East Gloucester 2, Bretforton 1

BRETFORTON travelled to East Gloucester on Saturday for what they knew was going to be one of their toughest fixtures of the season.

From the start the home side applied pressure and within ten minutes had taken the lead.

The visitors rallied and produced some good teamwork. Slick passing from Sophie Corbett and Lisa Work-man forced a good save from the keeper only for Gilly Wright to pounce on the rebound to level the scores.

The home team stepped up their passing and produced well-organised attacks but their efforts went unrewarded due to excellent goalkeeping from player of the match Fiona Bald-elli.

Despite numerous attacks by Bret-forton which resulted in several short corners, it was the home side who, through a well-rehearsed short corner routine, regained the lead.

The Bretforton coach changed the system for the second half which led to the visitors taking control of the midfield and creating more attacks but solid defending kept the score uncha-nged.

The increased visitors' attacks created more short corner opportunities with one shot flying inches past the right-hand post.

As the half progressed the game spread out and breaks came from both sides which produced good defending at both ends.

When the final whistle blew it was the top of the table hosts who had taken the points.

North Division

P W D L F A Pts

East Glos 5 5 0 0 16 6 10

BAC 5 4 0 1 7 3 12

Wootton Bassett 5 3 0 2 11 8 9

Devizes 4 2 1 1 4 7 7

Marlborough 5 2 0 3 9 9 6

Bretforton 5 2 0 3 7 7 6

Portishead 4 1 1 2 3 5 4

Hereford 5 1 0 4 10 11 3

Bristol Univ 3 1 0 2 3 8 3

Stroud 5 1 0 4 7 13 3

Bretforton II 3, Cheltenham III 0

THE second string were slow to get going but, once they woke up, the points were only going one way.

Midfield domination, courtesy of excellent play from Amy Trotman and Lorna Beddis, produced a flurry of attacks and Tracey Hodgkins bagged a brace of goals as Bretforton took a 2-0 lead.

Sarah Bragg then added a third with a great strike following a short corner.

Hodgkins was named player of the match, while Sandra Boswell's exuberant fall was named "Plonker of the match"!

The first team take on Marlborough at home on Saturday when the seconds face Stroud. The club is sponsored by Fairview Trading Company of Honey-bourne.