Stroud worst game of the season, out fought & out played by a stronger more determined team. For the first 20 mins it was fairly even, then Shortwood opened the scoring and then applied exerted pressure, offering Stroud very little. In the 43rd min a break out down the left flank found Dave Cleal, who ran into the box tried to cross the ball to an open Scott Montgomery but the Shortwood defender handled the ball to stop the cross, giving away a penalty. Danny Alderman duly obliged, slotting the ball into the bottom left corner to level the scores. Almost immediately from the re-start, Alderman went down with a pulled groin and Stroud's attention was drawn to him instead of concentrating on the game. Shortwood went straight through to make it 2-1, closely followed by the half time whistle. The 2nd half was dominated by the home team, Stroud lost their midfield, their compusure and began to infight, the flood gates opened. Star player for Stroud was dave Cleal, who never gave up and tirelessly worked.

Stroud played hosts to the second top team in the league, Longlevens, due to injuries and suspensions with both teams fielded depleted squads. However from the whistle the visitors started a large degree of intent forcing Stroud backwards. After just 3 mins, a corner from Longlevens hit Liam Matthews who was guarding the near post in the face, rebouding onto the upright and luckily clear. 2 minutes later, Longlevens attacker pounced onto a through ball, clean through and bringing out a fabulous save from Nick Shepherd to keep the score even. After this shakey start, Stroud started to get going and on 18 mins a great pass from Fred Humphries, finding Robert "Mez" Mazonnier on the left flank, who ran in crossing the ball low across the goalmouth, virtually inches from the goal line and Karl Lewis was there for the tap in. Within 30 secs and almost identical move, this time Dave Cleal providing the pass to Mez and Scott Montgomery the tap in, 2-0 to Stroud within a minute. The home team continured to play well and cohesively allowing the visitors very little. However, in the final 5 mins of the half, Stroud went quiet and started infighting for no apparent reason. On 42 mins, a simple ball was not dealt with and Longlevens were awarded a penalty, duly converted. It was almost as though the wind had been blown out of their sails, and in the 44th, Longlevens tied the scores at 2-2 from a corner, where the defence were rooted to the spot. Stroud needed half time to regain compusure and start again and this they did. In the 49th min, Dave Cleal picked up the ball at the half way line went forward into the space in front of him and let loose a 40yd screamer that flew into the top corner of the visitors goal, a stunning shot and, once again Stroud in the lead. In the 62nd right back, Lee Hitchman making a decisive run into the box only to slice his shot wide. Scott Montgomery in the 73rd maing a superb run through on goal, one on one with the keeper and the ball bobbled just as he was about to strike it and painfully watched the ball go past the post. In the last 15 mins the visitors, pushed everything forward and for the last 10 mins Stroud were almost encamped in their own 18yd box. Another superb save from Shepherd, a goal line clearance from Luke Holder kept the visitirs out but the pressure finally paid off from another set play via a corner in the 94th minute with virtually the last kick of the game. However, the visitors still had a final chsnce when their attacker was found clean through only to blaze the ball over the ball. The final whistle blew with the scores level at 3-3. Another fantastic effort from the team against top of the table opposition, man of the match was Dave Cleal, not only for his stunning goal but for the shear workrate and teamwork he put in, a fantastic performance.

Stroud visited the league leaders full of confidence from their last two victories and ready to take on the challenge. The game turned out to be an extremely competitive match however, the day did not start as they had wished as within 10 mins from kick-off, Steve Bick had to come off with a pulled hamstring to be replaced by Karl Lewis. The home team for the first 20 minutes applied lots of pressure but without creating a clear opportunity with Stroud working hard to close and keep shape, to which they did admirely. Chris Parsons returning for the first time since his illness nullied the Broadwell attack on the right flank, leaving them little opportunity but to knock long hopeful crosses into the Stroud box. On 22 mins a superb cross field from Captain Shaun Poole, found Danny Alderman in space on the left who fired a low cross straight across the Broadwell goal with the onrunning Karl Lewis missing by an inch. An almost identical move 6 mins later, this time with Scott Montgomery going close. In the 32nd, a Stroud corner found an unmarked Chris Parsons with a clean header from the 6yd line only to see the ball go over the bar. As the half wore on, it was Stroud who were returning the pressure and looking the more likely to score. Half time 0-0. Stroud paid the penalty of not coming out for the 2nf half switched on and within 90secs of the restart, a free kick into the box found 3 players going for the same ball leaving an unmarked Broadwell player who laced the ball into the top corner take make it 1-0 to the home team. This caught Stroud out and for the next 5 mins were stunned and a little disorientated. But they regained their composure and then went on the attack, playing some great football. Scott Montgomery found himself clean through on goal only to be thwarted by a good save from the Broadwell keeper. Dave Cleal and Karl Lewis also had good opportunites to tie the scores but alas these were not taken. In the 88th CAptain Poole recieved a second yellow for an alleged poor challenge and was sent from the pitch but despite this the game was not an ill tempered one just extremely competitive with good clean football. Broadwell held out for the 1-0 win but the performance and effort by the team was superb and they deserved to take away something from this game. Star players were the back 4, who were solid today, Parsons, Hitchman, Matthews & Dan Poole.

Dursley were highly wound up for the game, very vocal and closing Stroud down quickly but it was Stroud who gave the first warning, with Sean McKeon putting Scott Montgomery through on goal, who forced a good save from the keeper in the 5th min. The next 20 mins was a tight affair but Dursley were causing a few problems for Stroud down the left and in the 15th keeper Nick Shepherd making a good save to keep the scores level. In the 23rd min Dursley broke down the right cut the ball back to the 18yd line and the shot grazing the top of the crossbar. Stroud immediately countered, forcing another great save from their keeper from Sean McKeon. In 39 min a catastrophic muddle of errors in the Stroud area, who had so many chances to clear the ball but didn't, resulted in Dursley poking home for a 1-0 lead. Stroud opened up their inhibitions and started too attack at will. McKeon played in Montgomery who from 20yds out lobbed the keeper to level the scores in the 43rd. A minute Dursley keeper made 2 consective saves on the line from McKeon and Fred Humphries. In the 45th Danny Alderman glanced the post and then in time added on Steve Bick has a shot cleared from line. Half time 1-1 but Stroud regained confidence in how they finished the half. The second half saw Stroud dominate play, possession and territory and the Dursley keeper was outstanding. One specific save from a Montgomery lob was fantastic. Stroud created many chances with the keeper keeping Dursley in the game but in the 60 min Matthew Cox made a slicing pass through the Dursley defence for Fred Humphries to run onto and fire the ball low and hard into the far corner to give Stroud a 2-1 lead. In the 65th a mix up in the Dursley defence, gave the ball to Sean McKeon to run through and with a good deal of composure slot the ball low into the left corner of the goal. Humphries got his second and Stroud's 4th when the ball was laid off by Montgomery for him to fire home. More golden chances for McKeon, Montgomery and Bick and in the end 4-1 flattered Dursley. Dave Cleal coming on in the second half gave Stroud the impetous they needed but the two star players were the front attackers McKeon & Montgomery whose team work together and chances created was excellent.

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