Slimbridge produce dramatic comeback to advance in FA Youth Cup against Bristol Manor Farm

Slimbridge u18s produced a dramatic second half comeback to advance in the FA Youth Cup defeating Bristol Manor Farm u18s 3-2 at Thornhill Park on Thursday, writes Sam Yapp.

Just like in their previous tie against Gloucester City, the Swans struck early on three minutes when Kieran Bennett played a dangerous ball across the six-yard box for Freddie Harris to tap home.

Farm got themselves level just after the half hour mark when a long ball over the top wasn’t dealt with by the Swans defence allowing Jacob Gough time to pick out the far corner.

The Swans were dealt a blow on 40 minutes when goalkeeper, Kieran Winstone limped off and just three minutes later his replacement, Korsten Lewis was punished for a heavy touch inside his six-yard box by Joseph Hill.

But the Swans got back level on 56 minutes as James Tainton was on hand to follow up a parried Kieran Bennett driven effort following a fantastic ball over the top from Lewis.

And on 84 minutes the Swans secured passage into the Second Qualifying Round when Bennett finally got himself on the scoresheet rising highest to head home a Max Fowler floated cross.

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The Swans reached the Second Qualifying Round for the first time in two years and will be eagerly awaiting their opponents with the draw set to take place in the coming days.

Manager, Kieran Brice-Ingles may have hoped his side were further ahead early on when Harris somehow fired wide from six -yards moments after his goal before Bennett saw a driven effort fly just past the post on 13 minutes.

Farm grew strongly into the game and could have found a way through more often than they did but were denied on a number occassions by Swans defender, Josh Barclay.

After some impeccable defensive work in the first half Barclay made a game changing sliding interception, stopping a perfect through ball to Aviya Owusu Antwi to deny an almost certain goal scoring opportunity ten minutes from time.

But just minutes before that Harris came agonisingly close to putting the Swans ahead when he glanced a superb Shamar Thomas cross just wide of the post.

Brice-Ingles side are back in action on Sunday September 22^nd when they travel to Longlevens u18s in the County Cup before getting their Cheltenham Floodlit League campaign up and running on Wednesday September 25^th away to Bishops Cleeve u18s.

Slimbridge u18s: Winstone (GK) (Lewis 40’), Thomas, Parker-Delves (Wayman 66’), Barclay, Djiaha-Nsangou, Jagger ©, Johnson (Fisher 86’), Fowler, Bennett, Tainton (King 77’), Harris (Howarth 71’)

Bench: Wasley, Anderson

Bristol Manor Farm u18s: Hobbs (GK), Gough, Stewart (Ahmed 73’), Parkhill, Intzedy, Hodge ©, Osborne, Rodriguez, Thompson, Antwi, Hill (Holden 73’)

Bench: Dawson, Ximenes, Leonard

C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Josh Barclay (Slimbridge u18s)