Pook's winner seals amazing victory as Cheltenham Town go goal crazy
Burton Albion 5 Cheltenham Town 6
Cheltenham Town went goal crazy with six second half strikes to claim three valuable points in an amazing match at the Pirelli Stadium this afternoon.
-
The Pirelli Stadium - home of Burton Albion
The Robins turned in a dire first half display and were 2-0 down at the break, but a second half hat-trick from Michael Pook, along with a Justin Richards brace and a wonderful strike from Medy Elito sealed one of the most incredible comebacks any supporter will ever witness.
The manner of the victory could not have done any more to help Cheltenham's survival cause and the scenes of celebration when Pook smashed in the 95th minute winner with virtually the last kick of the game will live long in the memory.
There was no hint of what was to follow after a depressing first half. It took Burton Albion less than two minutes to break the deadlock when Cheltenham were caught cold from a throw-in and Shaun Harrad had all the space and time he needed to plant a firm drive into the bottom left corner.
Cheltenham were all over the place, with the 4-5-1 formation totally ineffective against a Burton side who were first to everything. There was no composure, no desire and very little quality.
Cleveland Taylor went close and Harrad's cross was almost reached by a diving Steve Kabba in the 10th minute.
Lee Ridley replaced Josh Low at left-back in the 16th minute due to an injury, but Low had endured a tough start to the game anyway.
There was another head-shaking moment in the 23rd minute when a mix-up between Michael Townsend and Ashey Eastham allowed Harrad to run through unopposed and his shot was well turned over by Scott Brown at full stretch, with Mark Yates barely able to watch from the bench.
Townsend was penalised for a foul on Harrad in the box after 31 minutes and the striker
dusted himself down to beat Brown from the spot to register his 15th League Two goal of the campaign.
Cheltenham's first and only meaningful attempt on goal came in the 42nd minute when Elito crossed to the far post and Matt Thornhill's well-struck drive was charged down on the edge of the six yard box.
After some choice words from Yates, Cheltenham came out all guns blazing for the second period and found themselves level with two quick goals.
David Hutton robbed Burton's young centre-back Tom Parkes, who is on loan from Leicester, before cutting inside along the goalline and squaring for Richards to tap in from close range in the 53rd minute.
Pook's driven cross was then crashed into the net superbly by Elito in the 56th minute as a comeback looked on the cards.
But less than two minutes later, Cleveland Taylor's low cross was deflected past Brown by the unfortunate Townsend as Burton went 3-2 up.
It was 4-2 in the 72nd minute when a weak clearance from Aaron Lescott fell straight to Steve Kabba, who slammed past Brown clinically.
Pook's free-kick from the edge of the penalty area gave Cheltenham hope after substitute Julian Alsop had been fouled in the 84th minute, but Burton appeared to have pit the game beyond doubt when Harrad set up Kabba for his second barely a minute later.
But the drama continued when Pook's effort looped over goalkeeper Artur Krysiak off Romuald Boco in the 87th minute and Richards slotted in his second of the afternoon in the 90th minute after latching onto Alsop's flick.
It looked like honours were to finish even as the clock ran down after a breathless half, but Pook smashed home a memorable winner from 25 yards to snatch all three points for Cheltenham in the fifth minute of time added on.
BURTON ALBION: A Krysiak; A Corbett, T James, T Parkes, P Boertien; C Taylor, J McGrath, R Penn, J Maghoma (R Boco 60); S Kabba, S Harrad. Subs: K Poole, A Webster, R Walker, J Phillips, G Pearson, K Grocott.
CHELTENHAM TOWN: S Brown; J Low (L Ridley 16), M Townsend, A Eastham, A Lescott; D Hutton, A Gallinagh (J Alsop 64), M Pook, M Thornhill, M Elito; J Richards. Subs: S Duff, M Watkins, W Puddy, D Andrew, B Hayles.
REFEREE: C Boyeson.
ATTENDANCE: 2,500.
STAR MAN: Michael Pook.
75 Comments
View all
by Mighty Mariner, Grimsby
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 12:02PM
“wow u beat burton , your stilll going down, and the REAL town are staying up
UTM!!”
by Al Chelt, Cheltenham
Monday, March 15 2010, 7:26AM
“As great a come back as this result was ,lets all keep our feet on the ground,after all you see these result everyweek,generally in Cheltenham League Div 6!!!”
by C&G Robin, Cheltenham.
Sunday, March 14 2010, 9:00PM
“Cheers for the comment, Rob in the PRE.
From the commentary I listened to, it did sound as though Alsop had a major impact and was the catalyst once again.
Yes, I could see from the highlights Richards looking at the fans - wondered if he was smiling or otherwise....
I haven't yet talked to a fellow fan who was there and whose judgement I rate/trust.....I dare say he'll fill me in on Saturday with the finer details.
Another big tick in Alsop's box then - and another cross against the serial Alsop doubter who posts on here!
Alsop is a CTFC legend - one of my all time favorite players. So, soo pleased he rejoined the club. He's made the darkest hours at WR just about bearable this season.
And as for Pook......keep watching the goals....especially the sixth.....I hope we can retain him - think he could evolve to become a real fans favorite here. Look at his club history and you can see he's capable of commitment and retaining a position in a squad. Nice comment/slot about him in the Sunday papers today - saying how he trumped any Premiership players performance this w/e. "Roy of the Rovers stuff" they said - and boy they're not wrong!!
A song for Pook this Saturday me thinks!”
by Tarquin, Cheltenham
Sunday, March 14 2010, 7:58PM
“Doug, Sometimes the truth has to be told and if you don't like it tough.
PS you should be watching F/Green.”
by on the radio, ATM
Sunday, March 14 2010, 7:45PM
“Because we are defending ourselves when being slated unnecessarily.”
by Rob in the PRE, Cheltenham
Sunday, March 14 2010, 4:44PM
“WOW! The last time I saw Cheltenham play at Burton we drew 0 - 0, missed a penalty and heard that Salisbury had beaten Gloucester! Cue scenes of celebration. Fast Forward and the visit to Burton's new stadium was more a pilgrimage with thoughts that a point might be a good result. 96 minutes later cue scenes of celebration. I feel sorry for the guy who stood next to me and left when we were 5 - 3 down.
The first half we were truly dire and heads went down from their first goal. Eastham was having a shocker and Richards looked disinterested as a lone striker. Whatever Yates had to say at half time didn't really seem to sink in until Alsop stepped onto the pitch and a backbone and belief started to emerge. I am told that Alsop had only a few hours sleep on friday night because one of his children was poorly. Thanks Jules and I hope the little one is feeling better.
Richards has teken some justifiable stick of late and I was of the view that if Yates offered him a contract for next season then there was no way I would consider another season ticket. His glare at the CTFC fans when he scored his first goal was inappropriate and an action he should apologise for. If he worked as hard every game as he did in the last 30 minutes of yesterdays then he could turn his critics around but I am not holding my breath that he will.
If a result and a performance like that does not turn our fortunes around and instill a belief then nothing will. Great result although defensively we were all at sea and Townsend will have been hiding behind the sofa when he watched the League Show!
It was a game to rank alongside the aforesaid trip to Burton, that amazing day at Rushden, promotion to the league on a tuesday night and the trips to wembley and the millennium. It was my first away game of the season and will live long in the memory. COYR - the only way is up!”
by Puzzled, by this bizarre 'best fan' game
Sunday, March 14 2010, 4:04PM
“It's curious how some people think they have to justify to other fans why they didn't go to the match yesterday.”
by Anthony, Carlsberg Stand
Sunday, March 14 2010, 3:02PM
“I don't get most of our fans; still arguing about who is a true supporter blah blah...after an amazing win. When we have dismal away games like Stockport last season, 1-0 down on a Winter Tuesday night, theres no wonder some people don't attend away games. Beside's, it can get flippin costly week in week out during a recession thats apparantly over.
Gutted to've not bin there yesterday. To get better away support the Club needs to advertise more about the transport to games and we might be able to take an extra minibus or even another coach every other Saturday then.”
by If only, Listening to the radio ATM
Sunday, March 14 2010, 1:28PM
“Steve, I wish that I could be in a position to attend a lot of away games, but due to one thing and another its not possible. I am however a season ticket holder, a member of the Robins trust and my son is a junior Robins member. Having memories of going to away games like Hayes and Guisley and travelling up to Halifax on a wet and cold Tuesday night and of course R&D when we were locked out of the ground(still makes me spit!!) makes me feel you ought to choose your words a bit more carefully. I have been to a couple of away games this year and would love to attend more, but with a combination of being a youth team manager and lack of finances unfortunately dictates what can be achieved. When I cant go I lock myself away in the garage and try to get on with some jobs, but it was hard to concentrate with the goings on yesterday. I would like to congratulate those who did go yesterday because Steve Claridge summed it up about right, all the away games you go to, some of them really bad, you start to question yourself, but when you witness a game like that it makes it all worth while and you who did go can say I was there.”
by sean, nottingham
Sunday, March 14 2010, 1:21PM
“i went to see my nephew play for cheltenham town fc at the pirelli ground and was truly rewarded with one of the greatest come backs of all time..good luck to the robins”