22-09-2021, 09:34
PNE 4 Hughes, Rafferty, Maguire, Riis Cheltenham Town 1 Vassell
PNE line-up: Rudd; Storey, Lindsay (van den Berg, 31), Hughes; Rafferty, Whiteman, McCann, Potts (Browne, 80), Cunningham; Riis, Wickham (Maguire, 7). Subs not used: Iversen, O’Reilly, Earl, Rodwell-Grant.
Cheltenham line-up: Evans; Horton, Pollock, Freestone; Blair (Bonds, 78), Thomas (Raglan, 78), Barkers, Perry, Chapman; May, Williams (Vassell, 54). Subs not used: Flinders, Long, Armitage.
Attendance: 6,561 (218 away fans)
Referee: Mr D Whitestone
Job done it was fairly straight forward although for a period of time in the second we did struggle after Vassell scored, the ex Lasher was a handful for both Storey and Van Den Berg.
Both sides made many changes from Saturday with first starts for Wickham and McCann, sadly for Wickham a high tackle did him early on and his match lasted barely 7 minutes. We were dominate down both flanks with Cunningham seemed to be on a mission to provide the excellent Rafferty with a hatful of goals. It was all one way as Cheltenham barely got close to our goal, the only time Rudd got involved in the first 45 minutes was to give grief to the Cheltenham player who crippled Lindsay.
Eventually took the lead half way through the half when following a series of efforts on goal in a short period of time led to a corner, Whiteman took it Hughes headed home.
Lindsay was then substituted following what looked like a very late tackle could easily have been red he got a yellow. then going into half time Rafferty made it two, ball from the left and Rafu at the second attempt put the ball in the net. Could have been well in control had other efforts Riis completely missed his shot when well placed.
We started the second half playing some decent football tried to kill off the tie but the introduction of Vassell changed all that, his first touch was to hammer the ball into the net following a flick on from a right wing cross thought it was an excellent strike.
The goal gave them belief and they actually started to play some good football. Vassell fired in shots one over and one well saved by Rudd, there was also a scramble in front of goal were a last ditch tackle denied them an equaliser. We were hanging on a bit bit eight minutes from time Maguire scored from close range to give us breathing space and with virtually the last kick off the game Riis made it four, the Dane picking the ball up about 30 yards out holding off a couple of players before firing home past the keeper from the edge of the box.
Into the last 16 for only the seventh time, home draw would be nice.
Fell a bit for Wickham has had terrible injury luck also Lindsay seems injury prone however both were victims of poor tackles both suspect will be out for a while.
McCann looks a neat and tidy player but Rafferty was top man last night not in the 25 Champonship squad but didn't let us down last night
Preston boss Frankie McAvoy:
"I was a little bit concerned about Connor's injury early on.
"We worked on everything yesterday and then you lose one of your players straight away.
"But Sean Maguire has been great for us anyway and he has come on so it didn't disrupt us too much.
"I knew if we got the third goal it would be an easier night for us. But credit to Cheltenham they came and pressed us really really hard in the second half."
Cheltenham manager Michael Duff:
"I am not bothered about the final score.
"I was disappointed with the first half, but really pleased with the second half. The fact we've gone out of the tie doesn't really bother me.
"It wasn't a 4-1 game, but 2-0 down at half-time and we never really laid a glove on them. We didn't compete, didn't get on the ball, or do any part of the game well.
"We tweaked it and I had a bit of a pop at them, but that's a young team."
PNE line-up: Rudd; Storey, Lindsay (van den Berg, 31), Hughes; Rafferty, Whiteman, McCann, Potts (Browne, 80), Cunningham; Riis, Wickham (Maguire, 7). Subs not used: Iversen, O’Reilly, Earl, Rodwell-Grant.
Cheltenham line-up: Evans; Horton, Pollock, Freestone; Blair (Bonds, 78), Thomas (Raglan, 78), Barkers, Perry, Chapman; May, Williams (Vassell, 54). Subs not used: Flinders, Long, Armitage.
Attendance: 6,561 (218 away fans)
Referee: Mr D Whitestone
Job done it was fairly straight forward although for a period of time in the second we did struggle after Vassell scored, the ex Lasher was a handful for both Storey and Van Den Berg.
Both sides made many changes from Saturday with first starts for Wickham and McCann, sadly for Wickham a high tackle did him early on and his match lasted barely 7 minutes. We were dominate down both flanks with Cunningham seemed to be on a mission to provide the excellent Rafferty with a hatful of goals. It was all one way as Cheltenham barely got close to our goal, the only time Rudd got involved in the first 45 minutes was to give grief to the Cheltenham player who crippled Lindsay.
Eventually took the lead half way through the half when following a series of efforts on goal in a short period of time led to a corner, Whiteman took it Hughes headed home.
Lindsay was then substituted following what looked like a very late tackle could easily have been red he got a yellow. then going into half time Rafferty made it two, ball from the left and Rafu at the second attempt put the ball in the net. Could have been well in control had other efforts Riis completely missed his shot when well placed.
We started the second half playing some decent football tried to kill off the tie but the introduction of Vassell changed all that, his first touch was to hammer the ball into the net following a flick on from a right wing cross thought it was an excellent strike.
The goal gave them belief and they actually started to play some good football. Vassell fired in shots one over and one well saved by Rudd, there was also a scramble in front of goal were a last ditch tackle denied them an equaliser. We were hanging on a bit bit eight minutes from time Maguire scored from close range to give us breathing space and with virtually the last kick off the game Riis made it four, the Dane picking the ball up about 30 yards out holding off a couple of players before firing home past the keeper from the edge of the box.
Into the last 16 for only the seventh time, home draw would be nice.
Fell a bit for Wickham has had terrible injury luck also Lindsay seems injury prone however both were victims of poor tackles both suspect will be out for a while.
McCann looks a neat and tidy player but Rafferty was top man last night not in the 25 Champonship squad but didn't let us down last night
Preston boss Frankie McAvoy:
"I was a little bit concerned about Connor's injury early on.
"We worked on everything yesterday and then you lose one of your players straight away.
"But Sean Maguire has been great for us anyway and he has come on so it didn't disrupt us too much.
"I knew if we got the third goal it would be an easier night for us. But credit to Cheltenham they came and pressed us really really hard in the second half."
Cheltenham manager Michael Duff:
"I am not bothered about the final score.
"I was disappointed with the first half, but really pleased with the second half. The fact we've gone out of the tie doesn't really bother me.
"It wasn't a 4-1 game, but 2-0 down at half-time and we never really laid a glove on them. We didn't compete, didn't get on the ball, or do any part of the game well.
"We tweaked it and I had a bit of a pop at them, but that's a young team."
Why should a man go to work, if he has the health and strength to stay in bed?