RPM Records Supplementary Challenge Cup
Preliminary Round
Witney United 1 Gloucester United 3
Saturday, 26 October 2002
A hugely entertaining cup tie saw both sides end with nine men as Witney were unlucky to bow out to their Premier Division opponents. After two hammerings in the previous two weeks United were determined to make amends and included new signings Leeyon Phelan and Ryan McCullagh in their starting line-up.
Despite playing against a strong breeze it was Witney who made all the running as a Sean Cantwell drive from 30 yards dipped just over and David Lawrence was unlucky to see his drive pushed away by keeper Adam Bennett after a deep cross by Ricky Dash. Gloucester were continually on the back foot as Paul Lennon and Ryan McCullagh were controlling the midfield and it was McCullagh?s neat play which set up Scott Dash only to see his effort go straight into the arms of Bennett. Again the home side were to go close when McCullagh sent over a free kick that Stephen Haynes headed back but Kelvin Dowling couldn't keep his shot down. Witney were then to suffer a disastrous three-minute spell when they lost two players through injury and a goal. Both Ricky Dash (knee) and Leeyon Phelan (back) had to be withdrawn and within a minute a long ball by Dan Walder found Steve Winnan who looked to be offside but ran on to lob the ball over Danny Clifford in the Witney goal. This goal was completely against the run of play and justice was done right on the stroke of half time when a long ball by Steve Lawrence found his brother Dave Lawrence in acres of space who fired home the equalizer. Witney were almost caught napping straight from the restart when Ken Howard worked himself some space and hit a 35-yard drive that smacked the home sides crossbar and rebounded to safety.
Half Time: 1-1
Witney were to suffer another blow during the interval when Stephen Haynes who had been struggling with an injury had to be replaced. This only seemed to make the home side more determined and within two minutes a mazy run by Dowling set up McCullagh but his shot went just wide. David Lawrence was creating havoc in the Gloucester defence with his runs and was unfortunate when after a great solo run his shot went straight into the arms of Bennett..
Gloucester paid warning that they were still in this cup-tie when a free kick by Kevin Hall was headed over by Nick Delves with the goal at his mercy. With just two minutes to go the game exploded and three players were dismissed. First a bad challenge on Clifford in the Witney goal saw a brawl break out and after it died down the referee sent off Steve Lawrence (Witney) and Nick Stockley (Gloucester) for fighting. Within 60 seconds Witney were reduced to nine after Scott Dash needlessly kicked the ball away and having already been booked the referee was left with no option.
Full Time: 1-1
With the game heading into extra-time it was obvious Witney were up against it as they had used all three subs and were a man down, to add to that both Dowling and McCullagh were struggling with injuries. Gloucester were to come closest when a gap opened up and a stinging drive by Steve Chipps was well beaten away by Clifford. Witney fought back and a well-worked set piece between McCullagh and Cantwell saw the latter's shot narrowly drift over. It was end to end as both sides tired and Steve Smeeth saw his goal bound effort cleared off the line by Steve Reynolds but from the resulting corner Matt Phillips steered Howard's cross goal ward and despite Reynolds's best efforts the ball was adjudged to have crossed the line. Witney plugged away but couldn't find a way through as Gloucester packed their defence and with just five minutes remaining were caught on the break when a ball by Chipps was missed by Ryan McDonald and Smeeth ran through to slot home the killer third goal. There was still time for one more dismissal when Nick Delves (Gloucester) kicked the ball away after a decision went against him and having been booked in normal play was sent-off.
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