Tough times as development side hunts for players
We are actively looking for players. It’s not all about 16, 17, 18-yearolds for the future, it’s good to have the calm head of a mature player too Simon Galpin
CHELTENHAM Town Ladies may be riding high at the top of National League Division One South West, but the club’s secondstring are currently finding things “very difficult”, according to development squad boss Simon Galpin.
Approaching the halfway point of the season, the development squad are bottom of the South West League Northern division having been deducted six points for failing to fulfil two fixtures, with three more points set to come off following the cancellation of last Sunday’s game at Bristol Rovers.
Galpin revealed: “At 1pm on Saturday I had 12 players, but by 10.30am on Sunday I was down to eight, including a goalkeeper who had to leave for work at half-time. It’s very, very difficult at the moment.
“It’s not an ideal situation, there isn’t enough commitment. I’m going on a week-to-week basis right now. I will try to put out a team if I can, and I’m the first one to be disappointed when we can’t do that.”
Galpin, who previously coached with Cheltenham Town Girls, only took on the role of development team boss a few weeks before the start of the campaign, and he believes the consequences of this lack of preparation time are now coming to fruition.
“I stepped into the role in midaugust, the team was close to folding at that point, we only had one pre-season game, the development squad lost some players over the summer, and we’re in a hard league.
“Right here, right now, we are actively looking for players. It’s not all about 16, 17, 18-year-olds for the future, it’s good to have the calm head of a mature player too.
“I’m all about investing in local talent, but the level we’re at isn’t for everyone (only Cheltenham’s first team and Forest Green play at a higher level within the county).
“The opportunity is there to progress to the first team, but that’s not the beall and end-all.”
Cheltenham’s first team, meanwhile, are now two points clear at the top of the fourth tier following a 6-0 home victory over bottom side Poole.
Lacy-jai Liggett, Tamzin Hayward and Holly Rogers hit first-half goals for the Robins before Billie Haynes, Jade Grove and Charlotte Criddle netted after the break.
In the South West Premier, Forest Green were 4-1 home winners over lowly Middlezoy. Charlie Rowlands scored a hat-trick, while Hattie Jones was also on target for the mid-table Green Devils.
Elsewhere, Bishop’s Cleeve were thumped 7-1 at Bristol & West in Division
One of the County League, Leonie Gough scoring the consolation, while Abbeymead were unable to raise a team for their fixture at tabletopping Olveston, who are four points clear of Pucklechurch, who were 4-1 victors at Longwell Green.
Tuffley returned to the top of Division Two with a 2-1 derby triumph over City of Gloucester. Immy Maguire and Robyn Lee were on target for the visitors, while Katie Carrington-stait struck for the home side.
Cirencester, meanwhile, moved second in the table with a 3-2 home win over Red Falcon thanks to goals from Amy Bains (2) and Lizzy Parry.
In Division Three, Kingswood defeated high-flying Whitchurch & Bristol 2-1 courtesy of strikes from Connie Watt and dual-registered Forest Green forward Paige Todd.
Laura Mcglade scored for Tewkesbury in their 5-1 reverse at Downend Reserves, while Winchcombe lost 3-0 at home to Olveston Reserves.
Bradley Stoke lead the way after their 2-0 home win over Bristol Union Development, while Mitcheldean and Southmead received walkovers from Stoke Lane and Bishop’s Cleeve Reserves respectively.
Sunday’s final fixtures of 2021 include Cheltenham away to Chesham, Forest Green at home to AFC St Austell, Gloucester City hosting Abbeymead, and Tuffley against Bristol Rovers Development.