TRUK headed to Bristol to play Bristol City Panthers in our first GFSN Shield fixture with a much-changed squad. 4 players pulled out on the day, and we had 5 players making their TRUK United FC debut….also making its debut was our fabulous new kit!

Fluff Freeman donned the gloves becoming TRUK’s 5th different goalkeeper in just 6 games and despite letting in 8 he put in a player of the match performance as Bristol laid siege on TRUKS goal and it took just 5 minutes for the panthers to take the lead when TRUK failed to clear a corner and the ball was smashed home from 6 yards out via the underside of the bar. TRUK however nearly equalised when Lucy Copsey saw a header come back off the post and Katja had a good chance when Dom played her through but a heavy touch saw the chance disappear. Fluff then got a whack in the head as he came out to clear a through ball a challenge which the referee failed to take any action against but thankfully Fluff was able to continue. A counterattack from the Panthers exposed the lack of pace in TRUKS defence and it was soon to be 2 nil and then an unfortunate own goal from Poppy saw Panthers get a 3rd to go 3-0 up which is how the teams went in at the break.

TRUK started the 2nd half and was given what was only their 2nd free kick for a foul on the edge of the box….Clark asked the referee on 3 occasions to take the kick quickly which she ignored! Panthers number 9 then stopped the free kick being taken which with most referees would have been his 2nd caution of the match, but the referee again took no action! When the Free kick was taken Panthers cleared the ball and went up the other end and made it 4-0. TRUK were then left frustrated again by the referee as Dom had a goal disallowed for offside when Copsey played him through. A string of poor decisions from the match official but we guess when they turn up to referee in a tracksuit and orange boots you shouldn’t expect too much….

TRUK then had a penalty shout as Abby C had her shirt pulled in the box as she tried to take a shot following a good TRUK move…. unsurprisingly nothing was given!

Panthers ended up getting 8 and it could have been more if the truth be told as bad finishing and some great goalkeeping kept the score down and Panthers got a well-deserved 3 points.

We headed to the bar after the game for a few drinks and some fabulous Pizza supplied by our hosts….

TRUK UNITED: Fluff Freeman, Abby C, Riley, Hayley Farmer, Lucy Clark, Allison Cooke, Poppy Gale, Lucy Copsey, Dom, Kieron, Katja Saskia Subs: Kaz Self, Abi Cornell, Mia Wallace