Army Under-23s Ramp Up Inter-Services Preparations

The Army Under-23s have gained momentum for this year's Inter Services Championship with a 3-0 victory over the Army Reserves at the Aldershot Military Stadium. (Picture: Ian Morsman.)

The training match was split into two 30-minute periods and one 40-minute period to build up fitness and the full-time soldiers came out on top against their part-time counterparts.

The U23s kick off their Inter Services campaign in less than a month and look in good form, as goals from Liam Silver, Jordan Hicking and Sean Thomson sealed a comfortable victory.

As they were considered the home team for the match, the U23s played in the traditional Army red and started the game well. 

Thomson, who is the team's captain, forced Reserves goalkeeper Boyd into a good save with a bouncing left-footed volley but minutes later, the breakthrough came in the U23s' favour.

It was Thomson who played a big part again, threading a great pass through to Silver who managed to keep his composure. He slotted the ball past the goalkeeper with a tidy finish to give the home side a 1-0 lead.

The same partnership combined again moments later to create another opportunity. Thomson released Silver on the left and his low cross should have been fired home, but the U23s striker blasted well over from a good position. 

There was one more great chance before the break but Boyd made a great save to keep the score at just 1-0.

A lovely in-swinging corner was met by the low header of Silva at the near post, but his effort was tipped away by a sharp hand from Boyd while the rebound was blasted into the side netting from a tight angle. 

The U23s should have been 2-0 up at the start of the second half. Zimmer was fouled in the box by a clumsy tackle and Cameron Storie stepped up try and convert from 12 yards. 

His penalty was weak and comfortably saved by Boyd, but the goalkeeper was beaten just moments later.

Storie played his part too, with a delightful through ball to put Hicking in on goal. The REME man turned inside nicely onto his favoured left-foot and belted the ball low past Boyd to double their advantage.

The third goal was a defensive disaster from the Reserves.

They had three chances to clear the ball as it bounced around their penalty area, but Thomson took advantage to slam home a half-volley from the edge of the box.

It was a positive display from the Army U23s as they get ready to defend their Inter-Services title and their coach Sergeant Gerwyn Griffiths was pleased:

"We knew this fixture would be a great preparation game for us, we knew the Army Reserves would be organised and a tough side to beat."

This season's U23s campaign gets underway with the Royal Navy hosting the RAF on February 6, with the Army kicking off a week later.