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Search forSAT 4.55pm: Cheltenham Town 2 Stockport County 2 - full-time report
Saturday, September 27, 2008, 14:00
Former Forest Green front runner Fleetwood made a huge impact, scoring in the first half and he was also brought down for a second half penalty after Stockport had hit back in the 54th minute.
Scott Murray’s spot kick was saved, but Payne followed up to make it 2-1 and it looked as though Martin Allen was going to be able to celebrate his second win in three games.
But Michael Raynes headed in a last-gasp leveller to peg Cheltenham back and maintain Stockport's unbeaten record against the Robins.
Fleetwood’s on-month loan spell from Charlton Athletic started with a bump as he went down injured after less than 30 seconds trying to latch onto a long ball and ended up in a heap.
The 22-year-old was fit to continue and the first sight of goal fell to him in the 23rd minute as he burst onto a long ball from Alex Russell with power and pace, but after beating one defender he was crowded out and his shot rolled wide.
Newly-promoted Stockport carved out their first chance two minutes later when Leon McSweeney’s cross from the right was nodded down by Peter Thompson into the path of Anthony Pilkington, whose shot was off target.
But Fleetwood, who was the Blue Square Premier’s leading scorer last season, opened his Robins account in the 32nd minute.
He raced onto a fine searching ball from Russell, taking a perfect first touch and calmly dispatched the ball into the bottom left corner.
Fleetwood was one of three debutants on show for Martin Allen’s Robins, along with right midfielder Lewis Montrose and central midfielder Payne.
It was a much changed Cheltenham line-up, with Scott Brown, Jerry Gill, Andy Gallinagh, Montrose, Payne and Fleetwood replacing, Shane Higgs (calf), Gavin Caines (dropped), Alan Wright (concussion), Barry Hayles (suspended), Lloyd Owusu (ankle) and Josh Low (dropped).
Payne, 17, showed some skilful touches and he and Montrose both look mature for his age, while keeper Brown dealt capably with several testing crosses.
Scott Murray tried his luck from long range after Gary Dicker gave the ball away, but Owain fon Williams was equal to it.
Brown made a smart stop early in the second half after Pilkington’s cross was met by Thompson’s head, but the deputising goalkeeper held it low to his left.
In similar fashion to many of Cheltenham’s other League One matches this season, they were pinned back by their opponents immediately after the interval.
The dangerous Thompson then beat Townsend, but the recalled Gill made an important intervention to avert the danger.
Murray was pushed up front for the start of the second period, with Connor switched to the left of midfield.
Murray’s deft chip dropped narrowly wide, but Stockport levelled in the 54th minute when Pilkington crossed from the byline after some slack defending from Connor and Thompson stole between a defender and Brown to head in at the near post.
Cheltenham were awarded a penalty in the 65th minute when Fleetwood was brought down by fon Williams.
Murray’s initial spot kick was blocked by the goalkeeper and his follow up attempt cannoned off the bar with the goal gaping, but Payne was on hand the slam home and become Cheltenham’s youngest ever Football League goalscorer.
The impressive Drissa Diallo made some well-timed challenges and was dominant in the air during his second appearance in a Robins shirt and substitute Ashley Vincent made some bright runs.
Brown held Thompson’s header on the goal line in the 77th minute, but he could do nothing about the last minute equaliser.
A free-kick from Michael Rose was blocked by Murray, but the ball was pumped back into the danger area a breakdown in communication from Gallinagh and Caines allowed Raynes to head past Brown.
Brown palmed a curling effort from Pilkington onto the bar deep into stoppage time as Cheltenham were made to hold on for a point when they had looked set for all three.
After the game, the highly respected Jerry Gill waved goodbye to the Cheltenham fans after what appears to have been his last game for the club.
Cheltenham: S Brown; J, Gill, M Townsend, D Diallo, A Gallinagh; L Montrose (B Gill 62), A Russell, J Payne, S Murray; P Connor (A Vincent 62), S Fleetwood (G Caines 85). Subs: C Armstrong, J Perry (Gk).
Stockport County: O fon Williams; J McNulty, G Owen (M Rose 67), J Mullins, L McSweeney (J Vincent. 82); M Raynes; P Turnbull, S Gleeson (C Baker 82), G Dicker; A Pilkington; P Thompson. Subs: D Blizzard, L Rigby (Gk).
Referee: O Langford (West Midlands).
Attendance: 3,796 (575 from Stockport).
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