THORNBURY TOWN 2 ROMAN GLASS ST. GEORGE 4

The Fox comes up with a cracking plan for Saturday: Cheltenham U-19s at 11am followed by Thornbury Town of the Hellenic League in the afternoon. The Gloucestershire hills should look resplendent in the beautiful sunshine.

The EFL Academy league match in Swindon Village is a cracker. Sutton United U-19s are in town and they mean business. Five up at the break with some devastating attacking before Cheltenham make a mini recovery in the second half. The final score is 3-7 but I have the home keeper down as MOTM!

A 35 mile quick dash south down the surprisingly clear M5 brings me to the historic market town of Thornbury. I must admit to not knowing much about the place other than seeing the name on motorway signs as I speed by. I have been missing out: the centre is beautiful; a really quaint place.

I follow Jane SatNav to Mundy Playing Fields on the edge of town. The ground is set in a large park. On this sunny afternoon, the facilities (open spaces, park pitches, children’s play area, etc.) are being used by many a family. The car park is a couple of hundred yards’ walk away from the entrance. A man leaps out of the shed and relieves me of a fiver. I am handed the programme (the Talk of the Town), which is included in the price. Spectators enter the stadium halfway along one touchline. There are two small seated stands across the other side, while the clubhouse and changing rooms are to the left of the entrance. Behind one goal, the impressive church tower can be seen while the other end is closed off to fans. The venue has a very rural feel to it.

Inside the clubhouse, two plates of tempting biscuits are laid out, though these are for visiting officials. Refreshments for spectators can be found right at the back of the club. Filled rolls, hot pasties & sausage rolls and snacks are for sale.

Outside, a few fans have been caught out by the sun. Although bright and beautiful, there is a cool wind whipping across the pitch and the unprepared few look decidedly cold. The pitch looks very hard.

This afternoon’s match is in the United Counties League Supplementary Cup. Both Town and the visitors – Roman Glass St. George – play in the Premier Division of the league, though the visitors are 22 points better off in the table. This gap shows on the day. The Romans rattle in four goals after their hosts open the scoring (after just 9 minutes). Thornbury make sure the victors have been in a game, though, and make them fight for every ball. I satisfyingly end the day with sixteen goals from two games! 35(˨0$7&+,1)2 :(/&20( )$&,/,7,(6

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