Saracens looking to take momentum forward after beating Newent on penalties to advance in Challenge Cup

Penalties were the difference on Saturday afternoon as Cheltenham Saracens held their nerve to knock Newent Town out of the Challenge Cup, writes Alfie Richmond.

Another break from league action saw Newent Town take the short trip up to Cheltenham to face Sarries in the second round of the UHL Challenge Cup — a repeat of the league fixture between the two back in August, in which the Daffs came out on top.

Having won four from their last five, the visitors came into the game with their tails up. Saracens, with just one win in their previous four, were looking to build on last weekend’s victory over Wellington.

The first chance of the game fell to the hosts on 17 minutes, when Ryan Dobbins’ cross found the path of Joe Richards. His goal-ward flick was brilliantly denied by Newent keeper Leyton Joyce.

Four minutes later, a Josh Aldridge corner found the head of Tom Hoskins, whose header was comfortably collected by Joyce.

After 35 minutes, the home side found the break-through. Dobbins’ deft touch found Tommy Bond — who flashed it across the Newent goal — where Callum Dark was there to tap home.

The Saracens high-line was a theme throughout the first half that continued to frustrate the visitors, but on 39 minutes Dylan Hart sent a ball in behind to Zac Blood, only for Essa Sabally to recover well and defend the lead.

In a quest to change the tide of the game, Newent made two changes at the break; introducing Thiago Ribeiro and Matt Nestorowski.

Nestorowski made an impact instantly. Just three minutes into the second half, his clipped ball over the Sarries defence found Blood — his flick fell to George Brand, who missed the target from 7 yards out.

Brand had another couple of efforts on 55 and 57 minutes. The first of which he blazed over the bar, with the second one straight at Harvey Need. The visitors had started the half well.

Eventually the Newent pressure prevailed, and on 61 minutes the away side had levelled the scoring. Max Poidevin’s quick free-kick caught Saracens off-guard when he picked out Dylan Hart. After swivelling on a sixpence, his long-range volley looped over the head of Need to find the net.

20 minutes remained when Dobbins missed a huge chance to regain the hosts’ lead. Bond found him well at the back post but he couldn’t re-direct his header goalwards.

Joyce was called into action once again in the 84th minute. After punching away a hoisted cross, his right boot denied Dark his second of the afternoon. Dark then had a second bite of the cherry with a header that sailed wide.

After a frantic end-to-end finish to the half, the full-time whistle blew — signalling a penalty shoot-out.

The first five penalties from both sides were flawless, resulting in sudden death. Newent defender James Halsall stepped up for the first, but his penalty was stopped by Need.

Sarries man Sabally had to score to win the game — and he did so emphatically, putting Saracens through to the 3rd round of the UHL Challenge Cup.

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After the match, Cheltenham Saracens skipper Austin Parker said the hosts ‘failed to weather the storm’ after Newent’s aggressive start to the second half.

“They came out flying, to be fair. We spoke about it at half-time. A team that’s being beaten in the first half comfortably are always going to come out and throw the kitchen sink at you. They changed their formation, and so did we, so that might’ve disrupted it a bit — but credit to them.

We thought we’d weather the storm for ten minutes and we’d be back on top, but they came out flying and gave us a good game.”

Parker touched on the inconsistencies of his side’s performances, particularly in spells recently, and how today it improved.

“In our last three games, we’ve had good spells but we haven’t really maintained it for a whole half. Our first-half performance today was decent and I think that’s the biggest takeaway.”

Having previously picked up one win in their last four, Parker mentioned it was ‘crucial’ that they got the result they wanted today.

“We’ve been quite lucky that we’ve had two cup games in the last four, so it hasn’t really affected the league too much. But after that, it’s absolutely crucial that we take the momentum forward to every game to give us a good chance of winning the league.”

Saracens now don’t play until the 25th of the month, where a trip to Ludlow Town awaits them. They’ll then take a ten day break before welcoming Tuffley Rovers in the GFA-Challenge Trophy on the 4th of November.

Newent, however, have back-to-back cup games in the next seven days. First, it’s Bewdley Town on Tuesday night in the Wiseman Lighting Floodlit Cup, before a huge away clash against Barnstaple Town in the FA Vase next Saturday.

Subs: Callinan, Ebanks (87’), James (60’), Marszalek, Chamberlain (76’)

Subs: Godfrey (73’), Nestorowski (45’), Martin (76’), Ribeiro (45’), Taylor (89’)

C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Callum Dark (Cheltenham Saracens)