Guinan’s goal enough to seal Senior Cup win
CHELTENHAM Town progressed to the semi-finals of the Gloucestershire Senior Cup with a 1-0 win over Yate Town on Tuesday night, thanks to Zac Guinan’s goal early in the second half.
The young striker returned from a knee injury with two goals for the youth team against Alvechurch in a friendly on Saturday.
He went on from the bench at halftime and scored the only goal of the game to set up a last four clash with either Bristol Rovers or Cinderford Town.
Head coach Wade Elliott fielded a strong side as Alfie May made his first start since the 2-0 win over Shrewsbury, alongside Charlie Brown and George Lloyd.
There were chances for Elliott Bonds and Ellis Chapman in midfield, with Bristol City loanee lining up in a back three alongside Dylan Barkers, back from his loan at Maidstone United, and summer signing Tom Bradbury.
Youngster Adulai Sambu played at left wing-back, with Reece Hutchinson, back from his loan at Ilkeston Town.
Bonds had the first chance of the game for the home side, but his shot landed on the roof of the net.
May, Lloyd and Sambu all had halfchances, with the youngster Sambu shining the brightest in the opening half.
He has been in good form with Cirencester Town, scoring 10 goals for the Southern League Division One Central side, and got the better of Yate’s Barney Soady multiple times and looked to always find the forwards with good crosses into the penalty area.
The visitors had their own chances too.
Striker Kyle Tooze tested Shaun Macdonald a couple of times from outside the box, with his curling efforts seemingly aimed for the top corner, however nothing too difficult for the 26-year-old to deal with.
During the break, Elliott brought on Dan Adshead, Guinan and Norton, in place of Bonds, May and Lloyd, and the two strikers made an instant impact.
Norton was sent through on goal, but was stopped in his tracks from the onrushing Evans.
Luckily for the Robins, the ball fell to youngster Guinan who put it into the empty net and gave Cheltenham the lead.
Macdonald was called into action a couple of times after the goal, however he continued to deny Tooze.
Late on, Norton had a final shot on goal, but was denied again by Evans.
Cheltenham Town: Macdonald; J Taylor, Barkers, Bradbury; Sambu, Bonds (Adshead 46), Chapman, Hutchinson; Brown; May (Guinan 46), Lloyd (Norton 46). Sub not used: Franks.
Yate Town: Evans; Stanley, Raison, Mitchell; Ashmead (Ibrahim 66), Dinsley, Digie (Mclean 59) Mullings (Richards 59), Soady; Drew, Tooze. Sub not used: Horsell.
Referee: Graham Mcnulty.