Shortwood edge past Tuffley to advance in Challenge Cup
Shortwood United advanced into the last 16 of the Hellenic League Challenge Cup, beating Tuffley Rovers 2-1 on Tuesday night.
After a goalless first half, Elliot King tapped home after Luke Merchant saved an initial effort to put the visitors ahead.
Rovers substitute, Oli Barnes, levelled from the penalty spot before Jack Gardiner came off the bench to win the tie with an absolute rocket of an effort.
Shortwood will be looking to take the momentum from the result into back-to-back upcoming away games against Ludlow Town and Wantage Town, as they look to make the Hellenic Division One play-offs.
Wood have two games in hand on Clanfield and FC Stratford ahead of them, but have played three more than Redditch Borough, who sit between them and the play-offs.
Marcus Foxwell will know that his side weren’t at their best on the night, but they were disciplined defensively and efficient in the final third when it mattered.
For Tuffley, they are in a difficult position. Not in the league, they have seven games left and are currently in mid-table knowing they have never been in the relegation discussions and will need four or five teams to capitulate in order to make the play-offs.
Rovers are now out of both league cups, and other than the County Cup, they don’t have anything to play for as such.
But it has been a positive season for Neil Mustoe’s side and he will expect his players to end the season as strong as possible – to lay down another marker for next season.
The game itself saw a very even first half, with both sides having to settle for half chances for the most part – with neither keeper really called into anything too strenuous.
Ollie Price had an effort deflected wide for a corner and Keegan Bowes curled a free kick over for the visitors, whilst Brad Bevan and Kieran Alder had efforts palmed away by Joe Wright.
Olly Whelan headed a corner onto the bar after the break, before Brad Bevan went down the other end and saw an effort smothered by Wright.
On 68 minutes, Shortwood broke the deadlock. After a corner was cleared to the edge of the box, an effort was fizzed in but after Merchant saved the initial shot, Elliot King was on hand to tap home.
Tuffley pushed for an equaliser immediately and after Macaulay Herbert headed wide, they were awarded a penalty following a hand ball in the box.
Substitute Oli Barnes stepped up to send Wright the wrong way and restore parity.
But with eight minutes to go, Shortwood won the tie thanks to a stunning effort from Jack Gardiner.
After a ball in from the right was retrieved, Gardiner cut in on the left corner of the box and rifled an effort in off the crossbar – leaving Merchant stranded.
Foxwell’s side defended well to see the tie out, with Tuffley running out of ideas to force penalties.
Shortwood head to Ludlow town on Saturday to try and keep up their play-off charge, whilst Tuffley host Sporting Club Inkberrow this weekend.
Tuffley Rovers: Merchant, McGuirk, Clifford, Simpson, Herbert, Turner, Smith, Creed, Walters, Alder, Bevan
Subs: Barnes, Pritchett, Warrington, Valenti
Shortwood United: Wright, Williams, Price, E King, Tryner, Whelan, Bowes, Kent, Bradshaw, Martin, Gayner
Subs: T King, Gardiner, Davis, Byrnes, Payne
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Olly Whelan (Shortwood United)
READ MORE: Check out the list of fixtures in and around Gloucestershire this Saturday right here
