NEWENT TOWN 0-1 CHELTENHAM SARACENS: THE MATCH REPORT...

Saracens Spoil Rust’s Big Day…

Newent Town 0-1 Cheltenham Saracens

This game was meant to be an emotional one for Newent skipper Hayden Rust, who was playing his final home game for the club but the Saracens were in no mood to surrender any points, as they secured an important victory in their promotion quest from the Hellenic League Division 1 West. A firm headed goal by Saracens’ defender Matt Barnard won the encounter during the second period but in truth, Cheltenham were profligate, notwithstanding some fine saves by Alex Goode, the Newent goalkeeper. The visiting wide players, Josh Watts and Kai Mahon were constant menaces for the home defence which needed their own touchline men Rares Micula and Luke Hawkins to drop and help Rust, Rich Prictor and the effective Taylor Cordell to deal with the danger.

THE REF BELIEVES THAT RYAN SMITH HAS BEEN EATING GARLIC...

LONG-SNAPPER PATRICK GIBBS OF THE NEWENT RAIDERS PREPARES TO FEED ALEX GOODE, HIS PUNTER...
(SORRY, WRONG GAME...)

Watts was denied three times by Goode, solid central striker Sean McKeon forced home ‘keeper into a double-save and Harlie Price shot wide when through one-on-one with the Newent custodian, who could not be described as a shrinking violet… The hosts’ best offensive efforts were a couple of headers, also a trio of shots by the often impressive number 9 Patrick Gibbs, all of which rose way too high. Visiting goalie Charlee Cook, not the famous Chelsea schemer Charlie Cooke, nor the current GNP Sports winger Charlie Cook from Coventry, did have to tip an angled free-kick by Micula over his crossbar but the gloveman was largely untroubled by the home forwards, which included Sanchez Grange.

OLIVER LOOKS ON, AFTER ALLARD'S HEADER HAS GONE WIDE FOR NEWENT...

JAMES BOWERS: PACY LEFT-SIDER...

Saracens were always the more dangerous before the break, despite Town’s more patient approach, which saw them hog the ball for short periods without hurting their opponents much. Indeed, after the industrious Alex Allard had risen and headed a fine Hawkins centre wide and Gibbs had nodded a Harrison Jones corner over the target, Micula tested Cook with his free-kick and Grange lifted a far post effort too high, following a short corner between Hawkins and Jones. The other Newent chances fell to Gibbs but despite four central bullish rushes, he drove too high three times from 25 yards or so and when his final surge took him into the penalty-box, he lost control of the ball. 

SMITH'S HAND IS GLUED TO HIS SOCK...

Saracens were the more clinical, driven on by midfielders Liam Brignull and Josh Goodhall but the pace and skill of both Watts and especially Kai Mahon, shoved the home defence back regularly. McKeon shot well wide from 23 yards, then leaned back and lifted a half-volley well over the crossbeam, after Goode had beaten away a left-flank corner. Price had earlier glanced a header from skipper Ryan Smith’s centre well wide but when put clear centrally by Watts’ astute pass, the striker dragged his low shot disappointingly wide of the left upright as Goode advanced. Kai Mahon had set up Watts for a 20 yard shot past the left post, another Watts drive was beaten away by Goode, before he lobbed a short-range effort onto the roof of the net and Goode fielded another Watts shot from distance confidently. And then there was defender Barnard, whose early header drifted too high but after the interval, the bearded defenceman would strike with venom… 

THE WHOLE OF SMITH IS GLUED TO HAWKINS...

MAHON THINKS THE BALL HAS BEEN SOAKED IN VOMIT...

MICULA YELLOW...

HAWKINS RESTS...

After half-time, the hosts failed to threaten more than twice in all honesty, merely a pair of shots causing Cook any harassment at all. Replacement Zac Blood, on for Grange, was freed at inside-left by Gibbs but a disappointing weak shot was picked up by a surprised Cook. A late cross-shot by Micula, who had been booked during the first period, flew with the aid of a slight deflection for a left-side corner but subsequently, Newent’s attack was tame until the end. The visitors continued to push forward, still driven by their midfielders and the pacy James Bowers drove wide of the left stick, Kai Mahon shot straight at Goode and was denied on a run by Allard’s superb tackle, before Watts drove too high and then fashioned a low drive which was really well saved down to his right by Goode.

HALF TWO...

Defender Oliver headed too high, replacement Joe Mahon clipped a 24 yarder past the right upright and very late on, substitute Chez Obi shoved a low header past the left post. However, Barnard would win the game, after McKeon was denied twice by Goode. The goalie’s low save from the centre-forward saw the ball fly back to the striker who must have thought he would convert the rebound but Goode was up like a flash to save again and the guests had to be content with a right-side corner but that would bring the all important goal.

BARNARD SCORES...

Barnard rose majestically to nod the flag-kick beyond Goode’s dive and into the right side of the net and that would be that…

THE SARACENS CELEBRATE...

Despite some creativity by Newent’s George Watkins, some decent wing-play by Hawkins, some graft by Jones and those shots by Gibbs in the opening half, Town’s effective players were defenders Cordell, Prictor and Rust, as well as Allard on several occasions. Replacement Shaun Stanley received a late caution though… For the guests, the tricky Kai Mahon, the dangerous Watts, the lively left-back Bowers and those busy midfielders Goodhall and Brignull were generally bright but in fairness, neither striker impressed, as Price and McKeon were unable to finish clinically on the day.

HAYDEN RUST...

All the best to Rust, many thanks to Newent for the invitation to cover the match, well done to Saracens for gaining the three points they went for but mainly, well done to Goode, who played, er, good… 

IN GOODE FORM...

TEAMS:

NEWENT TOWN:

ALEX GOODE, RARES MICULA, TAYLOR CORDELL, HAYDEN RUST (CAPT), RICHARD PRICTOR, GEORGE WATKINS, ALEX ALLARD, HARRISON JONES, PATRICK GIBBS, SANCHEZ GRANGE, LUKE HAWKINS.

SUBS:

LUKE GRIFFITHS, ZAC BLOOD, JOSH HIGGS, SHAUN STANLEY, CALLUM RICKARD.  

CHELTENHAM SARACENS:

CHARLEE COOK, RYAN SMITH (CAPT), MATT BARNARD, JAMES BOWERS, LIAM BRIGNULL, MIKE OLIVER, JOSH WATTS, JOSH GOODHALL, SEAN McKEON, HARLIE PRICE, KAI MAHON.

SUBS:

ELLIOT ROBERTS, JOE MAHON, CHIZ OBI.