Sunday 13th September 2009 - Gloucester City Reserves (A)

An 11 goal thriller was in store on this first away trip, not the nicest changing facilities less said the better. The pitch was flat but open to the elements and on this occasion a stiff breeze blowing diagonally from corner to corner with the sun trying to warm the afternoon up.

The game started with Gloucester only having 10 players but as last week very tidy and composed on the ball. Even with ten players they were a threat going forward and were very much on top, after ten minutes panic in the Bassett defence when Leah Blanchard called and came for a cross but missed. She was let off when the Gloucester city forward failed to connect, no such luck 5 minutes later a good sharp turn on the edge of the box leaving the Bassett defence flat footed followed with a thumping a shot into the net, 1-0 Gloucester.

The lead only lasted 7 minutes a little bit of fortune in the build up, against the run of play a corner from Kate Bonser was only half cleared inside the box the ball fell to Joni Warner whose snap shot got deflected off a defender and looped over the keeper and was tapped into the net on the goal line by Alyson Lyons to make it one all.

Bassett had grown in confidence with the goal and went looking for another, a strong run up field by Amy Longo where she forced another corner, from the resulting corner Jenna McFadzean found herself unmarked on the edge of the six yard box and was able to stab the ball home to make it 2-1 Bassett.

Bassett ahead but not for long, Gloucester taking centre and four passes later Leah Blanchard was picking the ball out of the net after being left 1 on 1 with a Gloucester forward Almost on half time Bassett gained the lead again this time Katie Bonser letting fly from twenty yards a speculative shot that the keeper could only palm into her own net. 3-2 Bassett half time

Second half started with both sides having players caring knocks, Gwen Hopkins replaced Joni Warner in the centre of midfield. The game was still in the balance with no side having total control, the game was starting to get stretch, when on 55 minutes Gloucester won a free kick on the edge of the Bassett box, the result a powerful shot which took a slight deflection of a defender taking it past Leah Blanchard into the Bassett net to make it 3-3.

Game on again all to play for the next goal went to Bassett again on 59 minutes more luck than judgement a cross from Amy Longo found Alyson Lyons on the edge of the box who's missed timed pass caught the wind and looped over the keeper dropping into the net to make it 4-3 Bassett. Could Bassett hold the lead, the answer only for five minutes the Bassett defence were caught high and flat as a Gloucester forward broke away a calm finish giving Leah Blanchard no chance. 25 minutes left of the game both sides were looking tired Gloucester were pushing forward looking to take the lead but got caught when Gwen Hopkins won the ball in midfield releasing Jenna McFadzean who raced down field rounded the keeper to score from close range. This goal was the turning point of the game Gloucester's 10 players had run out of legs, and Jenna McFadzean went on a mini rampage scoring 2 more goals on 84 & 89 minutes to wrap up a pulsating game

Gloucester City Reserves 4 Wootton Bassett Town 7

Player of the game: Jenna Mcfadzean for her cool finishing.

Team: Leah Blanchard, Becky Gammon, Megan James , Charlotte Burke (capt), Samantha Wood, Amy Longo, Joni Warner, Kate Bonser, Rachel Hawkins, Jenna Mcfadzean, Alyson Lyons, Gwen Hopkins

Last modified on Monday 22nd June 2015 at 23:39