01/05/2023
💙 Game for Oliver 💙
A small squad of 13 entertained Athletico Lockleaze in our penultimate league fixture with still a very small outside chance of winning the league.
We started fast and took the lead early with Natahn catching their defender in possession to run through and slot home a 1 on 1 first time into the bottom corner.
1-0 Sands
Both teams pushing for the next goal and it was Athletico who pulled the game level from the penalty spot. A was it a free kick or was it a pen debate started with calls also with was it even a foul. Both teams agreed to give the pen and despite Jimbob going the right way it was now 1-1
1-1
We dug in in what was becoming a great game and a very even first half.
Jimmy found space on the edge of the Athletico area to put sands ahead with a left foot strike to the bottom corner
2-1 Sands
HT
Both teams started lively and it was sands who extended their lead. Some neat football with Adam teeing up Jimmy with a first time left foot effort from the edge of the area.
3-1 Sands
Athletico began the restart with intent and desperate to get back in the game and it wasn’t before long they pulled one back. Some great football, a back heel through the legs and their attacker brought a goal back for them with a tidy finish from 12 yards
3-2 Sands
Athletico kept knocking on the door for the leveller and soon got it. It was coming deservedly drew the game level.
3-3
We didn’t drop our heads, we pulled up our socks and searched for the lead again. We got it thanks to an Andy Coombs corner which went straight off a flick from an Athletico player. We’ll give it to Andy on his game for Oliver 💙
4-3 Sands
We wasn’t finished there and kept pushing for another to try put the game out of the reach. We got another courtesy of a great pen from Andy Coombs. A corner from Andy lead to the ref pointing to the spot for Andy to continue his record from the spot and scoring for Oliver 💙
5-3 Sands
And we still wasn’t done there. There was still time for one more and for Jimmy to get his hatrick. A left foot strike inside the area which saw the back of the net via the crossbar.
6-3 Sands
FT
Goals
Jimmy ⚽️⚽️⚽️
Andy Coombs ⚽️⚽️
Nathan ⚽️
A great game which could have gone either way. The score line was in no way a reflection of the efforts from Athletico who gave as good as they got and on another day the result may have been different.
We go back up to 2nd spot and still a very small outside chance of the title which is out of our hands now.
MOTM
This was very difficult call, our 2 in the middle Robbo and Andy were superb, Dan Newman at full back was a rock defensively. Jimbob very commanding in the sticks for us. A nice hatrick from Jimmy, Alex, Owen, Mike, Adam & Adam all playing their parts as always for the team but…
Felix Barnes 👏🏻
Felix ran his socks off and kept stretching the back line for us and causing trouble. They changed the right back a few times as you kept stretching their hamstrings too. Best game for us in a Sands shirt. 👏🏻
Thanks for all your efforts lads, a break now for a few weeks, enjoy your bank holidays.
Up next is the 50 mile Hike! 💪🏻😅
🧡💙
Thanks as always to our sponsors 🤩
Bristol Rovers Community Trust
BWS Removals
D J Newman Property Services
Neil's Data Consultancy