Bishop’s Cleeve A secured their sixth Cheltenham League Junior Charity Cup title on Friday evening at Kayte Lane, edging past Southside Star in a nail-biting penalty shootout after a 3-3 draw in regular time.
The match unfolded as a thrilling contest filled with twists and late drama. Devonte Philip opened the scoring for Cleeve in the 42nd minute, capitalizing on a saved shot from Rhys Long to slot the ball home close range.
Cleeve came out strong in the second half, with Fynn Carter doubling their lead in the 55th minute by powering a precise finish after breaking through on goal. However, Southside Star fought back swiftly as Jacob Webb scored in the 57th minute to narrow the gap.
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The home side appeared to take control when Charlie Shore-Nye produced a stunning strike from the halfway line in the 69th minute, catching Long off his line and sending the ball just under the crossbar to make it 3-1.
Yet, Southside Star refused to give up, pulling a goal back five minutes from time with a tight finish following a clever attack. Webb then completed an incredible comeback in stoppage time with a spectacular overhead kick, sending the match to penalties.
The shootout extended into sudden death, where Cleeve goalkeeper Cheal stepped up to score his own crucial penalty and then saved Long’s attempt to secure a memorable victory.
Joe Woolley, joint manager of Cleeve, reflected on the intense finale: “We were cruising for much of the match but made it tougher than it needed to be. The guys showed great character, especially in penalties where it’s all about luck and composure. It was a classy finish to a hard-fought cup final.”
Forward Curtis Osinuga described the pressure of taking his penalty in front of family and supporters: “Seeing my family brought extra nerves, but that pressure pushed me to not let them down. It’s a relief now that it’s over.”
Woolley stressed the team’s ambition moving forward: “Winning this cup is fantastic, but this squad deserves to compete at a higher level. We’ll enjoy this moment but come next season, it’s all about promotion.”
The lineups for the final included:
Southside Star: Long, Brady, Teague, Ryder-Jones, Page, O’Leary, Thom, Prince, Clayton, Witcomb, Plumb. Subs: Plnells, Williams, Webb, Ritchie.
Bishop’s Cleeve A: Cheal, Singleton, Barnes, Essel-Effum, Palmer, Hucker, Danter, Carter, Shore-Nye, Njenga, Philip. Subs: Reid, Lepford, Bowden, Jobbins, Osinuga.
Referee: Mark Walter.