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Colchester Gladiators 38 Essex
Spartans 13
The Colchester Gladiators
evened their record for 2008 at 2-2 with a comfortable 38-13 win over county
rivals Essex Spartans. Before the game, Head Coach Matt Roberts stressed the
need for a good performance to avoid a third straight loss, which would have
made the Gladiators’ target of playoff football a faint hope.
The Gladiators’ players
responded with another dominant defensive performance, holding the Spartans
without a first down until the fourth quarter, and backed up by the best
offensive performance of the season. Running back Alex “Slider” Robinson was
the undoubted star of the show, racking up 334 yards from 37 carries and four
touchdowns.
The Spartans won the toss and elected to receive the ball.
Their first possession was short lived however with linebackers Neil White and
Mark Gilbranch making their presence felt early, forcing a punt.
The Colchester offense was
really clicking, making short work of the yardage, with veteran Duncan Flack
barrelling through a big hole created by offensive linemen James Martin and
Dave Hogarth, for a 16 yard touchdown. The extra point was missed but the lead
was now 13-0. The Spartans offense was struggling to control the Gladiators at
the line of scrimmage and David Walton collected a sack to stop the next drive.
A good punt and penalty
forced the visitors to start on their own 17 yard line but Robinson again took
over, with a spectacular 64 yard run for his second touchdown. Robinson’s conversion
increased the score to 20-0.
Disaster struck on the
Gladiators on the next drive. After forcing the Spartans to punt, a long,
rolling punt was seemingly downed by the Spartans on the Gladiators one foot
line after returner Tom Clarke had hoped the ball would roll into the endzone
for a touchback. The official ruled that the ball had touched Clarke, and as
the ball was recovered by the Spartans, gave them the ball just one foot from
the Gladiators goal line. The Spartans quarterback, Lewis dived over the line
for a gift score to give them a glimmer of hope for the second half.
After receiving the ball,
the Gladiators effectively snuffed out any hope the Spartans might have had of
mounting a second half comeback with a 9 play, 70 yard drive, picking up 5
first downs. Robinson again finished it off with a two yard touchdown run for
his hat trick, extending the lead to 26-6.
The fourth quarter was
punctuated with some sloppy offensive play from both sides, the Spartans being
forced to punt and the Gladiators fumbling on their next two drives. Another
Walton sack brought up another Essex punt, which Clarke collected at his own 35.
After picking up a number of blocks, he burst into open field to complete a
stunning 65 yard touchdown return. The point after was again missed but the
score was now 38-6 and an insurmountable lead.
Essex gained a
consolation, late score after a good return and penalty gave them the ball on
the Gladiators 24. Two plays later, Running Back Gary Cohen swept around the
left end from 11 yards out for a touchdown. The kick was good to bring the
final score to 38-13. There was still time for Robinson to sprint for a 57 yard
gain setting up Singer to find wide receiver Stephen Montgomery for an apparent
touchdown, but a penalty nullified the score and time ran out.
Head Coach Matt Roberts
was delighted with the response of his players as they dominated the Spartans,
allowing just two first downs and gaining over 400 yards of offense. The
Gladiators will be back at training in preparation for their trip to Maidstone
in two weeks to take on the Pumas.
Full details of the
Gladiators fixtures, together with latest results and news, can be found on
their website at
www.colchestergladiators.com.