Goalkeeper Mac Boyd was the hero as Bristol City's Under-18s got an important taste of silverware success in dramatic fashion with a 4-1 penalty shootout win to lift the Gloucestershire Senior Challenge Cup.
Boyd saved a spot-kick in injury time before making a superb double save, with the ball eventually coming back off the post, to send a thrilling game into a shootout after the two sides battled out a 1-1 draw.
The stopper made another two saves in the shootout before Ephraim Yeboah scored the decisive kick with the Robins burying four perfect penalties. The trophy win, City's first since 2018, is further evidence of the quality in their talented academy.
Bristol City enjoyed the lion's share of the ball in the opening exchanges but had to wait until the 14th minute before fashioning their first real opportunity when striker Billy Phillips fired narrowly wide from 20 yards.
Just two minutes later and the hosts took the lead when Josh Owers' corner found Joseph Jones at the back post. His header back across goal found his centre-back partner Meerholz who couldn't miss from close range.
Cheltenham were limited to half chances in the opening 45 minutes with Zac Guinan dragging an effort wide on the angle. City's advantage should have been doubled with James seeing a volley saved well from Jude Franks before Raekwan Nelson missed the target.
The visitors carried more of a threat at the beginning of the second half with Adulai Sambu causing problems. He somehow fired over from a yard out following Brandon Liggett's delivery across the six-yard box.
Three minutes later, Cheltenham must have thought it wasn't going to be their evening when Tom King's effort came back off the crossbar. After it appeared as though City had weathered the storm, Liggett strode forward and his effort from distance crept into the corner with eight minutes to play.
As both sides pushed for the winner, City's James would have breathed a huge sigh of relief when Boyd spared his blushes after conceding the last-gasp penalty.
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