Army Reserves win first-ever Inter Services fixture against Maritime Reserves

The British Army Reserves have met the Maritime Reserves for the first time on the football pitch in the inaugural Reserve Service match in Aldershot. 

A successful first outing for the reservists will now see the fixture become an annual event on the forces sporting calendar.

The Army Reserves dominated the first half of the game to gain a clear 5-1 lead over the Maritime Reserves.

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Coming back for the second half, the Army Reserves proved too much for the Maritime Reserves to handle as they ran riot with four more goals, including a hat-trick by Callum Cox.

The Army Reserves won the fixture by a commanding 8-1, which team captain Lance Corporal Craig Thomson hopes will one day include the Royal Air Force Reserves as well.

He said: "The boys worked hard, putting the run in immediately from behind. They played well.

"It's great to finally get a fixture like this and hopefully we'll get the RAF in there and we'll get an Inter Services going."

Maritime Reserves team captain Petty Officer Ryan Scott, who only got his team together the night before the game, said the fixture is something to aim for in years to come.

He said: "I think for us it is something to work towards every year and also it's a reason today to enjoy the reserves, that's why we are here and a balance between your training and your sport is very, very important to the Maritime Reserves."

The Army Reserves will now head to Cyprus for a football tour in the coming weeks, while the Maritime Reserves are set to host the fixture in Portsmouth in 2025.