Cheltenham Saracens 3 Lydney Town 3

Lydney win 5-4 on penalties

GFA Challenge Trophy

Semi Final

A LEGGY Town side, playing their fourth game in the last 10 days, secured a place in the county cup final after winning on penalties in Cheltenham.

Town included club skipper Jamie Addis on the bench, back from a long injury lay-off, alongside Matt Timmins, Josh Davis and Kerry Hale.

Home pressure finally paid dividends with a route one goal after 25 minutes. A long punt up field from keeper Roberts was not dealt with by Town’s defence and Skenlar pounced.

A similarly long ball into the area saw Lydney draw level after 42 minutes. In a challenge with keeper Roberts, Town’s leading scorer Declan Morley-Lyne managed to head over him into an unguarded net.

But as half-time approached the hosts went in front for a second time through Archie Haskayne, who looked suspiciously offside.

The second period began very much like the first with Saracens making inroads, and a Josh Goodhall strike was kept out by the feet of Thomas.

The game changed on 65 minutes with the introduction of Timmins who replaced Ryan Pendry.

Good build-up down the right led to a throw in deep in the Saracens half. Declan Morley-Lyne launched it into the box where Sam Elliott flicked it on and Lewis Halford volleyed home the equaliser.

Town now had their tails up and the momentum pushed them forward. They went in front for the first time two minutes later through Timmins after a good passing move between Macklin and Sheppard.

The game went into the last quarter and Saracens were not about to give it up and they pushed on once again, equalising via a deflected header.

Timmins thought he had won the game right on 90 minutes but his effort was ruled out for offside and the game went to penalties.

Morley-Lyne, James Morse, Jack Rutter and Lewis Halford all converted their kicks and the score was level at 4-4.

Town’s keeper and Captain Richard Thomas stepped up to convert the fifth kick and then made a superb diving save from Saracen’s last penalty to put his side in the final.