Rangers storm to shoot-out victory (From Cotswold Journal)

Rangers storm to shoot-out victory

3:20pm Thursday 10th January 2013 in Sport

TEN-man Moreton Rangers moved into the Gloucestershire Football Association Senior Amateur (North) Cup semifinals following a thrilling tie with Cheltenham Civil Service.

The match was decided 4-3 on penalties in the gathering gloom after both sides were in position to win in normal time only to let their advantages slip and draw 3-3.

On 20 minutes, Adam Millard headed in a fine Danny Sherry cross at the far post to give the London Road hosts a deserved advantage.

Five minutes later, Martin Tomes cut the ball back after a strong run for Ben Shurmer to score with a clinical finish from 12 yards. But Civil Service hit back just before half-time when the ball was chipped to the far post for a close-range header past keeper James Carter.

The second period started with Civil Service pressure and they equalised within five minutes with a header from a corner.

The game seemed to be beyond Moreton when Robbie Shurmer slipped in the right-back position, allowing Civil Service a chance to break into the area.

A goal seemed certain but the shot was stopped on the line by the hand of Millard, leading to a penalty and his dismissal.

The effort was converted but the 10 men of Moreton remained positive and the game took another twist with 15 minutes left when a rash tackle led to the referee awarding them a spotkick.

The penalty was converted by Sherry and neither side scored in the final minutes so the game went to a shoot-out.

Sherry saw the first spot-kick saved but Civil Service failed to take advantage having scored their first penalty.

They hit the bar with their second and Carter saved the third effort. Cool finishes by Moreton’s Mark Boydell, Connor Sherry and Sam Tyack set up Robbie Shurmer to score the winning penalty.

Moreton travel to Bourton Rovers in Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division Two on Saturday (2pm).

Bourton lost 3-2 at lowly Barnwood United in the league, while Winchcombe Town crashed 5-2 to Star in Division One.