Yesterday the Trowbridge apprentices visited Ashfield YOI for the first time to play a game of football. This is all part of 2ndChance’s plan to strengthen community links inside the prison and change assumptions and attitudes towards young offenders. It also gave the Ashfield boys the chance to play football with young people of a similar age and ability.

James Mapstone gave a brief tour and explained the regime and how 2ndChance work in prisons. Before the game commenced he also dropped in that the Ashfield home team were unbeaten for several years. This caused a slight dip in the jovial banter momentarily from the away team, but it certainly didn’t swerve their enthusiasm. The Trowbridge lads put up a good fight and players Milburn and Potter put Trowbridge up by 2 goals at the end of the first half although Ashfield sneaked ahead with 3 goals. Neither team had much experience of playing together, not that this was apparent in the first half.

The away team commented on the talent many of the home side and their immaculate behaviour on the pitch surprised them all, in fact it was fair to say it was cleaner than most Premier League games. In the second half the home side turned up the heat and their experience of playing on a very slippery surface coupled with large gaps of undefended space allowed some lucky long shots to find their target into the back of the away team’s net. The Trowbridge team kept the work rate up and there were some excellent performances from defender Macca and White put in a sterling effort as keeper. Coleman put in some good runs down the line and midfield was well controlled by Groves. In fact all the players, Blisset, Jenkins, Dawley showed heart and never stopped pushing forward but the home team kept punishing them with goal after goal. Final score was 7:2 to Ashfield. The away team were disappointed with the result but not by the experience and are keen to practice as a team and have threatened a rematch. The camaraderie was apparent from both teams and all players shook hands and exchanged a few words and the many of the Ashfield lads asked them to come back for another game. Well done to all, an enjoyable evening….When’s the next one?

Posted: 05.02.10 14:56