Mitres show quality in cup final defeat

Report by Paddy Gladman

However, it was Cleeve who started off the brightest as they knocked the ball around the pitch calmly, showing their own class, as they created several early opportunities.

First, captain Ross Langworthy and star midfielder: Toby Holland had efforts narrowly miss the target inside the opening five minutes, before Jay Malshanskyj showed his magic, in the 12th minute…
The winger weaved his way through the heart of the Gloucester defence, before rounding the goalkeeper and having an improvised back-heeled effort cleared off the line by a goal-saving block.

Unfortunately for the Mitres, Ethan Dunbar’s rebound was well-saved too – but the visitors had started on top and looked the more likely in the opening stages.

Gloucester’s first chance of the game came in the 27th minute, and it was a heart in mouth moment for the Mitres, as Lewis Clayton pulled off a stunning save to deny a long-range strike from Brandon Smalley, via the aid of the cross bar!

Just seven minutes later, Paul Collicutt’s side undeservedly fell behind as experienced striker: Theo Robinson, headed home from a free kick, that was crossed in perfectly from the right flank.
That meant that despite a lot of positives in the first half, it would be Bishop’s Cleeve who trailed at the break.

Cleeve knew how good they had been in the first half, and they came out with an abundance of confidence in the second half.

Langworthy and Dunbar had opportunities around the 50th minute mark, only to be denied by some excellent defensive work from Gloucester. Before, Holland forced the ‘keeper into a save on the hour mark.

In the 64th minute, Collicutt looked to his bench and brought on the exciting Karnell Chambers and three minutes later Cleeve were level …
Malshanskyj terrorised the City right hand side once again, twisting and turning inside the penalty area before putting it on a plate for the Skipper who had the simple task of prodding home from close range, in front of the jubilant away supporters.

With a spring in their step, Cleeve continued their positive attacking work and in the 76th minute they deservedly took the lead for themselves …
After providing an assist for the first goal, Malshanskyj finally scored for himself as he chased down a long ball and got there ahead of the goalkeeper, who he calmy lobbed on the volley before wheeling off to celebrate with the travelling fans!

Substitute, Chambers almost doubled Cleeve’s advantage in the 87th minute with a snapshot from a tight angle which was well saved, but it was Langworthy who came closest to finding a third a minute later…
Malshanskyj turned provider once more as he delivered another delicious low-driven cross to the far post which the captain met in an almost identical location to his goal earlier in the game, only to be denied by a heroic save.

Three minutes into stoppage time at the end of the 90’ minutes, the Mitres were made to rue their missed opportunities as Robinson netted his second in style, coolly slotting past Clayton with a great finish.

Nine minutes of stoppage time wasn’t enough for the Mitres to get back in front despite their best efforts, and so the game went to penalties.
Chambers stepped up first for Cleeve and scored with aplomb before Clayton denied Gloucester’s first spot kick.
Unfortunately for Cleeve, Langworthy was unable to hit the target as he hit his over the top and Holland has his penalty saved, either side of Archie Haskayne’s converting from the spot.
Clayton almost became the hero as he saved Robinson’s penalty to ensure the shoot-out would go to sudden death with the score level at 3-3.
However, it was Gloucester who would reign victories 5-4 on penalties in the end as the unfortunate Will Turner was unable to keep his effort down under the bar, and City capitalised through their skipper: Spencer Hamilton, who was the coolest man in Gloucestershire as he won his side the shoot-out and the GFA Senior Challenge Cup in the process.

The Mitres were so unfortunate as they were the better side throughout the 90’ minutes and manager Paul Collicutt said at full-time that he was “so, so proud” of his squad and that “Cleeve had shown people what the club is all about!”