“They can go out and enjoy themselves and have a couple of beers tonight” - Bishop’s Cleeve manager Paul Collicutt after forcing FA Cup replay

Paul Collicutt
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


After forcing National League South outfit Chesham United to a replay after a 0-0 draw in front of a packed-out Kayte Lane, Bishop’s Cleeve are in the hat for the FA Cup fourth qualifying round draw.

The Mitres will now head to Buckinghamshire on Tuesday night to face the Generals, who sit two leagues above them in the football pyramid, again.

They are looking to reach the final qualifying round before the first round proper for the second time in the club’s history.

After beating former Football League side Torquay United 3-0 in the previous round, confidence was high ahead of this fixture that drew another packed-out crowd.

Manager Paul Collicutt believes his side deserved to win, after entertaining a bumper crowd once more.

“I’m genuinely disappointed, but of course I am pleased that we’ve got a draw," he said.

"It was unquestionably a real top performance, but with a little bit more belief it could have been more."

It was a near-perfect start for his side when after just three minutes left back Matt Bower unleashed an effort from 30 yards out.

His left-footed strike from a wide area looked destined for the top right corner, but clattered the bar.

“I keep saying to him to keep going for it, as he’s got one hell of a whack on him,” Collicutt said.

“He looks frightened to do it, but he’s done it, and I want him to do that more.”

The next clear-cut chance also fell the way of the home side, when club captain Ross Langworthy attempted to chip Chesham goalkeeper, Daniel Jinadu after 21 minutes.

Put through one-on-one with Jinadu approaching, he decided to attempt a cheeky lob that travelled just wide.

In the 10 or so minutes that followed Chesham grew into the game, and started to test the Mitres’ defence.

Midfielder Joe Grant had a header and strike from distance go over, before striker Michael Folivi’s half-volley inside the six-yard box saw keeper Lewis Clayton throw himself in front of the shot to pull off an impressive low save.

The visitors’ best chance of the game fell in stoppage time after a poor clearance from Bower saw the ball land at the feet of Nathan Minhas, who was unmarked in the penalty area.

With plenty of room to manoeuvre a way to place the ball in the bottom left corner, it looked like the home side would go behind at the break, but Minhas fired his shot into the side netting.

Chesham started a nervy second half the better team, with three efforts at Clayton in four minutes, the best of which came from Avan Jones after 51 minutes.

In position to cross from the right-hand side, Jones instead decided to shoot and saw his attempt hit the inside of the far post, before bouncing across the goalmouth and being cleared to safety.

The closest Collicutt’s side came to breaking the deadlock was through Ethan Dunbar after 74 minutes.

The Cleeve and Hartpury forward beat the defence to a loose ball and hit a curling shot with the outside of his foot that barely went over the bar.

“It was a good game, very enjoyable for the crowd, we’re still in the hat, and we go there on Tuesday” Collicutt said.

“This is where it gets really hard for semi-professionals because the lads will be working on Tuesday, and we probably won’t get back until quite late on Tuesday evening, which will be hard on the players.

“They can go out and enjoy themselves and have a couple of beers tonight, I have no problem with that.

“Tomorrow is recovery day, Monday is back to work, and hopefully most of the lads will be available, because that is the one thing I’m not sure of yet.

“I already know there is one player who has a short break booked and will miss the game.”

Cleeve forced an FA Cup third qualifying round replay with Chesham United after Saturday's 0-0 draw at Kayte Lane
Cleeve forced an FA Cup third qualifying round replay with Chesham United after Saturday's 0-0 draw at Kayte Lane

Collicutt believes that a win in Tuesday night’s replay would be “massive” for not only the football club but the village as a whole.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the players, the supporters, and the village that turned out today,” he said.

At 3 pm on Monday they will find out their possible opponents for the next round, should they win the replay, via a live draw on talkSPORT.

When asked on the prospect of the draw, Collicutt said: “I’m not going to talk about it, I’m not even going to mention it, it’s all about Tuesday night now.”

Bishop’s Cleeve: Lewis Clayton; Will Turner, Mat Liddiard, Josh Nelmes, Matt Bower; Ben McLean, Joe Turley (Steve Davies 81), Isaac Pearce (Bryan Stalley 68); Ethan Dunbar, Ross Langworthy, Joe Selman (Aaron Evans-Harriott 62)

Chesham United: Daniel Jinadu; Avan Jones, Steve Brown, Connor Stevens, Callum Adebiyi, Alex Lafleur (Mitchell Weiss 67) ; Jack Connors, Ashley Lodge ( T’Sharne Gallimore) Joe Grant; Michael Folivi (Omar Rowe 59), Nathan Minhas (Devonte Aransibia 60).

Referee: Lewis Sandoe.

Attendance: TBC.

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