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Jersey

 Jersey Festival of Football 2002                                                

In no time we were taking off into a clear blue sky, and only 35 minutes later Corbiere lighthouse could be seen through the window as we came into land. We picked up our mini bus at the airport and arrived at the Metropole hotel at 6.30pm just in time for evening meal. 

After dinner we took a brief stroll down to the harbour then returned to the hotel to do our diaries. Everyone phoned home (well nearly everyone!) and were tucked up in bed by half past ten-ish.

Gloucester's opening Group B game tomorrow is against Barking & Dagenham.

Gloucester 3 Barking & Dagenham 1.

Gloucester got their Group B campaign off to a winning start with a well deserved victory over Essex league leaders Barking & Dagenham. The city team opened the scoring on 17 minutes when Weir's corner deflected in off a Dagenham defender. Two minutes later however the Essex side were level following a fine header from a left wing corner. Pritchard and Gittings both went close to restoring Gloucester's advantage just before the interval, but keeper Livesey saved well on both occasions. 

Six minutes after the break Livesey did even better to turn aside Hemming's well struck volley and then tipped Weir's free-kick over the bar. Gloucester finally took the lead again on 38 minutes when Wallington powered home a 25 yard free-kick and two minutes later, following another excellent save by the Dagenham keeper,  Gittings followed up to score at the far post. Morris did well to foil White with six minutes remaining, but the Gloucester defence, excellently marshalled by Hawes, held firm to claim a fine opening day victory.

Afternoon: Plemont Bay and Corbiere Lighthouse (tide in).

Gloucester 6 Hackney 1.

Gloucester maintained their fine start with a comprehensive victory over Hackney. It was the London side though who settled first and capitalised on some poor defending when Hamilton drove home from 15 yards. Gloucester equalised on 16 minutes. Deane's industry down the left won a corner and from Weir's cross, Wallington forced in the leveller. Three minutes later the city side were ahead thanks to a great individual effort from Weir and extended their advantage just before the interval - Stannard was tripped in the box and Wallington converted the spot kick.

Ten minutes into the second half Weir beat two defenders before scoring left footed from just outside the box and completed his treble when his 15 yard drive deflected off a defender and over the helpless keeper. With Gittings a constant danger down the right and Pritchard giving width along the left, Gloucester continued to push forward and right on the whistle Wallington's inswinging corner went straight in via the far post to register the first ever hat trick by a central defender in GPSFA history.

Afternoon: Jersey Zoo (Endangered species) and swimming at the Metropole.

Saturday's Results - Group A: Wanderers 0 Bishop Auckland 1; Jersey 0 Walsall A 2; Chiltern 3 Orpington 0.

Results - Group B: Barking 3 Plymouth 2; Newbury 2 Thurrock 2; Reading 0 Walsall B 2.

Inter Group Game: Hackney 1 Gloucester 6. (For tables - scroll up).

A last minute penalty from Danny Wallington gave Gloucester the three points from a very even and hard fought game against Thurrock (Essex). The city team were well on top in the first half and after 18 minutes, the excellent  Hemming and Claridge combined to set up Pritchard for the opener. Weir saw his shot well saved just before the interval, but after the break it was the Essex side who dominated for long periods and grabbed a deserved equaliser as Vigers converted a left wing cross on 39 minutes. Weir brought another fine save from the keeper with three minutes remaining and just as it seemed the points would be shared, Stannard was felled in the box and Wallington converted the spot kick.

Afternoon: Mont Orgueil Castle; Annport Bay.

Sunday's Results - Group A: Walsall A 2 Orpington 0; Jersey 2 Chiltern 1; Hackney 1 Wanderers 0

Group B: Gloucester 2 Thurrock 1; Walsall B 2 Newbury 0; Reading 0 Barking 1.

Inter Group Game:  Plymouth 2 Bishop Auckland 0.

Gloucester's winning festival run came to an end as a combative Newbury side held them to a 2-2 draw. The city team made the best possible start when, with only three minutes gone, Weir fed Stannard who finished well to give his side the lead. Newbury however equalised on eleven minutes through Gent and Fowler volleyed then ahead four minutes later. Weir was denied by a great last ditch tackle by Gunter just before the interval as Gloucester tried in vain to respond.

The city side improved after the break and their pressure finally paid off when Wallington volleyed a poor clearance straight back into the Newbury net for the equaliser. Claridge went close to finding a winner but his hooked volley from the edge of the box flew inches wide. Walsall B's 1-0l victory over Thurrock now means they are level on points with Gloucester at the top of Group B with Plymouth and Barking just a single point behind. Gloucester meet Reading tomorrow in their final group game, Walsall B take on Barking and Plymouth meet Thurrock.

Afternoon: Living Legend; Crazy Golf. Evening: On the beach with the fishermen.

Group B: Newbury 2 Gloucester 2; Plymouth 1 Reading 0; Thurrock 0 Walsall B 1 

Inter Group Game; Wanderers 1 Barking 2. 

Gloucester 1 Reading 1

Gloucester were made to battle all the way before eventually securing a draw in their final Group B game, but with results going their way, this still proved enough to see them end as group winners on goal difference over Walsall B.

The city team exerted the early pressure but found themselves behind on eight minutes, Cutbush's corner being forced home by Downs at the near post. Gloucester continued to press and Hemming drove narrowly wide, but the interval arrived with Reading still in front. The second period followed a similar pattern, but with legs tiring rapidly, it seemed as if the equaliser would not be found. Five minutes from time however, Gittings drove home following Weir's corner and in the final minute, Wallington's free kick was saved by the keeper and Doig-Davis fired over as Gloucester sought in vain to find a winning goal.

Gloucester now meet Group A winners Bishop Auckland (Durham) in tomorrow's first place play off - Walsall, having led the group from day one going down 1-0 to Newbury, while Auckland defeated Orpington (Kent) 2-0 to take top spot.

Afternoon: Corbiere Lighthouse (tide out); St Ouen Bay; Swimming at the Metropole.

Tuesday's Results: Group A - Jersey 1 Hackney 2; Bishop Auckland 2 Orpington 0; Wanderers 0 Chiltern 0.

Group B - Thurrock 1 Plymouth 0; Walsall B 1 Barking 1; Gloucester 1 Reading 1.

Inter Group Game: Walsall A 0 Newbury 1.

Wednesday 3rd April

Gloucester 2 Walsall 0

Following a fixture reshuffle, Gloucester met a strong Walsall outfit in their play off game and a tremendous all round performance saw them complete their festival programme unbeaten and claim first place into the bargain. 

After an early spell of Walsall pressure, Gloucester's midfield began to impose itself on the game and they took the lead in the 13th minute when Danny Wallington confidently struck home his third penalty of the week following a handball in the Midlander's area. Deane saw his left foot drive well saved by Thompson as Gloucester continued to press and six minutes after the interval they doubled their advantage. Claridge chased a seemingly lost cause deep in the Walsall box and laid the ball back to Stannard who beat the keeper before scoring in the far corner. 

Hemming twice went close to adding a third before Walsall came back in the final 10 minutes, only to find the city defence in such determined mood that the Midland side failed to get a direct shot on target in the entire game. 

This was Gloucester's best performance of the week, matching tremendous commitment with some slick one touch football and the achievement of this 12 man squad in being the festival's only  undefeated side deserves great praise. Thanks for the memory.

Afternoon and Evening: Shopping in St Helier; Swimming at Les Quevennais; Presentation dinner.

Final Day Results: Gloucester 2 Walsall A 0; Bishop Auckland 1 Walsall B 0; Hackney 5 Plymouth 0; Jersey 2 Barking & Dagenham 1; Chiltern & South Bucks 2 Thurrock 1; Newbury 1 Orpington 1; Reading 2 Wanderers 1.

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