Deja Vue prevails, once again we arrive in Bath without the Longlevens two. Aitchenson and Hardcastle preferring the home comforts that isolation brings to the usual windy and rainy Lansdown fields for the Southern Counties League Cup 1st round competition.

Liggett, taking the gloves for the first two games, looked comfortable behind the defensive line of Harvey, Saunders and Lucas against a strong Plymouth side in the opening encounter. Even though the Pilgims played some great football it took a long-range effort that caught the wind and sailed over Liggett’s head to defeat a spirited Gloucester team.

The second match against bath A saw the yellows start well and have the better of the opening exchanges with Giddy, Hill, Neate and Clarke on top in midfield but for some reason the intensity dropped and Bath were allowed to gain a foothold in the game and gradually gain the upper hand. It was no real surprise that the home side took the lead and were able to maintain it to the end.

Obviously the ‘B’s were saving themselves for their encounter with Gloucester A. Eager to maintain the unbeaten record of the B’s against their illustrious counterparts, all were magnificent. They not only matched the blacks but actually played the better football and thoroughly deserved their two-nil victory. The first goal resulted from a barnstorming run by Lucas, the defender having a fantastic tournament, ran and tackled half of the A team before Jonny lashed the ball home. Gladding set up Jonny for the second in similar fashion, ploughing through two challenges before Jonny fired in. Keeper Clarke had little to do in the yellows goal having replaced Liggett, who made the most of his return to the outfield with a fine display. A game in which all can be proud of their performances.

In the fourth and final game, Gloucester ran out two-nil winners against Bath B. A little of after the lord mayors show but the boys still managed to win comfortably. Giddy bundling home the first and Jonny, gaining his third of the tournament, wrapped up the scoring.

Two wins and two losses resulting in a third-place finish is a good return for Gloucester B. Four very different performances will mean they will progress to either the second round or enter the intermediate shield competition dependent upon results from other tournaments.