Young Tigers Claim Severn Sport Cup with narrow win over Hereford Pegasus
Jakson Thomas-Phillip’s goal was the difference as Gloucester City beat Hereford Pegasus U18s in a tight 1-0 affair to lift the Severn Sport Cup at Kayte Lane on Thursday night, writes Alfie Richmond.
After missing out on the league by two points to Slimbridge, the Severn Sport cup was at stake as the young Tigers looked to add some silverware to top off a brilliant season. They faced a Hereford Pegasus side who finished fourth in the Cheltenham Floodlit Youth League.
The first opportunity of the match fell to Hereford inside 16 minutes, when an in-swinging Callum Maddy corner met what looked like the shoulder of Alfie Althorp, who skewed his effort wide.
Gloucester skipper Sam Sullivan hit the woodwork ten minutes later with a headed attempt from Jakson Thomas-Phillip’s free-kick — who then sent an effort from range over the bar a few moments after.
A huge chance passed the Tigers by on 32 minutes with Zac Pinchard in on goal thanks to a loose back-pass — but a strong double-save from Cobey Bryant kept the game goalless.
Maddy sent a good-looking free-kick wide of Gloucester keeper Phil Chovanec’s post with five minutes of the first-half remaining.
Chovanec was called into action a few moments later, having to beat away Alex Striunga’s strike.
Yet it was goalless at the break. Both sides had had decent chances in a tight first 45, with Pinchard’s the best of the bunch.
Maddy was at the heart of the Pegasus action once again at the beginning of the second half, nodding a header over the bar on 50 minutes. Ossie Owen then had a close-range effort blocked in a good opening spell for Hereford.
But with 67 minutes on the clock, City struck first. Lewis Vye worked the ball well onto his right foot to force Bryant into a good save, but Thomas-Phillips was on hand to smash home the rebound from a few yards out.
In the pursuit of an instant response, Jack Curvillo-Howes had a couple of attempts in quick succession that never really troubled Chovanec.
Archie Myatt fired wide as Gloucester pushed for a second with four minutes of the tie remaining.
The ball fell to Jack Hussey for Pegasus in the 90th minute from a long throw-in, but the ball just wouldn’t drop kindly enough for him to get his shot away.
But with ten minutes of additional time played, Gloucester managed the game excellently to see out the win and claim the U18’s Severn Sport Cup courtesy of that Thomas-Phillips goal.
After the game, Severn Sport’s Ryan Butler presented Thomas-Phillips with the Man of the Match award, as well as City Captain Sam Sullivan the trophy allowing City to start their celebrations.
Gloucester City U18s: Chovanec; Nembhard, Sullivan ©, Tye, Baines, Thomas-Phillips, Kposowa, Pinchard, Hawkins, Vye, Driver-Dickenson.
Subs: Woodward, Hove (86’), Warren (66’), Townsend (83’), Myatt (64’)
Hereford Pegasus U18s: Bryant; Davies, Bond-Lewis, K.Striunga, Althorp, Maddy, Zakotti, Owen, A Striunga, Curvillo-Howes, Lawson.
Subs: Chamberlain (78’), Russell (72’), Hussey (74’), Griffiths, Morrison (65’).
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Jakson Thomas-Phillips (Gloucester City U18s)
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