Gloom Service for Cheltenham after Watson produces match-winning stop (From Gazette Series)

Gloom Service for Cheltenham after Watson produces match-winning stop

Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division One Cam Bulldogs 2 Cheltenham Civil Service 1

INJURY-RAVAGED Cam battled their way to victory against Cheltenham Civil Service but only after a magnificent double save denied the visitors a late equaliser.

The Bulldogs were without the injured quintet of Simon Penny, Danny McIntosh, Jer Coburn, Jack Barnfield and Tony Goodwin, as well as the suspended Sean Clune and regular goalkeeper Ben Jagger.

Further injuries during the game to Paul Street and Brad Price then meant that club secretary Julian Jewitt made his first team debut from the bench at the age of 46.

The home side took some time to settle and conceded a controversial 15th minute opener.

A clearance from Cam goalkeeper Keith Watson was volleyed back over the top of the defence towards two offside Civil Service strikers.

But as the Bulldogs waited for a flag, two more visiting players ran through for the ball.

Watson slid in to turn the ball away from the onrushing players but the loose ball was then put into the net by one of the originally offside forwards.

The goal did at least prompt the hosts into action and they had much the better of the half thereafter. Player-manager Stuart Grimwood had a free-kick turned over, while Cam also forced a high number of corners, although the majority were poorly executed.

However, five minutes before the break, Ian Cheshire beat the goalkeeper to a Loz Dorman near post corner to glance in for the equaliser.

Cheltenham started the second half much the better though and twice Watson was called into action to keep his side level.

The Bulldogs took advantage of their luck and took the lead ten minutes into the second half when Joe Iatalese played in Pete Holder, who bundled in the rebound after the goalkeeper blocked his initial effort.

Dorman should have made the game safe soon afterwards but he struck the post when it looked easier to score. The misses looked like being costly as Cam spent the last 15 minutes on the back foot after injuries to Street and Price forced Jewitt into action.

The visitors fired several chances off target but their time looked to have come five minutes from the end of the game.

A ball into the penalty area caused Bulldogs debutant Luke Smith to slice straight to a Civil Service striker ten yards from goal. Watson did well to block the shot but the ball looked certain to be tapped in from the rebound.

However, the grounded goalkeeper threw out his right hand and made the most dramatic of match-winning saves from the close range follow-up.

The double stop seemed to take all the wind out of Cheltenham's sails and Cam held firm until the final whistle.

Cam: K Watson, S Grimwood, L Smith, B Price (J Jewitt 75), J Iatalese, P Street (P Young 60), D Stevenson, I Cheshire, C Bailey, P Holder, L Dorman. Goals: Cheshire (40), Holder (55).