Cheltenham Town U18s boss Pete Haynes was “happy with the result, but not the performance” following their 4-0 thrashing against Rugby Town on Wednesday.
Joe Hunt, Brennan Denness-Barrett and Connor Jakeaways secured a tie with either Huddersfield or Blackpool in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup.
Speaking after the game, Haynes said: “We’ve challenged the players to make things happen in the game, and really take the game to the opposition.
“The moments we did that we got the moments of quality. But the challenge to the lads is to keep doing that, and keep making things happen.”
Cheltenham created their first chance by the fifth minute, but Rugby held their own, pressuring Haynes’ side and looking for chances of their own.
The first goal of the match was scored by Denness-Barrett after 13 minutes, however Rugby soon had the chance to equalise courtesy of Mason Platts only for him to be denied by Josh Aldridge.
Rugby put up a fight until the end of the first half, but Dennes-Barrett managed to push forward, finding Robins’ captain Joe Hunt to pick up the second goal of the night.
The first half had Cheltenham on their toes, even though they were two goals up.
But just as the second half began, a low cross from Connor Jakeaways sought to find that consistency, scoring the third goal of the game in the third minute of the second half.
The Rugby squad seemed lost in the first few minutes of the second half conceding yet another goal to Hunt in the 52nd minute.
Rugby only had a few more chances this game: a corner kick in the 55th minute and a free kick in the 66th, but they couldn’t manage to convert.
The rest of the second half was sheer domination from Haynes’ side, rarely losing possession as Freddie Willcox, Charlie Dashfield, and Archie Woodwall took the field in the last ten minutes.
After a rather back and forth first half, Cheltenham more than secured their spot in the fourth-round tie, with their next cup match to take place after Christmas.
Check out more on Cheltenham and Gloucestershire sports news here:
Cheltenham Town match report from Tuesday night
Preview ahead of Forest Green and Oldham Athletic clash
Gloucester Rugby ahead of European Challenge Cup clash
