Cheltenham Town video: New-look Robins back in the top three
Cheltenham Town 2 Torquay United 1
New-look Cheltenham Town moved back into the automatic promotion places with a fully deserved victory over Torquay United this afternoon.
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The Abbey Business Stadium
After back-to-back goalless draws, Mark Yates thrust three of his new signings straight into the team.
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Paul Benson started up front, with Jason Taylor in midfield and Michael Hector at centre-half.
Sam Deering was dropped to the bench, with Marlon Pack sat in the stand as his move to Swindon Town hangs in the balance, while Billy Jones (thigh) was taken out as a precaution.
Striker Byron Harrison was among the substitutes, having not yet taken part in his first training session.
Cheltenham started well, with Benson almost scoring less than three minutes into his debut.
Jermaine McGlashan's cross was headed to him by Kaid Mohamed and he passed the ball towards goal.
Shaun Harrad forced the ball over the line from close range, but he was in an offside position, so the goal was chalked off.
Benson used the ball well with his back to goal, proving an awkward customer for Torquay's defence, while Mohamed was rejuvenated on the left wing after two ineffective performances up front.
He was on set piece duty in the absence of Pack and Jones and he set up the opener for Keith Lowe in the 33rd minute.
It was a corner from the right delivered towards the near post and Lowe powered in his fifth goal of the season.
Scott Brown made a fingertip save from Rene Howe in the 19th minute, but he was otherwise untroubled as Cheltenham controlled affairs.
The uncompromising Taylor was vocal and dominant, often sitting in front of the back four.
Hector showed the mobility and athleticism that made Yates so keen to bring him in on loan from Premier League Reading.
Hector also drew a save from Michael Poke in the 13th minute after a cross from Mohamed.
It remained 1-0 at half-time, but McGlashan fed Harrad in the 50th minute and the Bury loan man turned and fired a shot past Poke for his ninth of the campaign.
Harrad then forced Poke into a fine one-handed stop from long range before skipper Russ Penn saw a cracking strike turned onto the bar by the Gulls' last line of defence.
Cheltenham should have added to their total again in the 85th minute when Harrison forced Thomas Cruise into a sloppy backpass, but Darryl Duffy shot wide of the near post with only Poke to beat.
Torquay halved the deficit in the 88th minute when Howe's shot was half stopped by Brown, but he was helpless as it span into the net.
Cheltenham had to see out five minutes of additional time, but they did so successfully and thoroughly deserved their victory.
Cheltenham Town: S Brown; K Lowe, M Hector, S Elliott, S Jombati; J McGlashan, R Penn, J Taylor, K Mohamed (D Carter 82); P Benson (B Harrison 77), S Harrad (D Duffy 77). Subs not used: C Roberts, L McCullough, J Hanks, S Deering
Torquay United: M Poke; J Oastler (t Cruise 76), B Saah, A Downes, K Nicholson; L Mansell, D Lathrope, B Bodin, R Jarvis, N Craig (L Macklin 66); R Howe. Subs not used: M Rice, A MacDonald, C Easton, D Stevens, A Yeoman.
Referee: C Berry.
Attendance: 2,961 (389 away).
Star Man: Keith Lowe.
To re-live the action as it unfolded, click below:
2 Comments
by LP1212
Sunday, February 03 2013, 12:21PM
“A much better performance yesterday; lots of promise for a good run in to the end of the season, with all the newcomers doing well. Though it is still worrying that we don't kill teams off when we should and we nearly lost 2 points in added time - it was almost easier for Mo to score with his header than miss while Duffy should have buried his one-on-one chance with the keeper.
Hector looked composed in defence after a nervy start - some of his clearing headers had more height than distance on the ball, but it would be good to keep him beyond a month. Taylor fought hard in midfield, but I wonder if we are going to have the same debate about him and Penn playing in the same team as we did about Pack and Carter. Despite everything, the midfield still seemed to lack that extra bit of creativity. Benson showed what we have missed all season; he was everywhere, held the ball up well, and laid more balls off to McG wide out on the right in the first half than Pack had done all season. Benson and Harrad seemed a good pairing up front in a system that made us much more threatening - more so than Harrison and Duffy later, who played much further apart from each other, though to be fair they only had 20 minutes playing time.
Mo was a revelation with his set pieces, and also seemed to think more about passing the ball rather than losing it on the run. McG benefited from staying much more out on the wing, though he must work on his crosses, some of which were wasteful. Penn had a storming game again, and was also more creative than sometimes; he was unlucky with his pile-driver that was tipped on to the bar.
Torquay looked a decent side in the first half; who wouldn't be pleased to see Kevin Nicholson and Rene Howe in a Robins shirt? But MY appears to have made some good acquisitions (it will be a shame if the Rooney-for-Pack deal falls through this week because of the turmoil at Swindon), and there is now every prospect of a Top 3 finish.”
by ALChelt
Sunday, February 03 2013, 9:33AM
“This was a much improved performance,all the new guys fitted in well,Hector had a nervy first few touches and he worried me for a while but he soon got over that and Elliot I believe talked him through the following 45 mininuets,Mohamed had probably one of the best halves I have ever seen him play and was the talk of the crowd at half time,just not use to seeing him run at people with comitment and penatration and pass at the right time,unforunatley he was much quiter after the break which was a shame,Benson's touch and movement was class all afternoon and Taylor added more energy to the midfield.
I thought we would really miss Pack but on this showing Robins were far more vibrant and comitted,and should have wrapped up this game by at least 4 goals however a rare mistake from Brown this season meant a nervy last few minuets but the scoreline really did not reflect how dominent the Robins were...and 4 2 4 worked this afternoon!”