Under 9s Match Reports

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)