Chapman shines as Robins see off non-leaguers
ELLIS Chapman had a full debut to remember in Cheltenham Town’s 3-1 FA Cup win over non-leaguers South Shields.
The Robins successfully negotiated a tricky first round hurdle, and now face a home tie with League One side Crewe Alexandra, promoted from League Two last season, in the second round over the weekend of November 27-30.
South Shields’ hopes of an upset were ended by a Cheltenham team inspired by Chapman, who was involved in all three of their goals.
Alfie May scored the first two of them with Liam Sercombe firing home the third.
“As full debuts go, that’s as good as you’ll get,” said manager Michael Duff of Chapman’s performance.
“I thought he was excellent. He came in and he showed you what we want.
“He has to work on his other side of the game but there is no doubt he can play, he gives he balance, he can run and land on things, he takes the ball in tight areas.
“His weight of pass is excellent but he’ll need to learn, first half their two chances came from Conor (Thomas) and Ellis losing tackles.
“So that’s something he will need to learn, but he’s 19 years old.
“He is left footed in the middle of the pitch and he balances us out nicely.
“He is one that we identified, we think he has resale value in terms of his age, we think we can go on, but he has to get into our team and deliver that week in, week out.”
May finished off Matty Blair’s low cross in for the 11th minute opener after a perfectly weighted pass from Chapman out to the fit-again right wing-back.
Cheltenham’s habit of conceding after taking a 1-0 lead continued as South Shields levelled six minutes later.
A curling ball in from Mariners captain Jason Briggs took out the defence and goalkeeper Josh Griffiths, with Jason Gilchrist unable to reach it, but Darius Osei touched it in before collid
ing with the far post, and went off injured.
Cheltenham controlled much of possession and went close on several occasions, but South Shields had two clear chances to take the lead.
Osei’s replacement Will Mccamley shot wide when through on goal and Callum Ross headed into the side netting after Mccamley’s cross.
In the second half Cheltenham put their foot down to advance to the second round of their third successive year with the minimum of fuss.
Chapman’s ball forward was reached by Blair, who squared to May and he did the rest to complete his first brace for the club in the 53rd minute.
Chapman then fed Sercombe for Cheltenham’s third in the 62nd minute.
On the performance, Duff said: “I thought we were good and we created lots of chances, but again the clinical side of it maybe not so much.
“We started the game well, went ahead and a bit of an Achilles heel at the minute, letting another team in.
“We’ve had a meeting about it on Thursday about it, so that obviously worked...,” he said.
“To score first in 10 out of 11 games, to have lost four is not good enough and the players know that.”
Cheltenham Town (3-5-2): J Griffiths; B Tozer, W Boyle, L Freestone (A Addai 79); M Blair, C Thomas, L Sercombe, E Chapman, C Hussey; A May, R Reid (A Williams 79). Subs not used: C Raglan, C Clements, M Harris, G Horton, T Sang.
South Shields (3-5-2): M Boney; C Baxter (N Lowe 60), D Morse, B Adams; J Hunter, P Turnbull, C Ross, A Kempster (J Gillies 69; R Briggs; J Gilchrist, D Osei (W Mccamley 21). Subs not used: W Verstraaten, R Coombe, A Thompson, J Hindle. Referee: Martin Woods.
Star Man: Ellis Chapman.