Following on from a dominant performance against RGS Worcester, a game STRS lost 2 – 1 (succumbing to two scrappy goals that would not have looked out of place under a big top), the team returned to winning ways in emphatic style. Tommies started the game with elegance and energy despite the bracing wind and rain – a warning that Doris was well and truly on her way! The early STRS pressure soon led to a corner, which was whipped in perfectly by Price – something we have come to expect over the season – to be met by a towering, thumping header from the ever impressive Smerdon, taking his tally to eight for the season. Playing the conditions perfectly, chances were being carved out for the lively forward partnership of Price, Noakes and Chadwick. It was Price who was next onto the scoresheet, benefitting from powerful work on the right from Chadwick, knocking the ball nonchalantly into the gaping net. As the half went on, Crypt did manage to get some sort of foothold in the game and were beginning to defend the way STRS were attacking up the sloping pitch. Towards the end of the half, a wonder strike (caught slightly in the wind) from 30 yards looped over the otherwise impeccable Holder. The half time score, 2 – 1. A few substitutions and a tactical, positional switch saw Tommies begin the second half playing brilliant, flowing football, with the sublime skills of Mainwaring-Taylor and Ahmed forcing the pace in midfield. Defensively, the very few attacks that the opposition had were snuffed out expertly by the rock solid STRS back four unit. The pressure applied by Tommies soon resulted in a third goal when a slide rule pass through from Ahmed found Chadwick just inside the opposition area – his calm shot across the face of goal nudging the far post on its way over the line. It was then the turn of Townsend to terrorise the home defence, beating his man and delivering a ball from the right to the edge of the box – players were queuing up to take advantage but it was the decisive Chadwick who struck a low shot with his left peg into the bottom right corner. STRS were looking extremely comfortable and were stroking the ball around with the utmost confidence and aplomb. The scoring was not quite finished yet though! Chadwick found himself in space and was able to thread the ball to Ahmed on the right hand side of the box, the ball sitting up for him to crash an unstoppable volley past the motionless ‘keeper into the side netting. Despite constant pressure, the scoring had stopped. Final score: 5 – 1 to STRS. We now look forward to heading over to Cotswold School for the quarter final of the County Cup next week.