BUCS Premier League South Glamorgan vs Hartpury

Hartpury travelled away to Glamorgan for their second away fixture of the season. It was only a relatively short distance to travel but the conditions couldn’t have been more different. On departing Hartpury, conditions were beautiful and autumnal whilst on arrival, rain was sweeping down and the sky was overcast and misty.

The pitch was not going to be conducive to Hartpury’s passing style as it was short in length and extremely wet which churned up even before kick-off.

Hartpury started off the game brightly, the conditions didn’t seem to worry them and had a lot of possession of the ball without really hurting Glamorgan. Glamorgan however, were quite direct with one big target man up front and the only threat was midfield runners from wide.

Jake Parrott in central areas seemed to be the key man in the early exchanges and he tried his luck with a couple of pot-shots from twenty yards, one which must have only been inches wide and had the keeper well beaten. But it was from out wide that Hartpury had their first effort on target and led to the opening goal. A good bit of hold up play by Jack Wood on the right wing was supported by Matt Roome who overlapped and he had a cross which was blocked and fell to Jake Parrott. He immediately swung the ball into the box and Max Etheridge leapt highest and headed the ball past the stationary Glamorgan keeper from six yards.

Glamorgan always seemed to be a threat on the break and Hartpury’s defence had a couple of warnings before falling to a sucker punch. A good bit of hold up play by their striker was set back to a midfielder who played the ball in behind Lewis Tasker and led to a one-on-one with James Nortei. The winger slipped the ball underneath Nortei to equalise and level the scores.

This seemed to galvanise the away side and they pursued another goal and were desperately unlucky not to be ahead before the break. A great cross from Dan Holloway on the left found Jamal Clarke unmarked six yards out but somehow he headed over and a Jake Parrott free-kick was clawed away from the top corner by the home goalkeeper.

Half time: Glamorgan 1-1 Hartpury

The second half started the way the first half finished. It was one way traffic with Hartpury pressing for a goal. Numerous chances were created and Hartpury should have scored. Jack Wood, Dan Holloway, Jack Harris and Jake Parrott all had chances to score and either good goalkeeping or squandered chances meant the scores stayed level. Glamorgan were intent on having eleven players behind the ball and defending for their lives to make life difficult for Hartpury as they closed down every inch of space. The game petered out and Glamorgan celebrated as if they had won the match but in all fairness they worked extremely hard. Hartpury however, will be encouraged by another strong performance in a game that on chances created they should have won but disappointingly left with one point rather than three.

Full time: Glamorgan 1-1 Hartpury

Team

Nortei, Roome, Tasker, Macklin, Baldwin, Clarke, Wood (Sankoh), Hancock, Etheridge, Parrott, Holloway (Harris). Sub not used: Sheppard