Petroc title defence begins with an entertaining draw

After finishing top of the league last season and stepping up into the Association of Colleges (AoC) Championship this year, the men’s football team at Petroc College were expecting some tough opposition for their first league game of the season in the form of South Gloucestershire and Stroud College (SGS). 

The facilities at SGS, it has to be said, were fantastic with a beautifully kept grass pitch to play on, so no complaints there!

In a frantic start to the game, both teams could have scored within the first two minutes. After this, the game started to settle into a well-balanced contest. Forging forwards, Petroc managed to grab the lead with Fratton Tetley scoring.

For the next five minutes, Petroc were relentless and created three more excellent chances with two great saves from the SGS keeper and one poor miss from Petroc.

Then, disaster struck. Petroc gave the ball away in their own third of the pitch and allowed an overload down the left side, SGS hit back with an excellent finish, 1-1 at half time.

Into the second half and with both teams making substitutions, the game was more balanced with fewer chances until Petroc broke down the right hand side and excellent play from Fratton in the box allowed him to get his shot off, which hit the post before agonisingly going along the line and away from the goal.

In a great contest and with some excellent football from both teams a 1-1 draw was maybe a fair result, although Petroc will rue some amazing chances in the first half. A great start to the season. 

Rugby is back at Petroc!  The newly formed rugby academy under the stewardship of ex-professional player and Barnstaple player/coach, Johny Carter, travelled away to Bridgewater for their first game in over five seasons.

The Bridgewater team, playing in their second season together, were very well organised and, although Petroc had some good periods, they ended up on the wrong end of a heavy defeat. The result was never the focus of the day though, the Petroc players, playing together for the first time, never gave up and battled to the end.