Cheltenham Town video: Defensive horror show ends JPT interest

Cheltenham Town 2 Oxford United 4

A FLIMSY second half defensive display saw Cheltenham Town crash out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at the hands of Oxford United this evening.

The Robins led twice through goals from Darryl Duffy and Keith Lowe, but they shipped three goals in 13 second half minutes to bow out of the competition.

Boss Mark Yates made six changes to the side that drew 2-2 at home to Fleetwood Town on Saturday.

In came Lowe, Duffy, Harry Hooman, Sam Deering, Jeff Goulding and Shaun Harrad, with ex-Oxford man Deering handed the captain's armband.

Harrad saw a shot blocked in the eighth minute, with the ball rolling to Lowe, who dragged a speculative effort harmlessly wide.

Duffy robbed Harry Worley in the 12th minute, but his shot was tame and easy for Ryan Clarke to gather.

Steve Elliott saw a header from Billy Jones' free-kick nodded off the line by Worley in the 23rd minute, but Cheltenham took the lead after 31 minutes.

Goulding showed a couple of nice touches to bring the ball down and feed Russ Penn, who set up Duffy and he calmly beat Clarke with the outside of his right foot to register his first goal since March 6 - four days before his penalty miss at Swindon Town.

Oxford levelled ten minutes before the break when a long clearance from Clarke caught out the Robins defence and Tom Craddock was able to beat Brown with a tidy low finish.

But Cheltenham regained the lead in the 45th minute through a venomous strike from Lowe, who had an excellent half at right-back.

His deep cross was caught by a stretching Clarke, who allowed it to slip from his grasp as he landed awkwardly.

Full-back Daniel Boateng attempted to clean up the danger, but Clarke picked up his backpass and an indirect free-kick was awarded to Cheltenham in the penalty area.

Penn looked set to touch the ball to Harrad for a strike, but Penn flicked it over to Lowe, who allowed it to bounce before smashing a fierce drive into the top right corner, giving Clarke absolutely no chance.

Duffy was cautioned for catching Clarke late early in the second half and the Oxford goalkeeper required treatment.

But he recovered enough to beat away Deering's drive in the 63rd minute after a pass from Goulding.

Oxford levelled for a second time in the 67th minute when Worley leapt highest at the far post to nod in Leven's corner from the right and four minutes later Chris Wilder's side took the lead.

A long ball found Constable who beat Brown with a fine left-footed drive from an acute angle for his first goal since February.

And Leven made it 4-2 in the 80th minute from the penalty spot after Elliott caught Simon Heslop in the box. It was the midfielder's second successful penalty of the season at Whaddon Road.

CHELTENHAM TOWN: S Brown; K Lowe, H Hooman (S Jombati 76), S Elliott, B Jones; M Pack S Deering (D Carter 80), R Penn; S Harrad (K Mohamed 80), D Duffy, J Goulding. Subs not used: D Carter, C Roberts, B Graham.

OXFORD UNITED: R Clarke; D Boateng (A Whing 62), H Worley, T Capaldi, L O'Brien; S Heslop, P Leven, A Chapman, J Forster-Caskey (S Rigg 81); T Craddock (T Marsh 90), J Constable. Subs not used: A Potter, M Crocombe.

REFEREE: S Attwell.

ATTENDANCE: 1,236 (236 away).

STAR MAN: Billy Jones.

Click below to see how the action unfolded at the Abbey Business Stadium this evening: