After last season’s narrow play-off semi-final defeat to Malvern Town, Bishop’s Cleeve manager Paul Collicutt is more driven than ever to advance his team further this season. The Mitres showcased their potential with an impressive 4-2 triumph over Gloucester City, claiming the Severn Sport Shield at the TigerTurf Stadium.
Jay Malshanskyj led the charge with two goals, while Ross Langworthy and Jack Watts also found the back of the net, securing an early statement win ahead of the league campaign. Langworthy opened the scoring capitalizing on a goalkeeper error, before Gloucester’s Michael O’Regan equalized. However, Watts and Malshanskyj pushed the lead to 3-1 by halftime with quick counter-attacks. Malshanskyj sealed the victory late in the match, even though Gloucester managed a late goal through a trialist. Captain Langworthy proudly lifted the shield following the win.
Collicutt, a former Cheltenham Town skipper, praised his team’s resilience under extreme heat. “The lads worked tremendously hard despite the tough conditions. We started slow but grew stronger as the game went on,” he said. He highlighted the use of 17-18 players during pre-season and the introduction of young talent, emphasizing squad depth.
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The manager’s focus remains clear: league success. “It’s great to win, and I’m pleased with our goal-scoring, but ultimately it’s the league points that matter. Last season taught us the importance of consistency and a bit of luck to keep players fit,” Collicutt commented.
In addition to the returning Malshanskyj and Watts, Bishop’s Cleeve bolstered their ranks by signing midfielder Lewis Spurrier from Malvern Town. Their momentum was further reinforced with a convincing 5-2 win over Longlevens earlier in the week.
Reflecting on this strengthened squad, Collicutt said, “Whether we’re better than last season is something I’ll confirm at the end of the campaign. But I believe with a stronger squad and keeping everyone fit, we stand a good chance.”
He stressed the importance of maintaining focus throughout the season, learning from last year’s dropped points against lower-ranked teams. “We need a better mentality and must be consistent game after game,” he said. Keeping players motivated remains a priority, with Collicutt determined to build a squad players won’t want to leave.
With promising pre-season results and a clear focus, Bishop’s Cleeve are aiming to turn ambition into achievement this season under Collicutt’s leadership.