No match today due to travelling but a lot of fun was still had. After a flight that was put on hold while in the air Gloucester finally arrived at 11.33am. A short journey to the hotel was followed by the first selection dilemma, who shares a room with who?

Once the unpacking had been completed the afternoon was spent replaying the Champions League quarter final of Tuesday. Liam Harding spent most of the afternoon arguing with the ref after having two goals disallowed for off-side!

After football it was back to the hotel for a session of water polo with the boys from Plymouth. If anyone can tell me who won please send the answers to results@gpsfa.com.

After Dinner (three courses!) a walk was taken to let the food settle and then it was off to bed in preparation for tomorrows opening encounter with Thurrock (10.15 KO).

Gloucester schools went down to a late goal against a strong Thurrock side that had suffered just one previous competitive defeat this season in the opening group B fixture of the Jersey festival.

First half was very evenly contested. The solid Gloucester central defence of Harris, Preece and Stroud-Drinkwater repelled anything that Thurrock could through at them while the hard working midfield created three good openings for the city team.

Twice excellent last ditch defending denied Liam Harding an opener while Kyle James-Bryan's effort went straight at the keeper. Thurrock dominated the first 15 minutes of the second half but again the city defence stood firm and Hamilton twice went desperately close to giving Gloucester the lead, each time his efforts being cleared off the line. With 3 minutes remaining Thurrock claimed the winner along cross from the right being converted at the far post.

A single goal 9 minutes from time from Liam Harding gave Gloucester their opening victory of the festival. 

The city team had slightly the better of a first half in which scoring chances were at a premium. A dangerous cross from the right which flashed across the face of goal was Chiltern's best effort while Harding fired inches wide of the far post following Rob Miller's intuitive through ball.

Harris, Jackson and Stroud-Drinkwater were again in fine form for Gloucester who eventually broke the deadlock when substitute Courtney Hamilton played Harding in and the centre forward finished well for his ninth score of the season.

Gloucester went down to a disappointing defeat against Hackney as a third Jersey festival fixture again yielded just a single goal. Chances were few and far between in a dour first half but after the interval the pace of the game improved.

Gloucester enjoyed the majority of possession, Ford forcing a fine save from the keeper, Harding going close and Brandon Preece seeing his header cleared off the goal line.

With two minutes remaining Hackney broke clear and in a repeat of the festivals opening fixture grabbed all 3 points with a fine strike at the death.

Gloucester secured their second festival victory with a 3-1 success over South Birmingham. The city team opened the scoring on 5 minutes, Miller lobbing the keeper following Ford's through ball and James-Bryan following in after the wing backs effort had come back off the post.

The second goal on 16 minutes also saw Miller in the assist role his excellent ball picking up Mace who drove home just inside the far post. Further chances came and went before the break an d after the interval the Birmingham keeper pulled off a string of excellent saves before Liam Harding seized on to Courtney Hamilton's perfect weighted pass to round the keeper for number 3.

Gloucester's chance of scoring the fourth ended when a penalty was driven wide and five minutes from time the midlander's were rewarded for their efforts with a well struck consolation goal.

Gloucester got off to the worst possible start in their final group game against Barking & Dagenham when star striker Afobe opened the scoring inside 30 seconds following a defensive error. Another regard lapse in the eight minute saw the same player double the lead but Gloucester reduced the arrears Harding finishing well following Hamilton's incisive break.

Barking stretched their lead after the interval but Gloucester set up an exciting finish as Harris scrambled the ball in before Harding went close to an equalier with just two minutes remaining.

Gloucester finished in eight place after they went down two nil to a strong Orpington side that finished the week unbeaten in their play off game. Orpington took the lead on 7 minutes following a fine left wing cross and in truth always looked the more likely to score either side of the break. Hamilton and Ford again worked well in midfield but James was called upon on several occasions to show his prowess as the Kent side pressed forward.

An increasingly tired city team maintained their effort throughout but Orpington sealed the game with a break away goal in the dieing seconds.

Copyright © 2004 Gloucester Primary Schools Football Association