Match report: Gloucester 4’s vs Winchcombe 1’s Away – 23 November 2024
It was a fine winters day with a mild breeze and hint of rain as Gloucester 4’s made the journey northeast to face the league leaders, Winchcombe 1’s.
This was a top vs bottom of the table clash and promised to be a tough challenge for the mighty 4’s. As a result, the team arrived early and earnestly set about their rigorous pre-match training routine of milling about and discussing important topics like the weather and rugby, occasionally interrupted with talk of hockey tactics and starting lineups.
With the previous match having gone overtime and a paucity of hockey balls, the 4’s made the best of their on field time to practice some shooting at the goals. By this time, the pitch lights were on, as it was dark but the rain had stayed away.
The game started with the 4’s holding their own against the overwhelming bookies favourites and, for a short time, it seemed as though they would offer Winchcombe some stern resistance.
Winchcombe, however, managed to break through Gloucester’s defence to open their account fairly early in the half. Gloucester then rallied and Finley rounded off a fantastic breakaway led by Matt and Ethyn that brought the scores level.
Unfortunately, this was not a sign of Gloucester taking the game and, just as the rain started to come down, Winchcombe settled into their work and were regularly able to score throughout the rest of the half. Gloucester’s attacks were few and far between, but they managed to get another goal through a well worked short corner. Aki deceiving the Winchcombe defender with a hit that looked a lot harder than it was and the ball bobbled into the corner of the goal.
By the end of the first half, Winchcombe had scored 8 with Gloucester’s 2 in reply. Gloucester was staring down the barrel of a large scoreline.
What Gloucester needed now was a rousing half time speech and, in what was reminiscent of the great speeches from movies such as Remember the Titans and the Mighty Ducks, that was exactly what they got. Motivational phrases like ‘we need to work harder’, ‘even your mom is saying you are not working hard enough’, ‘control the ball’, ‘don’t pass to the opposition’ were used to good affect and at the start of the second half it was evident that a more steely Gloucester team took to the pitch.
The second half was much improved, with Finley at left midfield locking down their attacks on our left flank. Angus, Theo, IanP and Adam working hard in the middle and denying them space to manoeuvre and Ethyn and Matt up front providing a good outlet for when we won the ball. This all helped the defensive unit keep a clean sheet for the entire half.
Gloucester were able to threaten Winchcombe’s goal a few times in this half and right at the end of the game managed to secure a short corner that Aki deftly put away in the right corner of the goal.
At the end, Winchcombe were clear winners at 8-3 but Gloucester had shown tremendous fighting spirit, winning the second half 1-0. A thoroughly enjoyable game with Gloucester showing serious promise in the second half.
MoM: Ethyn
Special Mention: Finley; Had a great game, particularly good in second half