Premier Division
Slimbridge FC 5 Pegasus Juniors 1
Tuesday, 24 August 2004
The visitors, after their disappointing performance at the weekend, were first to show a positive goal scoring opportunity when in the eighth minute a Ben Price cross field ball found Laurence Helme on the edge of the penalty area he shot at goal was competently saved by home keeper Ryan Chandler. Helme repaid the compliment but the pass was only just intercepted by Leon Stirling before reaching Price. It was not until the thirteenth minute that Slimbridge created a threatening move after some neat inter play in midfield when Danny Thorpe also fired at keeper Scott Hodgetts. A second opportunity was created by the home side when Ross Casey fired wide from a good position. Chris Mortlock forced his way into the penalty box after he received a pass from Price but his shot was deflected for a comer kick. The home defence failed to clear the corner kick and Darren Braithwaite playing his last game before moving to Derby with his work lashed the ball against the outside of the far upright. Just before the half hour superb work by Hodgetts saved the blushes of Steve Aubrey after he lost possession to Julian Freeman on the eighteen yard line, when he plucked the ball off the boot of the striker as he tried to go around the goal minder. Slimbridge took the lead against the run of play when Freeman made amends for his previous failure to score when he found space on the right before he drilled a fine shot past Hodgetts straight for the far post, the ball was deflected inside the near post by Richard Harrison in a desperate attempt the clear the ball.
Half Time: 1-0
Shortly after the break Daniel Sobocinski found Price he took one touch of the ball before striking the ball towards the top corner of the goal that forced a great one handed save from Chandler, the loose ball was hacked clear by a defender; Casey gained possession and made progress in the space vacated by Sobocinski, he crossed the ball to Mike Green, his shot hit the crossbar but remaining in play, the Hereford side attacked but lost possession on the edge of the home penalty box. A swift counter attack produced the second goal of the evening when Jon Embling scored with a fine shot from twenty five yards much to the dismay of the small band of travelling supporters. This initially took the sting out of the young Pegasus side but they soon regained their composure when the ever influential Leigh Harris fired a shot close to the up right and Harrison forced his way into the penalty box at the expense of a corner kick. Slimbridge increased their advantage on the break once again when Freeman was on hand to score. Pegasus clawed their way back into contention following a fine period of possession football before forcing a corner kick. Chandler palmed the ball clear before Rob Laurie drilled the ball into net through a crowded area. Three minutes later, the visitors should have doubled their tally, when Sobocinski received a defence splitting pass from Harris, he lobbed the ball over the advancing Chandler but the ball somehow missed the target. This disappointment was compounded when Casey immediately scored from a corner kick. This rocked the visitors and their disappointment was increased when James Ackland scored just before the final whistle.
Both teams contributed to a very entertaining, attractive free flowing game of football that was a credit to the league, however, the visiting youngsters must learn from the disappointment.
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