Bishop’s Cleeve A secured their sixth Cheltenham League Junior Charity Cup title following an exhilarating match against Southside Star at Kayte Lane on Friday evening. The game ended 3-3 after regulation time, leading to a tense sudden-death penalty shootout, which Cleeve won 7-6.
Joint manager Joe Woolley reflected on the hard-fought encounter: “We were in control for much of the game but made it harder than it needed to be. Southside never stopped pressing, just like in the previous matches this season.”
Devonte Philip opened the scoring in the 42nd minute, capitalizing on a save parried by Rhys Long before calmly finishing close range. The second half saw Cleeve double their lead when Fynn Carter powered a strong finish through on goal in the 55th minute.
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Southside quickly responded through Jacob Webb in the 57th minute, narrowing the gap. The lead seemed secure for Cleeve when striker Charlie Shore-Nye spectacularly scored from the halfway line in the 69th minute, a shot that dipped just under the crossbar. Woolley praised Shore-Nye’s quality, saying, “Charlie has that unique talent to change a game.”
Still, Southside Star mounted a dramatic comeback, pulling a goal back with five minutes remaining and then equalizing right before full-time with a stunning overhead kick from Webb, forcing penalties.
In the shootout, after a nail-biting sequence that extended into sudden death, Cleeve’s goalkeeper Cheal scored his own penalty and then saved Long’s effort to secure victory. Manager Woolley admitted the tension of the moment: “Once it goes to sudden death, it’s luck and nerve. You pick your spot and hope for the best.”
Forward Curtis Osinuga shared his thoughts on the pressure: “Seeing every penalty go right made me decide to go down the middle. Having my family there made it tougher but also pushed me to give my best.”
Woolley concluded by highlighting the ambition within the club: “This team deserves a higher division. Winning this cup is fantastic, but next season we have to improve and earn promotion.”
Southside Star lineup: Long, Brady, Teague, Ryder-Jones, Page, O’Leary, Thom, Prince, Clayton, Witcomb, Plumb. Subs: Plnells, Williams, Webb, Ritchie.
Bishop’s Cleeve A lineup: Cheal, Singleton, Barnes, Essel-Effum, Palmer, Hucker, Danter, Carter, Shore-Nye, Njenga, Philip. Subs: Reid, Lepford, Bowden, Jobbins, Osinuga.
Referee: Mark Walter.