Hellenic League Division One West

Tytherington Rocks 0 Cheltenham Saracens 2

TYTHERINGTONRocks entertained league leaders Cheltenham Saracens for the final home game of the season on Saturday.

And although defeated 2-0, the difference in league positions was rarely in evidence.

However the final result gave the visitors the spoils and the home team the consolation of a well fought game that had not been out of their reach until the final whistle.

The first ten minutes were evenly contested, with the Cheltenham goalkeeper the more active of the two keepers, although he was under little pressure.

On 12 minutes, a sudden burst of activity saw Dan Keating, Cheltenham’s number eight, give Cam Smith a diving header chance which clipped the right angle of the Rocks goal.

Determined defence from Tytherington via Dan Pirie and Oliver Rawnsley in particular, kept Cheltenham at bay without real difficulty.

But on 17 minutes, a spell of pressurised play from the visitors resulted in a bombardment of shots, all defended, until Cheltenham’s Jack Sklenar eventually found the net to give the visitors a 1-0 advantage.

Tytherington maintained their determination throughout the remainder of the half, but for all their efforts neither side troubled their opposite keeper, with the home team in particular struggling to find their target.

The first-half drifted to a close with Saracens leading.

The second-half continued in the same vein as the first 45 minutes,with Rocks competing against a physically stronger Cheltenham Saracens.

On 63 minutes, Marcel Smith replaced the hard working Jordan Connolly but almost immediately the home team were reduced to ten men when Dan Pirie received a second yellow card – leading to a red card – for an innocuous-looking challenge on a Cheltenham forward who was travelling unthreateningly towards the left of the Rocks goal-line.

Although appearing dangerous at times, the league leaders failed to capitalise on their status and extra player.

However they increased their lead in the game on 79 minutes when Jack Stead drove home their second goal from close range.

Rocks made a further substitution, when Ashton Squire came on for Josh Pirie who had put in another tireless performance.

Cheltenham had one further golden opportunity to add to their goal tally when Jamie Goodwin rounded the home keeper Dan Worton only to shoot wide of the target.

In the dying seconds, both home subs Smith and Squire had attempts on target but, as if reflection of the whole game, neither shot troubled the Cheltenham keeper.

Cheltenham secured the three points whilst Tytherington were left to reflect on a disappointing result from a game which did not reflect the gulf in league positions.

Tytherington Rocks final game of the season is an away game at New College Swindon on April 16 kick-off 3pm.

The Hardwicke Field,Tytherington is the venue for the Marcliff Gloucestershire County League Les James Cup Final on Sunday May 15 at 11am between Rockleaze Rangers and Hardwicke.