Match Report

GFA Intermediate Cup Semi-Final

Bristol Athletic 0 Winterbourne United A 1

A gritty hard working performance saw the A's progress to the final against previously unbeaten Bristol Athletic from Suburban 3. The game was played at Frenchay Cricket Ground, on what was a badly cut up junior size pitch. The size of the pitch may have suited a number of our A Team but it did nothing for the quality of the match.

Bourne started brightly forcing the hosts on to the back foot during the early exchanges and this pressure deservedly saw them take the lead. The goal came from the spot after 18 mins, when Bradley Graham tricked his way past the full back who clumsily brought him down for what was a ‘stonewaller'. Up stepped skipper Stuart Spiller to calmly send Athletics' keeper the wrong way. After the goal however, Bourne lost the impetus a little and as often happens, when a team go in front, the opposition raise their game in search of an equaliser. Some neat approach play by Athletic was let down by the final ball and some wayward shooting meant Bourne's stand in keeper, Martin Day, did not have much to do. The best opportunity to come the host's way was when a lapse of concentration saw Day handle the ball twice while in possession. Fortunately for him the resulting free kick came to nothing and neither did anything else for that matter that either side tried in the half. HT 0.1

The second half was very even as both sides battled it out on the awful pitch neither keeper was overworked but Day did have another aberration in a repeat of his first half heart stopper but this time rather than pick the ball up for a second time and concede a free kick inside the box, he managed to hack it clear of on rushing forwards. Bristol Athletic threw all they had at Bourne's defence but were repelled time and again. Outstanding in the heart of things was sweeper Stuart Spiller, his experience and captaincy kept things together along with his siege gun boot. Another to show was Stuart Pyatt, whose energy and willing running was a thorn in Athletics' side throughout. FT 0.1

M Day, Cliss, May, Spiller, P Day, Murray (T Day) Cook, Watts, Graham (Iles) Pyatt, Sharp.

The final will be on Tuesday April 15th at GFA Headquarters, Oaklands Park, Almondsbury, 7.30PM KO

Match Report 2

The 3rd`s are there again another Final. Semi against Bristol Athletic who had 100% record. My sat morning could not have started off any more difficult as James our keeper for some reason did not show at the pick up point. I then had to inform Martin Day he would have to keep for us today.

We went 4-4-2..............with Paul May and stu spills sweeping...........Brain cook and Dan watts centre Mid........Sharpy and Stu Pyatt front 2. With the pitch not at its best it was always going to be hard for us to play are normal ball on the floor tactics. Stiggy who was wide Left was causing problems for the Athletic fallback to the extent he got us a penalty on the 20min mark. Stu spills slots home 1-0................the half to be honest was very scrappy and both sides did not create a great deal. HT 1.0.

If we could get the 2nd goal the game was ours but football is not that easy..................Bristol Ath came at us in the 2nd half and we pretty much had to defend all the half.................Martin day who I must say was my MOM just over Stu spills made some important decisions and vital saves to keep us in the lead.........apart from dropping the ball and picking it back up which gives the opp a free kick) We did not really offer much in attack and the half seemed to be the longest half of my life..........I have never really seen us having to defend as much as we did...............But remember we were playing a side that had not been beat in 20 games...........that made the result even better.........Our back 5 were fantastic and showed there experience to keep Ath out. Bristol Ath had a good go at us and anything could have happened if it had gone to extra time..............but the Bourne held on with true grit and determination..............Me and Stu watts were by now physical wrecks and could not wait for the final whistle..................we seemed to give away a lot of free kicks around the edge of our box.........but lucky for us they did not have anyone who could strike a ball. The Final whistle came with sheer joy and I felt 15 again. All in All it was not the best of games........but so what we showed we could defend with our backs against the wall and stick together as a team and the result went our way. We have played and beat 2 sides in this cup with 100% records so we deserve to be there. Well done all the 3rd`s plus all support we had there it all helps.

Bring on the sneyd pk.

Matchy.

Ps we wont talk about yest game.