Saracens set up Severn Sport Cup final showdown with Shortwood in seven goal thriller

Cheltenham Saracens U18s will face Shortwood United in the final of the CYFL Severn Sport Cup, after edging past Longlevens 4-3 on Thursday night.

Sarries were fantastic and fully deserving of a victory that looked set to be by a more comfortable margin when they went into half time 3-1 up.

Adding a fourth just after the break looked like it all but sealed the tie, however two goals in the final 30 minutes saw Longlevens threaten an unlikely comeback.

Beckem Foley’s side will meet Shortwood in the final, after Wood’s 3-1 win over Dursley Town on Monday night.

The game itself started with the hosts getting off to a flyer. A cross from the left was turned back across goal and striker Bradley Roberts stretched out a leg to poke the ball home from about six yards.

Aidan Williams was denied by Jack Sargent as the hosts flew out of the traps. They made life hard for Brandon Vance’s side in the first 15 minutes and were clearly on top.

But in typical football fashion, Longlevens managed to string a few passes together and after Thomas Whorrall was felled in the box, Henry Driver-Dickerson restored parity from 12 yards.

Longlevens should have been ahead moments later as Lewis Vye chested the ball down inside the box but could only fire over from a great position.

Levens had a 10 minute spell following the penalty and there was expectation for them to kick on, however, it never came.

With 10 minutes left of the half, the hosts regained their lead as Henry Miles brought down a diagonal into the box and slotted past Sargent confidently.

Alex Knight nodded a ball through for Whorrall moments later, but he drove his effort across goal and wide.

And Sarries would go on to punish the miss as Marley Holmes volleyed home his first of the night to give his side a two goal cushion at the interval.

Longlevens came out early for the second half but looked dead and buried within 3 minutes of the restart.

After a corner saw Miles have an effort blocked off the line, Holmes was on hand to blast home the follow up to ignite his side into celebration.

From there, Sarries looked to manage the game and were doing a great job until the hour mark.

Alex Knight spun on the edge of the box before curling into the bottom corner to keep the game alive in the final half an hour.

But again, following the Levens goal, they couldn’t back it up with any rhythm or momentum to their play and you have to say, it was mainly down to the hosts really getting under their skin and making life difficult for the visitors.

Jimmy Mitchell came off the bench and in the final 10 minutes, Levens burst into life.

First he was picked out by a diagonal free kick, but could only toe poke over under pressure.

Then, with two minutes of normal time remaining, he beat his man on the left hand side and was tripped for the visitors’ second penalty of the evening.

Once again Henry Driver-Dickerson converted, but it was too little too late and Sarries held on to deservedly make the final.

The final’s date and location are currently TBC but we will be announcing the details with the CYFL when they are available.

The two sides will lock horns once again, this time in league action, when Cheltenham Saracens head to Saw Mills on Monday night.

Cheltenham Saracens U18s: Iddon, Parker, Horrocks, Stokes, Rose, Wells, Holmes, Berrow, B Roberts, Miles, A Williams

Subs: O Williams, Ricketts, Brooks, Frew, J Roberts

Longlevens U18s: Sargent, Snelgrove, Boakes, Kelly, Thompson, Pierce, Demrick, A Knight, Vye, Driver-Dickerson, Whorrall

Subs: F Knight, Ball, Bee, Mitchell, Esson

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