Cheltenham Town FC

A hat-trick from Harry Williams and a goal each from Bobbie Dale and Jamie Goodwin helped the Robins secure back to back victories as Russell Milton’s team had to come from behind to win.

The Robins eventually won comfortably in a relatively one sided affair, but the visitors were the better team in the first half. Midfielder Ben Whitehead was a constant threat in Bournemouth’s attack and had three testing shots saved within the first 15 minutes of the match. On the 24th minute Bournemouth’s relentless pressure paid off and centre forward Joe Quigley managed to capitalise on some slack Cheltenham defending and fired in a rising right footed shot from close range. 1-0 to Bournemouth. Whitehead went close again just before half time when his looping shot was tipped over the bar by Harry Reynolds but at the half Cheltenham trailed Bournemouth 1-0.

Early in the second half Cheltenham managed to draw the game level. A through ball from Harry Williams found striker Bobbie Dale and a well dispatched shot saw the Robins pull the game level. Within minutes the visitors were on the attack again and a testing cross from Bournemouth’s Mason Walsh was met in the box by the ever-threatening Ben Whitehead who finished from close range, Bournemouth took the lead back to make it 2-1. To round off an exciting three minutes a run by right midfielder Jamal Lawrence and a ball into the box found Cheltenham’s Jamie Goodwin who poked home to draw the game level again at 2-2.

As the second half progressed Town managed to suppress Bournemouth’s possession game giving them less time on the ball and started to frustrate the away team. Harry Williams started to look more dangerous in the final quarter of the game and on the 70th minute he completed Cheltenham’s comeback. Williams brought the ball down just inside the box with a smart touch and slotted it past Callum Stanton in the Cherries’ goal. 3-2 to Town.

Cheltenham went on the counter attack again and Williams grabbed his second and Cheltenham’s fourth. An in swinging corner from Danny Reynolds ricocheted off bodies in the box and Williams managed to get a smart touch on the ball to steer it into the net. 4-2 to Cheltenham. An impressive day’s work from Williams and Town was rounded off in the 80th minute when a ball over the top caught out Bournemouth’s defence playing a high line and found Williams who chipped an oncoming Callum Stanton and the ball bounced into the net.

Full Time: Cheltenham Town U18s 5-2 AFC Bournemouth U18s

Harry Williams speaking to www.ctfc.com following the full time whistle:
 

“At half time we were all frustrated, but we changed it and got the goals and got the three points. We pressed them more and gave them less time on the ball and got in their faces and got the ball back in higher areas.

“We worked harder and pulled our fingers out in the second half.”