CHELTENHAM SARACENS 2-1 MALVERN TOWN: THE MATCH REPORT...

Saracens See Off Hillsiders At The Death

Cheltenham Saracens 2-1 Malvern Town

After substitute Ethan Moran had worn substitute Matt Fusco’s shirt in Malvern’s 2-4 FA Vase win recently at GNP Sports and subsequently scored a brace of late goals, the mix-up had caused me some harassment whilst producing the video highlights. So instead of another Halloween trick being played at Cheltenham, the pair would surely afford me a treat this time… Er, no. They had swapped shirts before kick-off and thus despite their quite different appearances in the gloom, I had warily accepted that the team-sheet was in fact correct. It wasn’t. However, with some skullduggery, I was able, without the aid of voiceovers on my commentary (like for the GNP tie) to avoid any problems. Anyway, I had become aware of the anomaly soon after the interval when both players were more or less attacking from where I was filming. No treat then, merely another trick by the Fusco-Moran fraudsters…

THE SERIOUS TOSS & SOMEONE HAS TO BOOGIE IN THE BACKGROUND...

That Malvern lost this game is still puzzling to the unbiased onlooker, for they began swiftly, scored early and threatened regularly whenever Harry Clark marauded along the right sideline. However, goal two eluded the Hillsiders, as the hosts firmed up, became more resilient and benefited from their guests’ increasingly disappointing offense. The Saras were blunt in attack before the break though, rarely causing Town’s ‘keeper Charlie Weaver more than a yawn, whilst Clark and Fusco (not Moran) hit great shots just wide for Malvern, although central striker Matt Turner was unable to affect his Cheltenham markers much at all.

TURNER: "WE CAN'T BEGIN BECAUSE MY FRIEND HASN'T TIED HIS SHOELACES YET..."

After the recess for crumpets and Vimto, with Clark stalking the left flank this time, Malvern stumbled on offense and appeared to lose both their composure and direction for periods of time. Errors were made even controlling the ball on the surface and the Hillsiders were certainly lacking a clinical edge when offered shots at goal. In stark contrast, Saracens would hit four shots and two of them registered as goals. A sinning Dave Reynolds was binned for ten minutes, as Town became more and more frustrated, which was no help to the cause and one or two tasty challenges emerged, as the tension increased. The referee was not one to please the two dugouts either, as some free-kicks were awarded late, following a yell of anguish from falling, ailing and wronged players, whilst on a couple of occasions, the advantage rule was poorly applied.

REF: "HOW LONG DO YOU NEED, MY GOOD MAN?"

Indeed, a victory for Cheltenham had seemed rather like a mirage during the opening 45 minutes, for the team managed only one proper shot, by Jordan Bryan which was blocked by Town’s James Febery, who was cautioned for a foul soon after the start. There were two other sorties, which like the new film ‘Farmageddon’, contained only ‘mild threat’. First Harlie Price was tackled at the right byeline by sturdy Hillsider Jay Sauntson, winning not a spot-kick but a flag-kick and then a short corner routine led to Matt Magee’s cross forcing a change of mind by Weaver. The goalie began to advance to deal with the delivery but he stopped and that action caused everyone else to hesitate too and the ball drifted on to safety. A cool dummy by the ‘keeper… 

LOADER IS SURELY PLEADING BUT FEBERY IS CAUTIONED ANYWAY...

CLARK HAS SCORED FOR MALVERN...

Clark had seen an early run end with his low centre being grabbed by Saras’ goalie Nick Jones, then Clark latched onto a Cheltenham error, strode into the right side of the 18 yard box and lashed a rising drive into the roof of the net from 15 yards to open the scoring. Clark also sent a vicious volley past the left upright but a better effort was later executed by Fusco, not Moran, which cannoned across the face of goal from inside-right. A downward header by Febery was hacked clear by Cheltenham and Turner maybe would have done better to use his left boot or his head to finish off Clark’s right-wing centre at the far stick, instead of his flailing right shoe. Turner would also shoot low, straight at Jones… 

SAUNTSON: WHERE THREE BALLS COLLIDED.
(ASK HIM...)

THE AGONY...

THE GREATER AGONY, AS SAUNTSON PRAYS TO THE GOD BOLLOCK FOR SOME RELIEF...

A deterioration in the creativity emanating from Malvern was palpable after the break, as the Saracens became belligerent and denied their guests space, time and the running lanes they had exploited earlier in the match. Fusco, not Moran drove an effort too high, then Moran, not Fusco took a shot which hit splendid home skipper Ryan Smith and bounced upwards. Turner leapt to win a header against Jones’ jump but when the ball fell to replacement Reynolds on the right byeline, his cross was, let’s just say, wayward. Clark shot wide of the right stick, a Febery header struck Smith and forced Jones (alias Smith and Jones?) to beat the ball straight out to Fusco, not Moran but the ‘keeper rushed at the Town forward and deflected the ball away. Two Febery headers drifted well off target but the eager and committed Malvern skipper Louis Loader was more accurate with two of his three goal attempts.

SECOND PERIOD & ALL SHOELACES TIED...

"COME ON REF, THAT'S A LOADER CRAP..."

REF: "NO, IT'S NOT A BOOKING, I'M CHECKING AN ECLIPSE..."

First he struck a free-kick which Jones punched clear at his right post, then the relieved gloveman tipped a 23 yard Loader shot awkwardly onto the roof of his net. Soon afterwards, Loader pulled a 21 yard effort wide of the left upright. 

PRICE & MORAN (NOT FUSCO...)

The hosts counter-attacked whenever possible and a low angled shot by Price forced Weaver down at his near post to concede a corner, his one real save of the evening. However, a left-side flag-kick regained parity for the Saras when Magee leapt like he’d seen a mouse on his boot and the ball bounced down from his chest, allowing the nifty Bryan to perform a low overhead shot from close range in a crowded 6 yard box and the ball flew into the net. Midfielder Harry Daubney had been the linking catalyst throughout the match for Cheltenham and he, more than most, deserved to be on the winning team, for his workrate, his hustling and also his often careful passing… 

BRYAN'S OVERHEAD EFFORT HAS GONE IN...

PRICE THE MATCH-WINNER...

It appeared that perhaps Malvern’s late assaults, albeit haphazard and spasmodic, might possibly produce the winning goal but staunch defending by Smith, John Evans and Kris Asiedu, who were in no mood to capitulate, thwarted their foes. So it was that Price galloped onto a pass from wide and thumped a definitive shot past Weaver only moments from the end of this hard fought encounter and claim the victory for the smiling hosts. 

ALL OVER...

Malvern’s supporters were clearly disappointed by the level of astuteness displayed by their players, especially after such a promising start but credit must surely go to the Saras who survived most of the Hillsiders’ better attacks and stunted, shunted and blunted them, then stole two well taken goals themselves to finish as victors. Clark had been kept quiet as a left-sided attacker, having produced so much more danger earlier when on the right flank. Cheltenham’s Evans and Malvern’s eager replacement Phil Harris were cautioned during the second period for, ahem, over-zealous tackling. 

MALVERN DEFEND A CORNER...

I left the ground wondering what treat, or more likely what trick Mr Fusco and Mr Moran will have in store for me the next time I get to see the Hillsiders play… 

THE HILLSIDERS DEFENDING AGAIN...

It doesn’t bear thinking about…  

FUSCO (NOT MORAN) HAS SKIED HIS SHOT...

TEAMS:

CHELTENHAM SARACENS:

NICK JONES, RYAN SMITH (CAPT), JOHN EVANS, JOSH GOODHALL, LIAM BRIGNULL, KRIS ASIEDU, HARRY DAUBNEY, JORDAN BRYAN, ADAM LOVERIDGE, HARLIE PRICE, MATT MAGEE.

SUBS:

JAMIE LOCK, SAM MASON, PAUL HOLMES, GARETH JONES.

MALVERN TOWN:

CHARLIE WEAVER, GEORGE HAYES, HARRY WICKETT, BRYAN CRAVEN, JAMIE SAUNTSON, JAMES FEBERY, ETHAN MORAN (7), LOUS LOADER, MATT TURNER, MATT FUSCO (10), HARRY CLARK.

SUBS:

DAVE REYNOLDS, AARON GRIFFITHS, TOM EMBLEM, PHIL HARRIS.