Cheltenham Town: Much-improved performance at Fleetwood but another draw
Fleetwood Town 1 Cheltenham Town 1
Cheltenham Town produced a much-improved performance on their first visit to Fleetwood Town, but they had to settle for yet another draw.
They led through Marlon Pack's superb first half volley, but Junior Brown's header from a corner in the 69th minute earned the Cod Army their second point against the Robins this season.
Mark Yates made four changes to the side that drew 2-2 at Accrington Stanley on Saturday.
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In came Billy Jones, Russ Penn, Darren Carter and Sam Deering, with Sido Jombati, Kaid Mohamed, Jermaine McGlashan and Byron Harrison dropping to the bench.
With five central midfielders in the line-up, skipper Penn started on the right, with Carter on the left, Pack and Taylor in the centre and Deering in the hole just off lone striker Paul Benson.
The changes worked with Cheltenham dominating the first half and playing some of their best football of the season.
Deering caused major problems popping up all over the pitch and linking well with Benson.
The Robins took a deserved lead in the 24th minute when a cross from the right was cleared to Pack and he scored a beautifully controlled left-foot volley, which flew into the bottom left corner, giving Scott Davies no chance.
But Davies, who returned from suspension in place of David Lucas, was not to be beaten again, much to Yates' frustration.
The pick of Davies' first half saves was from Deering's curling effort after a slick passing move involved Carter and Penn, which was turned behind for a corner.
But ex-Robins front man Steven Gillespie forced Scott Brown into a smart block in first-half stoppage time, underlining his threat.
Cheltenham had been firmly on top however and they seemed certain to go on and claim maximum points in the second half.
But substitute Brown, who caused Cheltenham difficulty at Whaddon Road earlier in the season, lost his marker and powered in a header, giving his namesake Scott no chance.
Davies then kept his side on level terms with a low save from Pack's swerving drive in the 73rd minute and a stunning reaction stop from Benson.
Cheltenham were by far the better side, but one piece of poor marking cost them two valuable points.
They play Alan Bennett's AFC Wimbledon at home on Saturday.
FLEETWOOD TOWN: S Davies; C McLaughlin, R Atkinson, R Edwards, D Howell; R Crowther (D Ball 79), A Barry, B Nicholson (J Brown 60), P McKenna; S Gillespie, J Fontaine (J Parkin 46). Subs not used: J Milligan, J Matt, K Charnock, D Lucas.
CHELTENHAM TOWN: S Brown; K Lowe, M Hector, S Elliott, B Jones; R Penn, M Pack, S Deering, J Taylor, D Carter (J McGlashan 86); P Benson. Subs not used: D Duffy, C Roberts, S Harrad, S Jombati, K Mohamed, B Harrison.
REFEREE: J Simpson.
ATTENDANCE: 2,031.
STAR MAN: Sam Deering.
To re-live the action as it unfolded, click below:
5 Comments
by ALChelt
Wednesday, February 27 2013, 12:45PM
“Yes CheltRobin...so can Bradford!”
by CheltRobin
Wednesday, February 27 2013, 11:38AM
“Cameron - was your comment tongue-in-cheek?? The last thing Chelt needs is a change of manager like Di Canio (I can see flashbacks to the MA era all over again!!) Last nite it was a case of 2 poits dropped (yet again). However, the Robins DOMINATED the match, but if you only score 1 goal, 1 little slip will cost you - and it cost us - not for the 1st time either this season. Really glad thou to see Deering get a match, he was MOM for me by a long way and fully justified his inclusion - how Sam has remained so calm and patient all this time amazes me. Now with this performanc, he should start on Sat and another decent performance should hopefully enable him to get a long-overdue run in theteam.
The Robins were excellent last nite- but I do feel that when we get to the penalty area, we are sometimes guilty of tip-tapping the ball around trying to score the "perfect" goal (we're not quite Arsenal yet!!). As Pack showed, if you get space - TAKE THE SHOT!! You never know what will happen - if it's on target, you'll give the oppo goalie + defence problems.
Apart from that - if the Robins can keep last nite's performance up for the rest of the season we WILL get auto promotion.
Stay positive Robins(and the fans) - still loads to play for, we have breathing space in the play-offs to Fleetwood now and still only 3 points from 3rd - WE CAN DO IT!!
COYRR!!”
by cameron_ctfc
Wednesday, February 27 2013, 9:26AM
“the promotion push is stalling perhaps the board need to be bold and get someone inspirational like paolo di canio in to keep us on track”
by LP1212
Wednesday, February 27 2013, 8:41AM
“Let's face it, what has most cost us a win so many times this season is our inability to create chances and score enough goals. Goal scorers are paid to "lose their marker"; when we do it from a corner, it's great play, when the opposition do it, it's bad marking. To judge from the radio commentary, we really only created half chances yesterday, despite being so well on top and having one of our best games of the season. Even our goal did not really come from creative play by our midfield. For a side so long in the top 3, we have had a dreadfully low number of shots, let alone shots on target, during the season.
Jermaine should indeed be our most dangerous outlet, but we don't seem to make the best use of him (and yes, he must also improve his crosses into the box). It can often be 15 to 20 minutes before he receives a ball to feet wide out on the right, and he (as a result?) too often moves infield in search of the ball. I am convinced that other sides would be getting the ball to him on the wing far more often and far more quickly. MY should also be able to work on ways of overcoming the opposition doubling up on him - it is not as though that is an unusual tactic. (Though we never seem to try to stifle opposition wingers by doubling up on them.)
But let's be positive. MY has now got an excellent group of players who should be able to get promoted (though I often wonder if Cotterill or Ward would have got more out of them). We still have to play games against all of the 6 sides above us, so to some extent have it in our own hands. If we really are good enough, we should at least stay in a play off position, and automatic promotion is not to be ruled out yet either. But we do need to start making more chances and scoring more goals!”
by ALChelt
Wednesday, February 27 2013, 7:47AM
“What a shame a lapse in the defence cost them a win,but thats footy,however looking at the positive Yeates actually made some decisions even though they have been glaringly obvious to many fans for sometime,at last he as given Deering the roving role and taken the out of touch Jombati out of the frey,I'm well aware that Deering is not effective against every side but he as hardly been given a chance unlike the limit ability of Mo,McGlashen as suffered from teams doubling up on him and sides are well aware he is out most dangerous outlet so they have kicked him all season....anyway not a bad result now lets turn it into wins.”