Squad: Andrew Bower, Sam Jones, Jack Godwin, Ronan Laker, Tom Daubeney, Josh Leighton, Oliver Exton, George
Scorers: Jack Godwin (1), Sam Jones (1), Oliver Exton (3), Ronan Laker (2)
Rovers approached this tournament with trepidation as they had failed to win a single game the previous year. Many of the best teams in Gloucestershire were entered, so this was a good chance to test the level of the Rovers squad.
Group Games
Game 1: Charlton Rovers 1–0 Coalpit Heath
Rovers started the Tournament well with Jack looking dangerous but not managing to get a shot away. Rovers then took the lead when Jack on the right wing back heeled the ball to Ollie, who cross found Ronan in the box. Ronan's first time shot hit the bar and he put the rebound into the net before the keeper could recover (Goal Ronan). Rovers went close again in the second half when Ronan pushed a long shot wide after Ollie had poached the ball from the opponents keeper. A good start with the defence looking solid and both Sam and George keeping a clean sheet.
Game 2: Charlton Rovers 2-1 Cadbury Heath B
Rovers made an excellent start when Ronan and Jack combined well from the kick off to feed the ball to Ollie, who skilled his way past two defenders and slotted the ball into the net (1-0 to Rovers - Goal Ollie). However, Rovers then failed to break up an attack down the left wing and the opposing striker scored from close range (1-1). Rovers regained the lead when Jack skilled three defenders and the goalie, narrowly avoided falling over and slotted the ball into the net from close range. However, the Rovers goal was still under pressure and there were a number of scrambled clearances, with Josh and Andrew making a number of blocks, and Ronan sliding in to take the ball off the opposing strikers toe on one occasion. Ollie then went 1 on 1 with the opposing keeper and was injured in the collision, and had to be substituted.
Game 3: Charlton Rovers 3-0 Yate United B (Team 2)
Rovers scored early in this game with a spectacular volley from Ollie finding the net direct from a Jack throw in. (Goal Ollie / Jack assist). Rovers then extended their lead when Jack made an excellent run down the left wing and squared the ball for Ronan to score with a left foot volley (Goal Ronan / Jack assist). The Rovers goal was never threatened and both Tom and Josh in defence were now taking turns to push up into attack. Jack then went close with a long range effort from Jack. Rovers then extended their lead after good first time passing between Sam, Ronan and Jack resulted in Sam's (Goal Sam) first goal for the club with a first time strike from Jack's cross.
Game 4: Charlton Rovers 0-0 Keynsham Town
Rovers were in dreamland at this stage after three consecutive wins. However, realism soon dawned when they spent most of this match defending and did well to earn a draw. Rovers were restricted to a couple of breakaway efforts, but never looked like scoring. George in goal made a number of excellent saves and showed tremendous catching ability when under pressure from the opponents striker. Tom, Josh and Sam all defended heroically, with Andrew making a dramatic goal line clearance by heading the ball off the line and onto the crossbar before the ball was cleared.
Game 5: Charlton Rovers 1-0 Yate United A (Team 2)
Rovers needed a win in this game to have any chance of making the top two places in the group. The game was a close fought contest, with Rovers always looking the more likely to score. However, the only clear chance of the first half was a long shot from Jack which went wide. Rovers took the lead when Jack made an excellent run down the right wing and pulled the ball back for Ollie to score.
Game 6: Charlton Rovers 0-0 Henbury Colts B
This final game was the group decider, Rovers needing either a win or a draw to go through to the semi-finals. Both teams had early chances before a thunderstorm hit the ground, with high winds making it difficult to control the ball. Rovers held out well with George making a number of saves. They had a late scare when a Henbury shot just crept past the post. The result meant that Rovers were through to the semi-finals, though the were second in the group to Keynsham Town on goal difference and therefore had to play the winners of the other group in the semi-final.
SEMI-FINAL: Yate B 1–0 Charlton Rovers
Rovers were under pressure from the start, playing a team that had easily beaten Rovers 3-0 the previous year. They defended well but towards the end of the first half they were unlucky to concede to a deflected shot. Rovers showed their resolve by continuing to attack, with Jack having one close effort and then laying the ball off for Ollie, but his shot was blocked by three defenders. George again played well in goal, and all the defenders (Tom, Josh, Andrew) played heroically.
Rovers were the losing semi-finalist for the third time this year and again went home without a trophy. For the second time they lost the semi-final to the eventual cup winners. However, the Rovers players can be exceptionally proud of their efforts against some of the better teams in the county. Rovers showed resilience in defence and were a consistent threat in attack which can only give hope for the new season.
