On a very sticky and slippery pitch, conditions not ideal for good football, the game was a hard fought one. With neither keeper troubled in the first half it became a midfield battle. However, in the 26 min, Gala broke down the right hand flank, were able to get round the Stroud defence and slot the ball home for a 1-0 lead. The second half saw Stroud dominate possession and territory for 20 mins but unable to break through. Totally against the run of play, a disastrous backpass by Stroud was pounced upon taken round the keeper and put into the back of Stroud net. Stroud bewildered why on earth they should be 2 down, took the game to Gala, Scott Montgomery breaking through only to be brought down by the keeper, who in turn saw Red, and was sent from the pitch. Despite untold pressure, Stroud were unable to convert any opportunities. Star player was Steve Bick.

3 disallowed goals for off side, 1 missed penalty, 1 bar and 1 outstanding save from the Barnwood keeper, saw Stroud fall to a 5-2 loss. After just 1 minute, in their first attack, Barnwood were awarded a penalty and duly converted. 4 mins later, they were 2-0 ahead and after 12min were 3 to the good due to some woeful defending. Stroud started to get going after 20min, Parsons,Bick and Dan Poole all having excellent chances that issed the goal by millimetres. In the 36, Bick making a strong run into the box was brought down and a penalty was given. Scott Montgomery struck the ball as clean as a whitle but it thunders against the post and rebounded out. 3 mins later Fred Humphries put the ball in the net was adjudged tobe offside. In the 45th min, Barnwood in only their 4th attack of the half, disected the Stroud defence and made it 4-0. The second half, Stroud were utterly dominate, never giving up, pinning Barnwood in their own half. However, in the 68 min Barnwood broke away and were awarded a second penalty, again converted. The score an unbelievable 5-0, one team taking their chances and other not. In the 71st Steve Bick, again put the ball in the net but Fred was given offside. In 76th, Stroud were awarded another penalty, this time Steve Bick fired home to give Stroud a consolation. In the 82nd Shaun Poole hit the crossbar from a free kick and then in the 84th the Barnwood keeper made an outstanding point blank save from Fred Humphries. A minute later Scott Montgomery put the ball in the net and yet again adjudged to offside. 2 mins later Montgomery scored a bonafide goal finishing off a great move and heading onto the corner of the goal but it was too late and despite all the pressure and chances, Barnwood held on to a 5-2 victory. Steve Bick tpo player

On the first day of the year, a beleaguered Stroud team in various states of health entered the pitch and within 3 mins found themselves 1-0 down to a major communication mistake between goalkeeper Coleman and left back Parsons, culminating in Parsons heading into his own goal. It took Stroud 15 mins to get going but when they did, the gane was being played more and more in the Lydbrook half. Dan Poole forcing a great save form teh Lydbrook keeper in the 17th but on 22 mins, a free kick front the left side by Captain Shaun Poole found the head of Parsons, who headed in to redeem the previous mistake. Stroud now bouyant were rampant, Monty was on fire down the right flank. A fantastic move at pace in the 37 min starting with Shaun Poole sending Monty flying down the right, who hit a superb cross to be met by Dan Poole to fire in. A great goal to put Stroud 2-1 up. Stroud thought they had won the game with such a superb goal and turned off. In the 42 mins, an inocuous cross that should have easily been dealt with by the keeper somehow found the head of a Lydbrook player and the ball was heading towards the crossbar. For apparent reason tipped the ball over the bar with his hand, not only resulting in a penalty but also causing him to be sent off. The penalty was converted and at the half it was 2-2 but Stroud were down to 10 players. Within 3 mins of the restart, Stroud conceded another soft goal and now were 3-2 down. In typical fashion, they came out fighting and on 55 mins, Shaun Poole made asurging run into the Lydbrook area, only to be brought down and a penalty awarded. Danny Alderman stepped up and fired the ball home to level the scores at 3-3. % mins later another soft goal was given away with the ball sliding under the keeper's body and the visitors were 4-3 up, the next 15 mins were horrendous for Stroud, players out of position, tired legs and school boy errors, saw another 2 goals conceded. In the 83 min Shaun Poole made a super through pass to Karl Lewis who was clean through on the keeper, Karl tucking the ball in the bottom right corner to make it 6-4. The Poole brothers both had good games in the middle of the park, Monty unplayable in the first half but Liam Matthews with his no prisoner attitude was colossal at the back.

Stroud paid the harsh price again today for not taking their chances. On a bitterly cold day, when many other other matches were called off, the game went ahead. For the first 15 mins Longlevens had the upper hand pushing Stroud back and after 12 mins an inocuous free kick from the half way line was not dealt with by the Stroud defence and Longlevens player slotted ball home to take the lead. This woke Stroud up and they started to play as a unit and, as the half on, Longlevens retreated further and further back. Chances fell to Karl Lewis and to Robert Maizonnier but both missing the target. At 39 mins, a superb pass by Steve Bick caught Longlevens out and Scott Montgomery running on at pace, lobbed the oncoming keeper to tie the scores. At half scores are 1-1 but it was Stroud who were the happier with their dominant possession. The second half started as the first ended but for 25 mins Stroud laid siege on the Longlevens goal, totally in control of the game. Steve Bick was almost unplayable, in devastating form and Longlevens could not contain him despite trebling up on him. Six golden opportunities fell to Stroud, Bick who hit the bar, Mez, Karl Lewis and Scott Montgomery but all were missed, the game should have been over such was Stroud's dominance. However, a long ball over the top of the Stoud defence from Longlevems in the 27 min, the on rushing attacker was adjudged to be brought down by Jon Colemen the Stroud keeper, and a penalty awarded, this was duly despatched and Longlevens utterly against the run of play found themselves 2-1 up. On 35 mins, Coleman had to leave the field due to a late challenge and Stroud were down to 10 players with Matthew Cox having to go in goal. With 2 mins left of the game, another long hopeful ball caught out Coxy and Longlevens made it 3-1. This was another match Stroud should have clearly won and both home & away officials and supporters alike agreed that Longlevens were given a get out of jail card toay. Steve Bick was man of the match for Stroud today.

12

Steven Bick

9

Frederick Owen Humphries

5

Scott Montgomery

4

Japhet Humphries

4

Daniel Alderman

4

Robert George Maizonnier

3

Shaun Poole

2

Dave Cleal

2

Warren Phillips

1

Sean McKeon

1

Liam Matthews

1

Karl Lewis

1