Saturday 24th October v Torbay & Plymouth
by Francis Drake

Torbay and Plymouth served up a Devon double as Gloucester Schools went down to a brace of comprehensive defeats at Longlevens. The first period of the opening encounter between Gloucester B and Torbay was a well contested affair with both sides creating chances and both goalkeepers, Sargent and Lipton, producing fine saves to keep the scores level. Midfielders Matt Hayes, Deegan Hayes, Thompson and Robbie each battled away well for Gloucester during the first period, while Dada-Grieve looked a threat up front. Torbay though were playing some neat football, yet it was Gloucester that took the lead early in the second period when Dada-Grieve took advantage of a loose ball following Deegan Hayes' cross to fire home. The lead was very short-lived however as Torbay responded with two goals in as many minutes before capitalising with three further scores as the hosts lost their shape late on. In summary, from a Gloucester perspective, an entertaining first period followed by a disappointing second half. Gloucester B: Sargent; Carr, Wood, E.Stock, M.Hayes, Robbie, D.Hayes, Thompson, Dodd, Dada-Grieve, Simmonds. Sub: Staddon. The second game of the morning followed a similar pattern to the initial encounter with Plymouth making hay after the break. Sutherland fired over the bar early on as Gloucester briefly threatened, while at the other end Cole's effort was taken by Welsh. The hosts almost took the lead on 15 minutes when the keeper could only parry Walker's free kick but the loose ball was scrambled off the line by the Plymouth defence. Back came the visitors who moved the ball well throughout and the Gloucester central defenders Goode, Vallender and Hawkins, aided by Stock and Jones on the flanks, stood up well to the pressure. The breakthrough came though 3 minutes before the interval, McAuley's fine strike from just outside the box giving the visitors the lead. Goode and Vallender were again to the fore as the Devonians looked to extend their advantage as the second period began and their efforts were rewarded when Walker's fine pass played in Assheton whose determination won the one-on-one with the keeper before slotting home the equaliser. Back came Plymouth who reclaimed the lead within four minutes thanks to a fine strike from Ryan and two minutes later another excellent strike, this time from Battle, made it 3-1. Gloucester continued to compete and crosses from Sutherland and Walker flashed across the face of the visitors' goal with no-one able to apply the decisive touch, but a pair of well taken opportunist goals from Dixon late on put the seal on a deserved victory for a fine Plymouth side. Gloucester A: Welsh; C.Stock, Vallender, Hawkins, Goode, Jones; Walker, Ashman, Sutherland; Bird, Assheton. Sub: E.Stock.