GFA Senior Challenge Cup Quarter Final

Cirencester Town 1

Bristol City Academy 1

Cirencester won 4-3 on penalties

CIRENCESTER TOWN will entertain Bristol Rovers in the semi final of the GFA Senior Challenge Cup next month after edging past Bristol City’s Academy side in a penalty shoot-out at the Corinium Stadium.

Town, who had dominated the City youngsters in the opening 45 minutes playing some bright, energetic football, had their 1-0 lead pegged back in the fourth minute of added time.

When they should have been running the clock down, Cirencester were naively caught in possession in the City half, the U21 side broke forward at pace and Jamie Horgan made the visitors' first shot on target in the entire game count to take the clash to penalties.

The first three spot kicks were saved, Glyn Garner denying both Horgan and Lewis Hall, while Jojo Wollacott made a particularly fine tip away from Jacob Davidge.

But Shane Bumphrey, Brad Hooper, Josh Parsons (who had missed a penalty in the defeat at Chippenham on Saturday) and Ellis Dunton all kept their nerve to hit the back of the net and steer their side into the last four of the county competition.

Given that his side had conceded 10 goals in the previous three games, Town boss Brian Hughes took the opportunity to ditch his tried and trusted 4-3-3 formation which has served him so well for a season and a half and chose to play three central defenders, two wing backs and use Josh Parsons in the hole behind Nat Jarvis and Aidan Bennett.

Apart from losing captain Mark Pritchett to injury inside a half-hour, the experiment worked a treat in the opening 45.

City were bright and lively but had left their shooting boots at home; Town matched the youngsters for energy with Liddiard excelling all over the park, while experienced duo Gethin Jones and Ian Herring were commanding throughout.

Parsons seemed to relish the deeper role and both he and Jarvis beat the keeper with fine shots only to see them bounce back into play of a post.

When Ciren did score in the 42nd minute there was a large element of luck about it. Parsons chanced his arm from fully 30 yards out but the shot took a wicked looping deflection which sent it over Woolacott into the City net.

The second half was as forgettable as the first was entertaining. Ciren came alive only for a 10-minute spell during which time Brad Hooper hit the bar with a sublime curling effort which would have put the tie to bed.

But at 1-0 the City youngsters were always still in it and they almost made Cirencester pay.

Cirencester Town: Garner, Herring, Dunton, Pritchett (Davidge, 27), Pitts, Jones, Liddiard (James, 79), Hooper, Jarvis (Bumphrey, 79), Bennett, Parsons.

Unused subs: Gudger, Lloyd.