Swindon Village Bowmen Blues 1 Charlton Rovers Blues 0
Charlton Rovers Blues got their season under way on a bright September morning on a lush, green surface at the Cheltenham Civil Service ground. A strong start by Swindon Village Bowmen Blues saw Charlton Rovers Blues defending well with Will, Charlotte and Henry clearing the ball efficiently. The early pressure began to tell though and following a deflection in the Rovers area, the Swindon Village no.14 side footed a shot calmly into the bottom left hand corner of Finn’s goal.
Charlton Rovers weren’t ready to give up and what ensued was a fantastic advert for junior football with both teams entertaining the crowd with their attacking football.
Swindon Village attacked again and a last ditch interception by Joe C prevented the Village striker from increasing the score. From the subsequent corner Finn made a good save after an ambitious overhead kick by the Village striker.
Joe B decided to take the fight to Village and went on a powerful run from the halfway line down the right and managed to get the ball passed the Village goalkeeper on the edge of the area, only for the covering defender to put a foot in and nudge the ball for a goal kick.
(Joe B rounds the goalkeeper but sees the Swindon Village defnder take the ball away just before Dewi can reach it.)
Soon after, Dewi followed Joe’s example and bore down on the Swindon Village goal. The goalkeeper advanced to the edge of his area and saved bravely at Dewi’s feet.
Moments later, the goalkeeper again thwarted Dewi with a good save to his right from a powerful shot.
Next it was Swindon Village’s turn to attack and from a corner on the Rovers’ left, the Swindon striker was unlucky to see his volley go narrowly wide.
Half time arrived with Swindon Village leading 1 – 0 and both teams took a well deserved rest.
The second half saw the arrival of Ben for Joe B and Tim for Dewi.
The entertainment continued and Tim had an accurate shot saved by the Swindon goalkeeper.
The action moved back to the Rovers goal and Finn turned a shot around the post for a corner. From the resultant corner a header from the Swindon Village striker brushed the outside of the Rovers’ post.
Again the action moved to the other end of the pitch where Harry, making his debut for Rovers, battled in the Village area and managed to squeeze a pass to Tim who saw his shot go narrowly wide of the Village right hand post.
Again Village attacked and Finn made the save of the match that was worthy of praise, with fantastic reactions from point blank range that frustrated the Village number 14.
Soon after, Henry powered a ‘rocket’ shot from behind the halfway line that just missed the far post.
Back in goal, Finley saved yet another shot from Swindon and Henry smacked the ball up the field to Will who narrowly missed the post with a curling shot from just outside the area.
Rovers attacked again down the right and good work from Tim set up a chance for Will but a last ditch tackle from the Village defender again kept Rovers at bay.
Charlotte cleared a ball into the Village area but Joe B and Harry were unable to add a touch which left them thinking it was not going to be their day.
(Harry and Tim try to get on the end of a clearance from Charlotte.)
Throughout the match Finn, the Charlton Rovers’ goal keeper, saved many shots from the Swindon strikers and the defence of Henry and Charlotte were able to keep the Swindon strikers out.
The referee finally blew his whistle for the end of the match. Although Charlton Rovers narrowly lost, it was a very enjoyable game and one that they can count themselves unlucky to lose.
