Saturday 1st July, the Sun was shining, laughter in the changing room, new kit on display, pre-season was back. Bristol United would make the short trip to Bridge Learning Campus to take on Bedminster Down Reserves in a game that United didn’t just look at as a friendly, but the opening game of what we hope will of being a title winning season. Last season United took on the host’s A side 3 times in games that would see us record three victories, but this game was always going to be a tougher challenge facing the reserve team.
Selecting a strong side for this opening game, United’s manager, John Gilborson had asked the side to play at a high intensity, pressing the opposition into mistakes and then keeping the ball and playing short sharp football when winning it back. In the opening minutes United started strongly pinning the opposition back and hunting in packs. A few minutes into the game the opposition would show their threat though as a ball in behind saw United switch off only for the home side’s player to drag a ball across the face of goal which eventually went out of play.
From that moment on though United took control of the game, pressing in pairs and creating a few good shooting opportunities that we couldn’t quite convert. The breakthrough though would come 11 minutes in, winning the ball high in midfield midfielder Billy Gilborson would drive past the opposition player only to be brought down for a free kick which striker Josh Gilborson would convert under the wall and into the bottom corner. Just one minute later United would make it 2-0, again pressing the opposition relentlessly, Josh Gilborson would win the ball and drive into the penalty to square for strike partner Tom Blake to open his account for the game.
Fully in control of the game at this point the home side would show their threat again a few minutes later as a lapse in concentration in United’s back line allowed a long ball to go through the middle of defence sending the striker one vs one with United’s keeper Rees Tamlin who stood tall and make an excellent save. With the warning heeded, United got back on the front foot playing good passing football starting from the goalkeeper, and when United did turn over possession they were winning the ball back quickly using a pressing game even Klopp would be proud of!
For the next ten minutes United dominated the ball whilst making some decent chances that just couldn’t quite convert. However, with 24 minutes played United made it 3, again pressing the opposition into a mistake Tom Blake chased a loose bouncing ball into the area beating both the goalkeeper and defender to the ball to head into the back of the net. Again, United got straight on the front foot pinning the opposition back and passing the ball around, and when the home side did manage to break United’s press the defence of Mike Gilborson, Calum Rowan and Dan Little dealt with any threat.
On 35 minutes United would probably score the goal of the game a neat passing move down the left hand side realising midfielder Jack Cousin’s down the left hand side of the area and with angle against him he produced a rabona chip with sailed over the keepers head to make it 4-0, some people thought it was an outrageous shot and some people think he was trying to cross, you’ll have to watch the YouTube highlights to make you own call on that one. Straight from kick off though United would switch off, a long ball from the centre and the home side’s player was allowed to run unchallenged into the area to fire a shot at Rees Tamlin which he saved well but unfortunately Dan Little’s headed clearance fell into our own net. Half time score 4-1.
Starting the second half United knew they had to start strong, and that they did. A lovely passing move saw midfielder Jack Cousin’s released in behind to square for Josh Gilborson to tap home his second of the game with barely a minute of the half played. Just five minutes later and it was 6-1, another good passing move meant midfielder Jack Cousin’s found himself with the ball in a deep area and he would produce a lovely cross for Josh Gilborson to head home to complete his hat trick.
With the game over as a contest United continued to play in the way that the management team had asked, chasing every ball and pressing the opposition like we were in a losing position. On 63 minutes Tom Blake would score his hat trick goal, a neat passing move saw Billy Gilborson play a pass into the edge of the area where Tom Blake would brilliantly turn 2 defenders with his first touch before firing home into the bottom corner.
United started bringing on the substitutes at this point who all slotted into the game perfectly as we continued to dominate and only being denied increasing the score but for some good saves and some wasteful finishing. On 81 minutes United would score their final goal of the game as the ball would drop to Jack Gilborson 25 yards from goal and he produced a powerful strike which found itself in the top corner leaving the keeper helpless. From there on in the game would fade out as United’s intensity faded in the last five minutes but a dominant performance had given United a fantastic opening win on the start of our journey for this season.
United’s attention now moves onto a game Tuesday night against Bishop Sutton which will be a tough game but a challenge the whole club will relish taking on a team of a much higher standard.
The Car Paint Warehouse man of the match award went to Tom Blake not only for his hat trick but his fantastic link of play and work rate.