Under 9s Match Reports

Mid-Glos Mini Soccer - Central League
Saturday 19th April 2008

Another testing game to look forward to as the Gladiators went away to Frampton but with only a team of seven players and no reserves due to injury, etc, the challenge was on!
Shortly into the game, Dominic Perris scored a beautiful goal into the top right hand corner of the net to give the Gladiators the lead and put the home team on the back foot. But this was not for long as despite some excellent defending by Alex Fleming, Robbie Searle, Freddie Whittaker and great sweeping work by Michael Ashetton, Frampton levelled the scored by half time at 1-1.
The Gladiators' efforts continued in the second half and despite the excellent ball control and passing by Ben Vallender, Michael Ashetton and Dominic Perris, they were unable to score again. Frampton broke through the defence again taking the lead. In scoring their third goal, the striker's follow-through incapacitated keeper Edward James who was unable to complete the last eight minutes. With only six players and Robbie Searle playing keeper, despite their efforts two further goals were scored. Final score: 5-1 (The Gladiators did win the fun Penalties at the end)
Man of the Match: Abbeymead Rovers Gladiators - Alex Fleming; Frampton Youth United - Jonathan Lewis

Mid-Glos Mini Soccer - Central League
Saturday 5th April 2008 - Sorry for the late posting!

So one of the last three resheduled matches is played - The Gladiators away to Hucclecote Knights. Billed as "the local derby" by some - four boys from each of the two football clubs also play for the same "other football" club in Hucclecote (the RFC), there was always to be a little banter between players and parent/spectators. Nonetheless, the Gladiators set off well with Aiden Bonehill's goal closely followed by one from Dominic Perris and another by Aiden Bonehill from a Michael Ashetton cross - the whole team demonstrating some wonderful ball control, passing and steady positioning. One of the rare counter attacks by Hucclecote broke through the usual steady defence of Robbie Searle, Alex Fleming and Gregor Workman resulting in a very good save and control by keeper Edward James but he sustained a kick to the jaw that excluded him from the rest of the match - Hayden Lavender replaced him. At half time the Gladiators were 0-3 ahead.
In the second half, further substitutions saw a few players out of their usual place resulting in bunching and some confusion. Hucclecote took advantage of this but only managed to score once as they were thwarted by some excellent keeping by Hayden Lavender. The Gladiators scored again through Michael Asshetton taking advantage of a poor goal kick by Hucclecote. Final score 1-4.
Man of the Match: Abbeymead Gladiators - Hayden Lavender; Hucclecote Knights - Luke Dumagnez

Mid-Glos Mini Soccer - Central League
Saturday 22nd March 2008

Leaving the snow flurries at home, the Gladiators headed south - unfortunately the weather followed and so on a bitterly cold day, the Gladiators faced the Thornbury Falcons away. Despite the cold, the game set off at a good pace with a goal by Michael Asshetton which he followed soon after with another on the rebound from the Thornbury keeper. The Gladiators once again demonstrated some excellent passing and positional play dominating the field. Aiden Bonehill scored from a poor goal kick by Thornbury, Ben Vallender from an excellent corner by Michael Asshetton who then completed his hattrick shortly before half time when the Gladiators had five goals to nil.
Fighting against the cold, the second half continued much as the first half with good passing, defensive cover from front to back and consistent teamwork. Robbie Searle scored from a Michael Asshetton corner, Ben Vallender from an excellent Aiden Bonehill cross and the game was closed with a delightful goal by Alex Fleming. Another great game by the Gladiators finishing 0-8
Man of the Match: Abbeymead Rovers Gladiators - ; Thornbury Falcons Central -

Mid-Glos Mini Soccer - Central League
Saturday 15th March 2008

So the Gladiators came to the return match against League Leaders Wotton Rovers having been one of their toughest opponents this season. The Gladiators' first half was an excellent display of holding positions, accurate passing and communication particluar by Ben Vallender, Michael Asshetton, Dominic Perris and Aiden Bonehill. Despite the need for the defense in Alex Fleming and Robbie Searle to work very hard at times, the Gladiators had more of the ball and more attempts at goal than their visitors but it was still "nil all" at half time.
Suffering from a pre-match injury, keeper Edward James was replaced at half time by Hayden Lavender who acquitted himself well making some good saves and long kicks. Wotton broke through the tough defense just scoring to take the lead. The Gladiators attck was quick to respond and after all the accurate passing and near misses, Michael Asshetton scored from a Dominic Perris corner. A few minutes later Wotton put the Gladiators under a lot of pressure once more who in a rare moment of defensive confusion gave away an own goal. The Gladiators were unable to lift their game again and the game ended 1-2 to the visitors.
Man of the Match: Abbeymead Rovers - Robbie Searle; Wotton Rovers -

Mid-Glos Mini Soccer League
Saturday 8th March 2008

"An easy game" is what the Gladiators thought, but how wrong! In the first half the Gladiators forgot their positional play and even the passing that has proved so successful in the last few matches! Playing the first half uphill on a steeply sloping pitch, the Galdiators found it hard to finish any attacking move and with a very active Rodborough keeper and several crossbar stikes the Gladiators could not break through. At last following a risky multiple player substitution, the Gladiators managed to get a goal by Hayden Lavender from a corner by Alex Fleming. So the Gladiators went to half time leading by a goal to nil.

The second half was different. Now playing downhill, the Gladiators started to reform. Hayden lavender started the activity by scoring from an Alex Fleming/Aiden Bonehill combination. Rodborough Raiders gave them a "wake-up" call with an excellently played and struck goal. The tide then changed and remembering positions and passing, the goals started to come; Aiden Bonehill scored following a big kick from keeper Edward James and a little defensive confusion; Dominic Perris capitalised on a goal kick hitting the referee; Aiden Bonehill scored a tidy goal and Hayden Lavender completed his hatrick from a good cross by Dominic Perris. With some tidy defending by sweeper Ben Vallender, the omnipresent Michael Asshetton, Freddie Whittaker, Robbie Searle and Alex Fleming keeping it tidy the game was over.
Final score 1-6 (Did Coach Steve Vallender really walk home following the Lavender hatrick?)
Man of the Match: Abbeymead Rovers Gladiators - Hayden Lavender; Rodborough Raiders - Kieran Brydon (Goalkeeper)

Mid-Glos Mini Soccer League
Saturday 1st March 2008

After a two week rest, the Gladiators played the return leg away against Stonehouse Town Youth. Keeper Edward James who didn't feel well was rested for the first half with Hayden Lavender standing in and making a good save. Unfortuneately this was his only touch of the ball as the action was mainly in the other half. The scoring was started by Ben Vallender from a well struck freekick by Dominic Perris. The next was scored by Aiden Bonehill from a freekick taken by Michael Ashetton. Dominic Perris scored the third with Aiden Bonehill scoring twice more, once from a corner by Michael Ashetton and the second from a good cross by Gregor Workman. So with a lot of good and accurate passing of which Alex Fleming showed several excellent examples, the Gladiators went to half time five goals to nil ahead.

Welcoming back Freddie Whittaker, the second half continued in the same way with the Gladiators demonstrating good positional control and passing which again dominated the game and Robbie Searle coming forward as he had little to do in defense. Had it not been for Stonehouse's keeper and if the shooting had been more accurate, the score would indeed have been very high. Even so, further goals by Ben Vallender from a Dominic Perris' corner, a goal by Dominic Perris and finally by Aiden Bonehill finishing an attack led by Ben Vallender, finished the game 0-8. The Gladiators played a quality match.
Man of the Match: Abbeymead Rovers Gladiators - Dominic Perris; Stonehouse Town Youth - Sam Askew (goalkeeper)

Mid-Glos Mini Soccer League
Saturday 9th February 2008

Wow! - what a match! The game was set to be tough and indeed it was particularly so following the Gladiators worst defeat of the season in the earlier away match against Kings Stanley.

Both teams showed excellent ball control and accurate passing but Kings Stanley were sharper in the first half which resulted in a superb goal in the top right hand corner of the net and a second from a corner when in a moment of rare defensive confusion the Galdiators conceded an own goal. So to half time, two goals down but playing well and a bit unlucky not to have scored.

In the second half the first to strike in reply was Michael Assheton - a solo run taken all the way! Kings Stanley conceded several corners as the Gladiators piled on the pressure and a well struck corner kick by Michael Assheton caused them to have their moment of confusion and to concede an own goal. So at 2-2 with both the teams running their hearts out from end to end but not quite making it. In the last 15 minutes, the Galdiators scored another good team goal struck home by Ben Vallender to take the lead. Ten minutes later as the legs were getting weary, Kings Stanley broke through the defense to get the equaliser 3-3. The battle continued and shortly before the final whistle, Aiden Bonehill supported by the mid field summoned the strength for a last attempt and he took it all the way to get the winning goal. Final score 4-3

Man of the match: Abbeymead Rovers Gladiators - Aiden Bonehill; Kings Stanley United - Harry Bennett