Photo Credit: Cheltenham Town FC/ Nizaam Jones
With the international break currently going on, it saw six players from Gloucestershire clubs go out on international duty.
Five came from Cheltenham Town Football club, and one from Forest Green Rovers. The internationals from Cheltenham allowed for their game against Wycombe to be postponed, while Forest Green played and battered Colchester United 5-0.
Elliot Bonds (Guyana)
With perhaps the best performance so far of the break, Elliot Bonds played a significant role in Guyana’s win over Puerto Rico on Saturday.
Going into the game Puerto Rico were undefeated in nine, had eight wins on the bounce, and had won six straight home game. But Guyana were the streak stoppers as they won 3-1.
Although Bonds wouldn’t finish on the score sheet, the Robins’ midfielder would complete 100% of his tackles, complete over 40 passes, and went 7/8 with his long balls, as well as making two attempts on goal.
The Guyana side will face Puerto Rico again tomorrow, this time at home, as they’ll look to stay undefeated in the CONCACAF Nations League and finish the break with two wins from two.
Owen Bevan and Oli Hammond (Wales U21s)
⏰ 52’ | 🇨🇿 1-0 🏴
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) October 13, 2023
Cymru ♥️
📺 https://t.co/sKQzq361b2#U21EURO | #TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/wVNElXs8f0
Both of Cheltenham’s Welsh duo played 90 minutes, in their 1-1 draw with the U21 Czech side.
Bevan was crucial in defense through out the game making key tackles, and even a goal line block in 73rd minute, to keep his side at 1-0 down. Although the Bournemouth loanee would eventually get subbed off shortly into injury time, but it was his replacement Cardiff’s Cian Ashford who would go on to score the equalizer with the last kick of the game.
Meanwhile Hammond excelled in the second half after being quiet in the first half, and although like King wouldn’t be rewarded with anything, he did play striker Josh Thomas through one on one with an excellent ball in the 77th minute, but the striker failed to get the final strike past the keeper.
The Welsh are now top of their U21 Euro qualifying group, as they head home from the break, still undefeated in the competition, with one win and two draws.
Tom King (England U18s)
Tom King made history this week when he came off the bench against a U18 Morocco side he became the first ever Cheltenham Town player to represent England while at the club.
He came on in the 59th minute, and played a dangerous role down the right hand side, although the forward would be without reward come the final whistle.
Charlie McCann (Northern Ireland U21s)
Started for the Northern Ireland U21s in their 1-0 win over Azerbaijan, although would be subbed off at the half time interval, with his side 1-0 up.
Luke Southwood (Northern Ireland)
Luke Southwood was a unused substitute in Northern Ireland’s 3-0 win over San Marino this week. Southwood has made one appearance for the national team before, despite playing youth internationals from England. Southwood has another chance to feature for the side in their match against Slovenia tomorrow.
Curtis Davies (Sierra Leone)
Although Curtis Davies in the Sierra Leone squad for the first time, as the 38 year-old was hoping to make his international debut for his father’s home country, unfortunately he didn’t feature in the match day squad for their match against Benin, although he has another chance when Sierra Leone travels to Somalia for their second match of the break.
