Young Robins see off battling Tuffley in FA Youth Cup

» CHELTENHAM Town Under-18s will face a trip to face Plymouth Argyle or Exeter City after they overcame a battling Tuffley Rovers 4-0 in the first round of the FA Youth Cup.

But they didn’t have it all their own way and only a goal from Zac Guinan (son of 2006 play-off final hero Steve) divided the two sides at the interval.

Rovers had seen off Torquay United in the previous round and posed the young Robins plenty of problems for long periods of the game. But two goals in three minutes by Felix Miles and a late own goal by former academy product Jacob Geddes gave the result a rosy look.

Coach Pete Haynes said: “You have to give a lot of credit to Tuffley tonight.

“We knew their threats before they arrived and they imposed themselves. We struggled to start with any intensity.

“When you walk into our dressing room the players are disappointed, which is strange when you’ve won 4-0 but ultimately we’re through to the second round and that’s what counts in the end.”

Eight of the Tuffley side were Hartpury College students and they gave Haynes’ side a tough examination in the opening 45 minutes, calling goalkeeper Jake Parsisson into a sharp save after Alex Roder produced his side’s best chance on the night.

Guinan gave his side the lead eight minutes before the break, meeting Harvey Skurek’s corner with a firm header to give his side the lead. Felix Miles fired over and Guinan should have added his second but the Robins extended their advantage with two goals by Miles in three minutes.

Will Ramsey delivered an inch perfect ball into the centre for the the young striker to finish from close-range before the 17-year-old took advantage of some sloppy defensive play to bag his second.

An unfortunate own goal by Jacob Geddes completed the scoring, turning Charlie Dashfield’s cross from the left into his own net.