Cheltenham Town 1 Bristol City 1

ASHLEY VINCENT celebrated signing his new contract with

Cheltenham Town by netting the Robins’ goal in their

encouraging 1-1 draw with Bristol City last night.

The much-maligned forward agreed a new one-year before

kick-off and then proceeded to continue his bright form ahead

of what he hopes will be his first campaign as a centre

forward.

Vincent, 23, has spent the vast majority of his Robins

career on the wing, but he took his first half goal

exceptionally well to give boss Keith Downing food for

thought.

Cheltenham played well and led until the 84th minute, when

City levelled through Jennison Myrie Williams’ penalty.

City goalkeeper Chris Weale was called into evasive action

twice in the opening 15 minutes.

He stood up well to deny Paul Connor, who latched onto

ex-City midfielder Alex Russell’s ball following a mistake from

Louis Carey.

Weale, deputising for the injured Adriano Basso, then dived

to his left to turn Connor’s low shot around a post after Shane

Higgs’ long clearance was not dealt with by the City

backline.

Both sides were dealt defensive blows on the night, with

Cheltenham losing Shane Duff to a tight thigh before the game

and City’s Cole Skuse forced off in the ninth minute after a

bang to his face.

Cheltenham were superior for much of the first half,

delivering several crosses and threading some slick passes

together.

Former Cheltenham loan star Steve Brooker started up front

for City and his shot from edge of the penalty area was well

blocked by Jerry Gill in the 19th minute.

Vincent then forced Weale into another fingertip save after

half an hour and Andy Gallinagh went close twice in quick

succession.

His header from Alex Russell’s corner was hacked off the

line by Gavin Williams and from another Russell flag kick he

crashed a header against the bar.

But Vincent made no mistake in the 41st  minute,

striding through on goal after good work from Russell and Andy

Lindegaaard and applying a confident finish inside the bottom

right corner, across the despairing Weale.

It was his second goal of the pre-season period and his pace

caused major problems for City’s defence.

Teenager Theo Lewis, the hero of Saturday’s 1-1 draw with

Southampton, was sent on early in the second half and almost

made an immediate impact, heading Russell’s cross narrowly over

the bar.

Alan Wright nodded Dele Adebola’s header off the line from

Lee Johnson’s corner in the 61st minute and Bradley Orr’s

delicate chip drifted wide as City pressed for a leveller.

The Championship club equalised six minutes from the end

when former Robins loanee Myrie-Williams converted from the

spot after Michael Townsend had fouled Adebola.

Substitute Lee Ridley forced Weale into another excellent

save in the closing seconds with a free-kick from the edge of

the box as honours finished even.

CHELTENHAM TOWN: S Higgs; J Gill (L Ridley 86), A Gallinagh,

M Townsend, A Wright; A Lindegaard (M Watkins 81), D Bird, A

Russell (B Gill 81), C Armstrong (A Ledgister 81); P

Connor,  A Vincent (T Lewis 51).  Subs not used: S P

A Brown, J Emery.

BRISTOL CITY:  C Weale; B Orr (J Wilson 68), L Carey (J

McCombe 68), C Skuse (C Ribeiro 9) L Fontaine (F Artus 68); G

Williams (K Betsy 68), M Elliott (D Noble 68),  L Johnson

(B Wilson 68), M McIndoe (T Plummer 68); S Brooker (D

Adebola 46), L Trundle (J Myrie-Williams 46).

Sub not used:  J McAllister.

REFEREE: K J Friend (Leicestershire).

ATTENDANCE: 1,479 (370 from Bristol City).