Gloucestershire Football Association

Representative Team Match Report

Gloucestershire FA hosted Berks & Bucks FA in the group stages of the South West Counties Championship on Sunday 18th January.

Gloucestershire were looking into making it two wins out of two and fielded a strong squad that has been fairly settled throughout the season.

Playing with four very attack minded players in Ollie Knight (Forest Green Rovers), Ryhs Hodgson (Bristol Manor farm), Jordan Molyneux (Gloucester City) and Jack Holmes (Forest Green Rovers) Gloucestershire were straight away on the front foot with the first opening coming directly from kick off, with a near post cross from Holmes being cut-out by a retreating Berks and Bucks defender.

As the half wore on Ollie Knight on the left was proving to be a thorn in the visitor’s side with several runs down the left flank.

However Gloucestershire struggled to get numbers into the box to match the strong running of Knight.

Berks & Bucks FA then decided to alter the starting formation and reverted from a three man defence to a four man defence. This change enabled them to become more of an attacking threat. However in form keeper Josh Langley (Cirencester Town) made several key saves to prevent the visitors taking the lead.

Gloucestershire started the second half brightly but had to wait until the 60th minute to make the break through. Jordan Molyneaux received the ball with his back to goal in a congested penalty area, but showed good footwork to evade two defenders and fire a low shot into the back of the net.

Shortly afterwards, Gloucestershire managed to make it two when Harry Churchley (Gloucester City) shot from 12 yards and watched as the ball went into the bottom corner giving the keeper no chance.

At this stage Gloucestershire were on top and enjoyed a good spell of dominance, however a lapse in concentration with 10 minutes to go saw Berks & Bucks pull a goal back with a well headed finish from a corner.

This made for a nervous remaining 10 minutes however Gloucestershire managed to maintain their lead and make it a deserved two wins from two.