Match Report - SCTFC 2 - 1 Cheltenham Town FC u18s

The Royals opened their pre-season strongly with a 2-1 win against Cheltenham Town u18s on Tuesday , following goals from Ryan Shaw and Lewis Monaghan.

Town began the game positively, placing Cheltenham’s youngsters under pressure, whipping a string of free kicks into the box. The host of attacks continued, after a number of darting runs from a trialist, number 11, however Reece Gibson was unable to connect with the ball.

In the latter stages of the first half, the robins regained their composure, continuously pressing to win the ball back from Sutton Coldfield Town, followed up by a close, yet misplaced shot, from Cheltenham’s 57, who drilled it past the wrong side of the post. Another attack was created for Cheltenham, following Beresford losing possession, only to result in a last-ditch block from the defender, compensating his error seconds before.

However, a quick-paced counterattack led by another run down the left from the trialist, finally paid off, after the ball was played across to Reece Gibson, who smartly flicked the ball over his marker, and chipped the ball over Cheltenham’s keeper, allowing Ryan Shaw to smash home from short-range, five minutes before half time. The lead was almost doubled on the brink of half-time, however Reece Leek was only able to fire straight at the keeper following another counterattack.

The second half began similarly bright, as the strong link-up play between left-back Matt Timms, and the trialist, created three decent chances for Gibson, who was unable to capitalise on the chances, despite some fantastic hold-up play on the ball, allowing both Reece Leek as well as the trialist push forward into the box.

Cheltenham remained under pressure following substitutions for both sides, and finally caved in following a clever through-ball to Monaghan, who, unmarked, slotted the ball calmly past the Cheltenham ‘keeper to make it 2-0.

The robins reacted positively, pushing up the field in an attempt to reduce the two-goal deficit. Beresford’s misplaced pass fell straight to Cheltenham’s Dan Stevens, who found himself through on goal, and stroked the ball past the keeper to make it 2-1. The remainder of the game saw the continued pressure applied from Cheltenham, who missed a chance late on, firing over the bar. Another late attack saw clever wing-play from Cheltenham, resulting in James Beresford blocking a very good chance from Monaghan, denying him a brace.

It was an all-round strong performance from the Neil Tooth’s men, who now look forward to Saturday’s game against Paget, kick off at 3:00PM.