CHELTENHAM UNITED 4
LECKHAMPTON ROVERS RESERVES 3
Cheltenham United and Leckhampton Rovers Reserves served up an absolute thriller in Cheltenham League Division 6 at Newlands Park. The game started slowly with both teams seemingly cancelling each other out. United went temporarily down to 10 men after thier first meaningful attack when Colin Marriott met a cross with his head only for the defender to scythe his legs out from underneath him in what looked like a potential penalty, both players landing in a heap and Colin Marriott suffering a gash to his chin that drew blood meaning he had to go off for attention. Rovers were enjoying a lot of joy down the left flank and although they were regularly working openings out wide their final ball always seemed to be lacking. Gilbert was next to test the Rovers keeper when Lawrence won a free kick right on the edge of the Rovers penalty area and from an angle Gilbert hammered the ball at goal which drew a fine save out of the keeper. Rovers eventually took the lead just after the half hour mark when a defensive mix up allowed the Rovers forward a run on goal and he flicked the ball beyond Chris Harper in the United goal. The returning Jenkins was cutting a lonely figure upfront for United in a lone striking role so manager Meadows from the sidelines decided to push Lawrence up with him and reshuffle into a 4-4-2 formation. This soon paid off as just before half time Dymock beat his marker wide on the left before floating a great ball into the box and with both defenders drawn to Jenkins it was left to top scorer Lawrence to work a yard of space before firing across the keeper and into the net for 1-1 at half time.
The second half kicked off much in the same as the first with both teams cancelling each other out although both teams seemed more determined to try and get the ball down and play football. Rovers began to threaten and took the lead 10 minutes in when a long punt into the box found thier forward who fired hard at goal from point blank range and although Chris Harper made a gallant attempt to save it, getting a hand on the ball it carried too much weight and ended up in the net for 1-2. Meadows then brought himself on for Surman in an attempt to shore up a creaky defence. United began to take control but were frequently guilty of overplaying it as Gilbert, Brookes and Colin Marriott looked to stamp thier authority of the game. Dymock was having a great game on the left wing and it was no surprise when he again beat his marker and crossed low across the 6 yard area with Jenkins expertly converting at the far post for 2-2. This was what United needed and they began to take control with Lawrence and Jenkins both getting shots away. United had to be on thier guard though as thier back line of Les Harper, Martyn New, Meadows and skipper Jonny Marriott stood firm coping with everything that Rovers could throw at them. United took the lead with 20 minutes to go when Lawrence crossed into the box from a free kick on the right with the ball dropping in between Colin Marriott and Meadows with the wily old veteran Marriott hooking the ball into the net to register his first goal for the club and put United 3-2 up. Back came Rovers again but United held firm. Marshall was brought on for the last 15 for the tiring Brookes to add a more physical presence to the United midfield. In heartbreaking fasion and with 89 minutes on the clock Rovers hit a long punt up the field which found its way to thier forward who finished it for 3-3. Rovers then brought the ball back to the halfway line in an effort to get the game started quicker, however this proved to be thier downfall as after United kicked off and passed it a few times, Lawrence put the ball through for the excellent Gilbert who took the ball into the area before beating the keeper at his near post to give United an unlikely 4-3 victory in a game which was a great advert for Division 6 and would have sent the spectators home happy.
