University of Gloucestershire (UOG) 1s stormed to a 3-0 victory on Wednesday 12th February against the University of Plymouth 1s.
UOG head coach Ivor Gumm insists that his side needs to remain calm: “We are getting so close to winning the league and we haven’t lost a game yet everyone is thinking we have to do this just relax and play”
The UOG side sits in second position in the BUCS Football – Men’s Western Tier 3 one point behind leaders Exeter men’s threes with two games in hand.
It was a slow start for Gumm’s side who went into the break at 0-0:
“First half we were sloppy, we just wanted to play balls quickly instead of getting the ball down like we can and have been doing the whole season.
“I said to them just relax we are getting so close to winning the league, so everyone is thinking we have to do this but all we have to do is relax and play.”
The half-time talk from the gaffer worked as his side started quickly in the second half with two goals in quick succession for his side followed by a free kick later in the second half to secure the three points.
“In the second half we just did the simple things and football is a simple game if you do it right, they can’t touch you and we showed that.
“The first goal was vital, and we said at half-time the team that scores first, and they (Plymouth) had chances and the team that scores first will win the game and that was us.”
The win was celebrated loudly by the players at Plock Court with the team knowing they just need to win their games in hand to go top of the table.
“We are flying, we are buzzing and we are really positive about it and we just have to make sure we keep our feet on the ground.
“We have to stay composed and all the things we have done to get here are the things we keep on doing to finish the job off.”
The men’s first team manager has been coaching and playing football for a long time and has been across the globe doing it:
“I have been coaching or playing football for 57 years now and professionally I have been all around the world.”
This is Gumm’s first ever university managerial role: “I am loving it absolutely loving it and these guys have been brilliant.
“It has been difficult because you don’t get them every day of the week, you only get them Monday nights for an hour and a half, a Friday morning for an hour so it is hard to get ideas and ethos into them, but the guys have taking it in big time.”
