A disappointing weekend but a valuable point for the first team

A very valuable point for our Hellenic League side proved to be the only highlight of a fairly drab weekend for the club, as four games over Saturday and Sunday ended with three defeats in the other games.

With the in-form reserve team (10 games unbeaten) and trophy hunting fifth team not in action, all eyes were on Glevum Park, where a fairly depleted first team squad, missing six regular players, rode their luck at times, but secured a point against Flackwell Heath, with Joel ‘Digger’ White’s goal, on the stroke of half-time, cancelling out Mo Ceesay’s 28th minute header for the visitors. The game was played out in end-to-end fashion but Rovers were grateful to a superb Luke Merchant block, in the final seconds, to secure their point.

Away from Glevum Park there were defeats for the two Stroud League sides in action, as the Fourths journey to Cotswold Rangers ended with a 3-1 defeat, despite Matt Stevens’ goal. The Thirds lost by the same margin, at home to Horlsey United, with Dave Cornock scoring for Dan Boon’s side.

Cornock was one of several regular players absent from the Veterans’ team on Sunday morning and although Mark Patterson’s squad scored three times – through Jon Corbett and a Shayne Bradley brace – Shipton Oliffe ran out 6-3 victors.

So, one point from a possible twelve doesn’t make pleasant reading…but that vital point for Mark Pritchett’s squad was a genuine silver lining.