on his football shorts and had been playing in just a pair of tights...or skins...whatever they're called! Coach Harris shook his head and wondered whether he's even remotely surprised by anything anymore.
Gloucester started the game as though they had been the ones who had travelled for two hours plus and quickly let in the opening goal. Good work from the visitors down the right led Mason to cross into the box. With the home team failing to clear, the Blues’ very own Freddie took one touch to the right and slotted the ball past Sargeant to continue the pressure on the Yellows.
St Albans, now in the ascendancy, continued to pressure the Gloucester area. More good work down the right led to Mason and Cooper one-two-ing the ball round Limbrick and shooting towards the bottom corner. Sargeant, on his toes however, pounced down to his right to thwart the visitors’ efforts to extend their advantage.
In what continued to be a relatively scrappy first half, Gloucester finally got their first chance at the St Albans goal just before the break. A corner from Fortey found its way through the area to Randall. His first time shot was stopped on the line, but the ball only went as far as Thomas whose rebound shot was also blocked on the line before being cleared.
Gloucester started the second half in better fashion and quickly reaped their reward. A throw-in from the left was cleared, but only to the edge of the area where Limbrick was waiting. With one touch to the left he unleashed a delicate shot towards the bottom corner to bag his first goal of the season and cost his Mum the price of a takeaway.
Another good opportunity for Gloucester saw stalwart Hayes clear towards the opposition area. Harris brought the ball down perfectly for Fortey to try and loop over the goalkeeper, but the shot was saved well by Soll.
The home team's pressure paid off when short-less Ansermoz won the ball on the right and passed inwards to Fortey. His through-ball to Thomas was cut out, but Thomas won the ball back and fed through to our very own Freddie. One good touch towards goal, he then slotted it perfectly past Soll in the Saints’ goal.
The difference between the two halves (in what was a relatively scrappy affair) was that St Albans were winning more tackles in the first half (which they won) and Gloucester were winning more in the second (which they won). This led perfectly to the third and final goal for the homesters. Laverton won the ball back in our own half and led us forward with the help of Thomas who stepped up the charge. His pass to Williamson saw the winger take the ball past the right back and cross. The cross, with a 'slight' deflection, headed goalbound and in to give a bit of comfort and allow the hosts to see out the game.
With Gloucester's shape still looking strong, it was St Albans that created the final couple of chances, albeit from outside the area. However, both long-range efforts were well saved by Sargeant, first down to his right and then to his left to thwart any chance the visitors had of forcing the homesters to endure a nervous ending.
A much better performance (second half in particular) to give the Bs two wins out of two in the Geoff Richards League.
Gloucester: Sargeant; Limbrick, Hayes, Williamson, Randall, Laverton, Fortey, Taylor, Thomas, Harris, Ansermoz.
The ever-disabling Manflu had hit half the coaching staff and some sort of illness must have hit Ansermoz, as halfway through the second half it was noticed that the young defender had forgotten to put on his football shorts and had been playing in just a pair of tights...or skins...whatever they're called! Coach Harris shook his head and wondered whether he's even remotely surprised by anything anymore.
Gloucester started the game as though they had been the ones who had travelled for two hours plus and quickly let in the opening goal. Good work from the visitors down the right led Mason to cross into the box. With the home team failing to clear, the Blues’ very own Freddie took one touch to the right and slotted the ball past Sargeant to continue the pressure on the Yellows.
St Albans, now in the ascendancy, continued to pressure the Gloucester area. More good work down the right led to Mason and Cooper one-two-ing the ball round Limbrick and shooting towards the bottom corner. Sargeant, on his toes however, pounced down to his right to thwart the visitors’ efforts to extend their advantage.
In what continued to be a relatively scrappy first half, Gloucester finally got their first chance at the St Albans goal just before the break. A corner from Fortey found its way through the area to Randall. His first time shot was stopped on the line, but the ball only went as far as Thomas whose rebound shot was also blocked on the line before being cleared.
Gloucester started the second half in better fashion and quickly reaped their reward. A throw-in from the left was cleared, but only to the edge of the area where Limbrick was waiting. With one touch to the left he unleashed a delicate shot towards the bottom corner to bag his first goal of the season and cost his Mum the price of a takeaway.
Another good opportunity for Gloucester saw stalwart Hayes clear towards the opposition area. Harris brought the ball down perfectly for Fortey to try and loop over the goalkeeper, but the shot was saved well by Soll.
The home team's pressure paid off when short-less Ansermoz won the ball on the right and passed inwards to Fortey. His through-ball to Thomas was cut out, but Thomas won the ball back and fed through to our very own Freddie. One good touch towards goal, he then slotted it perfectly past Soll in the Saints’ goal.
The difference between the two halves (in what was a relatively scrappy affair) was that St Albans were winning more tackles in the first half (which they won) and Gloucester were winning more in the second (which they won). This led perfectly to the third and final goal for the homesters. Laverton won the ball back in our own half and led us forward with the help of Thomas who stepped up the charge. His pass to Williamson saw the winger take the ball past the right back and cross. The cross, with a 'slight' deflection, headed goalbound and in to give a bit of comfort and allow the hosts to see out the game.
With Gloucester's shape still looking strong, it was St Albans that created the final couple of chances, albeit from outside the area. However, both long-range efforts were well saved by Sargeant, first down to his right and then to his left to thwart any chance the visitors had of forcing the homesters to endure a nervous ending.
A much better performance (second half in particular) to give the Bs two wins out of two in the Geoff Richards League.
Gloucester: Sargeant; Limbrick, Hayes, Williamson, Randall, Laverton, Fortey, Taylor, Thomas, Harris, Ansermoz.
