ROSS 1st XI were the hosts for a battle against Gloucester City C on a glorious afternoon.

Ross were determined to finish on a high, but as they started Gloucester

showing they weren't going to make it easy for the home team.Ross made some good starting passes to the wings driving the ball into the opposition's half. However, within minutes, Ross were playing catch up after Gloucester scored from a short corner. The home team had some lucky escapes as Gloucester continued attacking. It was left up to the defenders, Richard Jennison, Sam Warner, David Skyrme, and Brian Clare, to clear the ball from danger and protect Mitch Greenman in the net. In the midfield Luke Ward, Kristian Franklin, Tom Walton, Jack Wilkinson, and Ben Da Cunha, worked without respite to get the attackers, Phil Evans, Matt Saunders, and Richard Stewart, into scoring situations. Eventually, Walton went on a solo run into the Gloucester 'D', flicking the ball from a tight angle into the top left hand side of the net, levelling the score for his team. The work didn't stop there for Ross, as Gloucester retaliated scoring another

goal of their own. leaving the home team trailing once more just before the half time whistle blew. Ross returned determined not to be beaten on home turf. With the away team taking the centre, Ross pushed forward, putting pressure on Gloucester, forcing them to make mistakes, and give the ball

away. Ross kept most of the possession, holding the ball up in the Gloucester half and a few close attempts on goal just skimmed past the post. Finally, Ross got a short corner which they knew they needed to count. And keeping his team in the game, Walton scored from a rebound off the 'keeper. But, before long, Gloucester took the lead again through another short corner. Feeling the pinch, Evans wanted some action. He dribbled the ball round the Gloucester defenders and, with a reverse

hit, put the ball into the bottom corner of the net. With the final whistle looming, Ross knew that they would have to pull out all the stops to win. In the closing seconds of the game the ball reached Warner, and he slipped it past the goalkeeper, just before he was wiped out by the sliding 'keeper. This left Ross ecstatic as the final whistle blew. All of the players showed a great passion making the strong team effort worthwhile.

This keeps Ross in a comfortable fourth place in Hereford and Gloucester

Division 1. The club is grateful to umpires, Pete Hughes and Andy Cross, and to the Club Sponsor: South Hereford Motorcaravan Centre Ltd.