Town impress in Floodlit Cup victory
Lydney continue away wins run
Lydney made the relatively short trip to Cheltenham to face high flying Bishops Cleeve in the Perpetua Floodlit Cup. With Cleeve already having beaten the Town twice this season netting 10 goals in the process Lydney knew they would have their work cut out to spring a surprise. Lydney were still missing Sam Elliott & Pete Macklin with injury while Jack Rutter, Lewis Halford, Frankie Johnson & Keelan Hamblett were all unavailable. On the plus side the Town welcomed back Lewis Thompson after missing the Thatcham game and Ross Gabriel made it onto the bench after suffering an injury at the end of October strangely enough against Bishops Cleeve.
Lydney started strongly and after only 2 minutes a break down the left by Lewis Thompson saw his low cross into the box side footed home by Declan Morley-Lyne. 3 minutes later Thompson broke through on goal but the Mitres keeper Lewis Clayton made a fine one handed save. Lydney were playing some controlled football and Cleeve were struggling to break through the Town defence.
On 35 minutes the Mitres drew level after a controversial decision which saw the referee award a penalty for a hand ball by Tom Handley in the box from a shot by Joe Bates. Bates then stepped up to fire home the spot kick. Not to be fazed Lydney went back on the attack and Morley-Lyne fired narrowly over the bar. On 40 minutes Jake Morgan broke down left and crossed into Morley-Lyne but the Mitres defence managed to block the effort. With half-time fast approaching Archie Brennan pushed forward laying the ball out to Morgan on the left and his cross to the far post found Matty Board whose shot went narrowly wide of the post.
The 2nd half saw Sam Wines come on for the injured Jake Morgan but again Lydney stayed in control not allowing the home team to settle. On 55 minutes Thompson ran at the Cleeve defence but his shot was saved by keeper Claytons legs. In a rare Mitres attack Bates was again the danger man and his long range shot was palmed around the post by keeper Richard Thomas. On 76 minutes Lydney broke the dead lock when a mix up in the Cleeve defence saw Thompson get his boot to the ball first to slide the ball home. 2 minutes later Lydney made the tie safe when Morley-Lyne chased down the ball and after beating the defender saw his shot saved by keeper Clayton but with the ball spinning towards the goal line Morley-Lyne continued his run and squeezed the ball home from a narrow angle. The goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of the Mitres and Lydney saw out the last 10 minutes quite comfortably.
After 2 heavy defeats against Bishops Cleeve already this season this was a tremendous display and well deserved. Teenagers Lucas Murray & Tom Handley continue to impress in the heart of the defence although on the night everyone gave 110% not allowing the Mitres the freedom as in previous encounters. With Lydney not having a home tie in this competition for over 3 years one awaits to see if the Towns luck in the draw changes although in 2016-17 Lydney won the competition after being draw away from home in every round. The form shown against Cleeve will hopefully continue on into the run up to Christmas starting with the visit of league leaders Brackley Town Saints to the Rec, quickly followed by the visit of 2nd placed Ascot United on Saturday December 22nd.
Report by RS
Assist
Lewis ThompsonKey moments
Highlights
As it happened
- Bishops Cleeve
- Lydney Town AFC
- 0
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Lewis Thompson Assist 2:00'
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Declan Morley-Lyne Goal 2:00'
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Joe Bates Scored Penalty 32:00'
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Jake Morgan Sub Off 45:00'
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Sam Wines Sub On 45:00'
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Lewis Thompson Goal 77:00'
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Declan Morley-Lyne Goal 83:00'
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Lewis Thompson Sub Off 84:00'
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Ross Gabriel Sub On 84:00'
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