Cheltenham United made it 8 wins from 8 in a decent game in Cheltenham League Division 6. Civil Service started the brighter with thier largely more experienced side passing the ball around well and benefitted from the experience of a couple of thier 1st team players who had dropped to play after thier first team game was called off. Civil Service were generally restricted to long range efforts but did beat the offside trap on a couple of occasions but the finish lacked composure each time and United keeper Harper did not have to make the save. Civil Service were on top and only some fine defending from Martyn New in particular stopped them from having more of a sight of goal. United made the breakthrough in controversial fassion just after the half hour as the ball was played over the top of the high Civil Service backline who appealled for offside against Lawrence who did not chase the ball as he was in an offside position with Gilbert running from midfield from an onside position before squaring the ball for Steve New to sidefoot home in a great display of refereeing. Civil Service appealled to the referee but it was in vain. United started to attack and were awarded a penalty when Steve New was free of the last defender and crudely chopped down in the box for a penalty to be awarded only for the linesman to flag saying that it was a dive and the referee changed his mind in a bizarre course of events that ended the half. Civil Service began the second half with all guns blazing looking for an equaliser and got it on the hour when after passing the ball down the right wing thier forward squared it for his strike partner who was unmarked and tapped home. United tried to hit back as Meadows headed a Dymock corner at goal just to see the keeper make a last ditch save with Lawrence, Gilbert and Marshall getting shots away aswell. United regained the lead when the ball deflected into the Civil Service area with Lawrence quickest to react to skilfully beat the keeper as the Civil Service backline stood and watched. Lawrence who had been running the Civil Service defence ragged all afternoon then got his second as he recieved a pass from Steve New before lashing the ball into the far corner of the goal via a slight deflection. United then survived a scare as Marshall seemed to clip the heels of the Civil Service forward who saw his penalty appeals waved away before Lawrence who was hungry for his hat trick managed to beat his man before firing across the keeper only to see his shot hit the inside of the far post and roll along the line and out. Lawrence did get the hat trick his performance deserved as he worked his way into the area following a pass from Marshall and finished it off to give him 7 goals in 2 games. United brought on Brookes and Jenkins for injured duo Jon and Colin Marriott and it nearly paid off straight away as Jenkins slotted a delightfull ball through for Lawrence that disected the Civil Service defence perfectly although the defender managed to clear this time. The final whistle went soon after to signal a great result for the league leaders.
