Fintan away (15/10)

Super Sunday alert, our game on Sunday at Fintan is a top of the table clash.

Both teams sit on 10 points after 4 games with neither team having lost a game in the league as yet.
Fintan have had a defeat in the first round of the GFA Cup losing 1-0 to Fairford and Lechlade. In the league they have beaten Longlevens (currently in 9th spot) twice 4-0 and 4-2, Newent (who are bottom) 6-0, they drew 0-0 with Charlton Rovers (who are 6th).

With both teams unbeaten this will be a tough game.

The game will be played at King George V playing field Brooklyn Road, Cheltenham, GL51-8DT and as always kicks off at 2pm. Lets meet for 1:30.

Squad for this match will be
1. Will (Captain)
2. Ben
3. George
4. Lewis
5. Sam
6. Jacob
7. Ryan
8. Luca
9. Fergus
10. Alf
11. Tom
12. Seth
13. Hayden
14. Jorge

Connor and Freddie remain unavailable with knee-knacks.

LRFC score a handful...

When all around you...

This was a top of the table clash. LRFC in second and Tuffley a point behind in 3rd. A tense match was anticipated and while LRFC started strongly at 0-0 Tuffley were very much in it. Both teams were giving it everything and the game fizzed from end to end. LRFC making consistent progress down the right through the lung bursting runs of Alf. 

LRFC made the breakthrough, a cross from the right following a foul was delivered beautifully by Sam. At the back post there was Tom to nod in. 1-0. 

It would stay 1-0 until half time. 

The second half started and LRFC doubled their lead with a stunning strike from Luca. Out running the defence he saw the keeper of his line and hit a strong shot in at the near post. 2-0.

LRFC were really starting to dominate possession with Tuffley looking a threat on the break. They were restricted to long range efforts which LRFC smothered and blocked. The defenders really did put everything on the line today. 

2-0 became 3-0 with a lovely finish from Gus. Jacob found himself in the wide right position and out of nothing created space to find Gus. His shot into the far side of the net beyond the keeper was a fitting finish to a fine move. 

Jacob was MotM for the second week in a row. His controlling and reading of the game are quite excellent and he is at the heart of much that is good about this team. In this form he makes the game look easy.

Gus would have his afternoon cut short following a very heavy challenge from behind. Going right through his Achilles this saw him limp out. The resultant penalty was smashed in by Luca straight down the middle. Hayden returned to the fray up front. Playing up front in this team can be a thankless task as the ball is generally played wide with the wingers driving forward. Nonetheless Hayden stuck to the task and worked across the line and dropped deeper to pick up the ball and keep pressure on the ball.

The 5th goal came from Jorge. Playing wide left he found himself on the byline. Driving through a couple of challenges he smashed the ball in from an acute angle. This is what everyone should be talking about but sadly his loss of temper with a few minutes remaining are what remain in the memory.

While scoring goals might grab headlines the work at the back by the defensive trio and Will in goal was excellent. Sam slotted in alongside Lewis and Ben in place of George. This was a seamless transition. Lewis provided the strength, Sam the guile and ability to play out and Ben the technical nous to nip in front of defenders and get a toe in where he really has no right. Maybe they should fight crime?

With Tom patrolling the left and Seth the right this was a strong unit. Ryan and Jacob provide them with tenacious protection. 

This is what is different this season. The issues of the past around fitness appear to have gone. The desire is there. The determination is matched by quality. There’s a good squad too. With two players coming off with injury this side can cope. No one likes to start on the bench but when called upon no one lets themselves down either.

As a final comment on the match from Rudyard Kipling...

If you can keep your head when all about you   

    Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,   

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

    But make allowance for their doubting too;   

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

    Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,

Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,

    And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;   

    If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;   

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

    And treat those two impostors just the same;   

If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken

    Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

    And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

    And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

    And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

    To serve your turn long after they are gone,   

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

    Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,   

    Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

    If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

    With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,   

Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,   

    And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

It is Fintan next in what is now a top of the table clash. Playing this way LRFC have to be confident going into that game. 

Tuffley at Home (08/10)

Sunday we have a home match against Tuffley. This is a team we know well having played them last season and also in friendly matches. These are normally close matches with the odd goal being the difference. A look at the league table confirms this with Tuffley in 4th on 6 points from 3 matches. Their only defeat being to Painswick 2-1.

To remain competitive in the league this is a game both sides will want to win.

The game is at Naunton Park and kicks off at 2pm. As usual let’s meet at 1:15 to set up the pitch and prepare for the game.

Squad for this match will be

1. Will (Captain)
2. George
3. Lewis
4. Ben
5. Ryan
6. Jacob
7. Tom
8. Sam
9. Luca
10. Alf
11. Fergus
12. Hayden
13. Jorge
14. Seth

Freddie and Connor are both out with knee-knacks. 

You thought last week was a difficult match this game will take it up another level. 

Be at your best. 

Score draw - Rodborough at home

Score draw - Rodborough at home

Leckhampton learned the lessons of the last match between these two sides and started with the right level of tempo. 

Playing 4-3-3 they lined up with Will in goal, a back 3 of Lewis, Ben and George. The midfield quartet were Sam, Tom, Jacob and Seth. The attacking trio were Luca and Alf in wide positions with Gus through the middle. 

On the bench, Hayden and Jorge. 

Playing up the slope in the first half LRFC were more than a match in midfield and while susceptible to a long ball the defence and Tom, forced deeper by the Rodborough right back, were able to clear the lines. 

The LRFC back three were immense in this game. Winning the ball and then driving into midfield. As the game progressed and Rodborough were being forced back the back three were in the Rodborough half as they pressed for a winner. 

Rodborough opened the scoring with a finish inside the box after LRFC failed to clear their lines. Rodborough were sharper to the ball in attacking positions something that LRFC struggled to get to grips with. 

There was time for a disallowed goal, the linesman flagging for offside. 

It was 1-0 at half time.

Second half and lrfc playing down the slope started pressing immediately. Rodborough were holding firm and hitting long balls out of defence. On the break they remained dangerous although the lrfc keeper didn’t have any real saves to make. 

Lrfc equalised from the penalty spot. Jacob, who was the MotM, threaded the ball forward for Luca to latch onto. His pace sent him clear only for the defender to bring him down. 

Penalty given and scored low to the keepers right. The keeper went the right way but couldn’t get down quickly enough. 1-1 and how the game would finish. 

LRFC continued to create chances, Gus crossed the ball from wide right which Jorge narrowly missed only seconds into his season debut. Alf and Luca both had chances that they couldn’t fully connect with. 

As the end of the match approached it looked like LRFC might get the winning goal. As they pressed though there was an ever present threat from Rodborough that they had to be mindful of. Pressing high did cut off that ready supply.

At the final whistle both teams might feel they had done enough to win it rather than share the points. This was a really competitive and fair contest between two fully committed and capable teams.

Jacob was MotM, his composure in midfield was the calming influence that the team needed. This gave the platform for the team to press and look for goals. 

Even more impressive was the LRFC performance. There was desire from every player, energy and tempo. The passing was better; crisper and accurate. There was pressing all over the pitch and fitness levels looked good. 

Tom caught the eye in the first half with his energy, fitness and relentless tracking up and down the pitch. The back 3 played as a real unit and Lewis’ in particular is a real physical presence. His was a massively improving performance today as he grows in confidence following his return to the beautiful game following a year egg chasing. 

This is something for LRFC to build on and if they do so they will have something to play for until late in the season.