Swansea City attacking midfielder Ben Lloyd was one of four trialists featured as Cheltenham Town kicked off their pre-season with a commanding 4-1 victory at Bishop’s Cleeve on Friday evening.
The 20-year-old Lloyd, currently under contract with Swansea City until next summer, appears to be on Cheltenham’s radar for a potential loan move to bolster their League Two squad.
Alongside Lloyd, Cheltenham trialed Nathan Tshikuna, formerly of Tamworth and Eastleigh, ex-Bristol City midfielder Omar Taylor-Clarke, and Gloucester City’s Harry Pinchard.
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Cheltenham took the lead early when young forward Tom King scored, though Jay Malshanskyj equalized for Bishop’s Cleeve during first-half stoppage time.
After the break, Cheltenham Town turned up the pressure with Arkell Jude-Boyd reclaiming the lead. Sopuru Obieri then extended the advantage with a fine strike, before George Miller capped off the scoring with a spectacular goal from over 40 yards out.
Midfielder Harry Pell marked his long-awaited return following ACL surgery, coming on for the last 30 minutes of the match.
Notably absent from play were new signing Robbie Cundy and seasoned professionals Scot Bennett and Luke Young—the latter having welcomed his third child earlier in the week.
Cheltenham’s next friendly is away against Worcester City on Saturday afternoon, with kickoff at 1:30pm.
Match Lineups:
Bishop’s Cleeve: Clayton (Wolfendale 71), Leeson (Jeremiah 46), Lee, Nelmes (O’Leary 77), Payne (Keeping 59), Davies (Stalley 59), Turner (Turley 46), Spurrier (Liddiard 46), Langworthy (Kirrol 77), Watts (Cornwall 74), Malshanskyj (Evans-Harriott 46).
Cheltenham Town: Day, Power, Bailey, Kinsella, Bakare, Barber, Pinchard, Tustin, Angol, Dulson, King.
Second Half: Day (Diallo 46), Jude-Boyd, Rexworthy, Backwell, Walters, Hardy, Tshikuna, Taylor-Clarke, Taylor, Croose, Thomas.
Final 30 Minutes: Diallo, Caple, Willcox, F King, Sohna, Wainwright, Pell, Lloyd, Miller, Obieri, Archer.
Attendance: 798 spectators witnessed the match.