Swindon 4-1 Gloucester by Frustratedcityman
Gloucester B travelled the relatively short distance to the superb Gerard Buxton Sports Ground for a Shires Cup first round tie against Swindon - and for the first time this season an awayday was not accompanied by torrential rain.
Swindon began the game on the offensive with the visitors making life easy for them by showing a reluctance to engage with the home side.
The only surprise was that it took eight minutes for the first strike on goal to be made, a well struck shot from the edge of the area from Beale rebounding off the bar; Gloucester’s first attempt five minutes later saw Harris test the keeper.
Two routine saves from Sargeant followed by a brave save at the feet of two advancing Swindon strikers maintained parity, while a short period of pressure from the away side gave Williamson an opportunity but the keeper saved well, and then repeated the feat to keep out Laverton‘s follow up.
Gloucester were unable to deal with a long ball through the middle, allowing it bounce in to the path of Reivers who unchallenged lobbed the ball in to give the hosts the lead. Right on half time the visitors broke away from sustained Swindon pressure to score an unlikely equaliser, Thomas latching on to good work by Taylor to fire home a great left footed shot from 15 yards out.
The Yellows had their best spell of the game after the resumption, but it was to be Swindon who took the lead once again, Ricks striking high into the net having not been closed down effectively.
Williamson and three efforts from Taylor all went close as Gloucester forced the home side back. With Hayes and Limbrick competing well defensively and Thomas and Laverton doing likewise in midfield the stage was set for the visitors to make a comeback, but two quickfire goals from Gallagher and Allbright settled the tie for the hosts.
Both strikes were avoidable, nobody taking responsibility to close down or challenge even though the attacks started in Swindon’s own half. Swindon fully deserved to progress through to the next round however as Gloucester were, for most of the game, well below par and made too many simple errors.
If the many lessons to be learned from this game are taken on board, then it may turn out to be a useful exercise in the end, but it will require some honesty and effort from all concerned to do this.
Gloucester: Sargeant; Ansermoz, Hayes, Thomas, Limbrick, Laverton, Randall, Williamson, Harris, Taylor
Swindon began the game on the offensive with the visitors making life easy for them by showing a reluctance to engage with the home side.
The only surprise was that it took eight minutes for the first strike on goal to be made, a well struck shot from the edge of the area from Beale rebounding off the bar; Gloucester’s first attempt five minutes later saw Harris test the keeper.
Two routine saves from Sargeant followed by a brave save at the feet of two advancing Swindon strikers maintained parity, while a short period of pressure from the away side gave Williamson an opportunity but the keeper saved well, and then repeated the feat to keep out Laverton‘s follow up.
Gloucester were unable to deal with a long ball through the middle, allowing it bounce in to the path of Reivers who unchallenged lobbed the ball in to give the hosts the lead. Right on half time the visitors broke away from sustained Swindon pressure to score an unlikely equaliser, Thomas latching on to good work by Taylor to fire home a great left footed shot from 15 yards out.
The Yellows had their best spell of the game after the resumption, but it was to be Swindon who took the lead once again, Ricks striking high into the net having not been closed down effectively.
Williamson and three efforts from Taylor all went close as Gloucester forced the home side back. With Hayes and Limbrick competing well defensively and Thomas and Laverton doing likewise in midfield the stage was set for the visitors to make a comeback, but two quickfire goals from Gallagher and Allbright settled the tie for the hosts.
Both strikes were avoidable, nobody taking responsibility to close down or challenge even though the attacks started in Swindon’s own half. Swindon fully deserved to progress through to the next round however as Gloucester were, for most of the game, well below par and made too many simple errors.
If the many lessons to be learned from this game are taken on board, then it may turn out to be a useful exercise in the end, but it will require some honesty and effort from all concerned to do this.
Gloucester: Sargeant; Ansermoz, Hayes, Thomas, Limbrick, Laverton, Randall, Williamson, Harris, Taylor
