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Search for4.58pm: Full-time - Brighton 3 Cheltenham 3
Saturday, October 04, 2008, 14:34
ANDY GALLINAGH's first senior goal rescued a point at the death for Cheltenham Town, ending their miserable run of results away from home.
The 10-man Robins were staring at their fifth successive away league defeat this season and Brighton were ready to celebrate their first home league win of the campaign.
But four minutes into stoppage time, substitute Gallinagh rolled the ball into an empty net after fellow sub Paul Connor had bundled his way into the penalty area and ripped Brighton's defence apart.
Josh Payne, the young West Ham midfielder on loan at Cheltenham, was sent off for two yellow cards in the second half, cutting short the second senior appearance of his career.
It was 2-2 at the break after an eventful first half with the Murrays, Glenn and Scott, netting two goals apiece for the Seagulls and the Robins respectively.
The home side, who had scored only two goals in their previous four home league games, took the lead just 46 seconds in.
Kevin Thornton, outstanding on his home debut, linked up with David Livermore, whose cross into the box was met by the unmarked Glenn Murray, who headed past Scott Brown.
Cheltenham responded immediately, attacking with Stuart Fleetwood, who sent a low diagonal ball towards the far post where Scott Murray and Lloyd Owusu were waiting and the former poked it home in the second minute.
Fleetwood rolled a shot wide as the frenetic action continued and it was not long before Brighton were celebrating in the heavy rain again.
Adam Virgo’s cross was laid off delightfully by Nicky Forster, bamboozling the Robins defence and allowing Glenn Murray plenty of time to calmly weave around Brown and stab home from close range in the seventh minute.
Alex Russell, playing on the left wing, sent a long ball that was flicked on by Owusu for Fleetwood, whose first touch was superb, but his shot was weak.
Payne, 17, made his presence felt with a strong challenge on Brighton debutant Robbie Savage, a man twice his age.
Derby County midfielder Savage could have joined Cheltenham last week, but chose the south coast club.
Scott Murray looked very dangerous for the Robins and he skipped past left-back Matt Richards and saw his shot saved by Michel Kuipers and Owusu’s follow-up was blocked.
Alan Wright rolled a free-kick wide and Fleetwood’s first time effort was held by Kuipers after another ball forward from Russell.
Russell was booked for a foul on Andy Whing before Tommy Elphick headed a Thornton corner over the bar.
Fleetwood latched onto a flick from Owusu and went down looking for a penalty after Elphick’s challenge, but the referee waved away his appeals.
Russell’s cross was met by Kenton and Whing cleared off the line in the 37th minute, but Cheltenham levelled during first half stoppage time.
Another delivery from Russell was headed clear, but Wright cleverly fed the ball back out to Russell.
His second cross was once again cleared away with Kenton lurking, but it fell to Scott Murray, who connected wonderfully with a volley into the top right corner from 22 yards.
As they had done in the first half, Brighton caught Cheltenham cold with a goal two minutes after the restart as Glenn Murray completed his hat-trick.
Diallo's clearance was seized upon by Thornton, who skipped past Kenton and crossed to Murray, who powered in another header to make it 3-2.
Forster shot across goal for Brighton, but Cheltenham looked useful going forward and if they had not forgotten how to defend, they could have broken their away duck.
Ashley Vincent replaced Kenton and within two minutes the pacy winger had delivered three crosses after running at and beating Richards, but Brighton stood firm.
Scott Murray and Thornton, two of the stars of the match, were both forced off after a nasty collision after 72 minutes.
Glenn Murray then almost turned provider, sending over a low cross towards Forster, but Michael Townsend slid in to clear the danger.
Virgo's left-footed shot skidded wide, but Cheltenham's chances of hitting back were dealt a blow in the 85th minute when Payne was given his marching orders.
He had been cautioned for a foul on Glenn Murray and was shown a second yellow card for what the referee deemed a dive in the penalty area, seconds after Vincent had also gone down in the box.
But substitutes Connor and Gallinagh combined to earn the Robins their first away point of the season and their first point at the Withdean Stadium.
Cheltenham: S Brown; D Kenton (A Vincent 69), M Townsend, D Diallo, A Wright; S Murray (A Gallinagh 77), J Payne, J Wesolowski, A Russell; S Fleetwood, L Owusu (P Connor 84). Subs: G Caines, J Perry.
Brighton: M Kuipers; A Whing, C Hawkins, T Elphick, M Richards; D Livermore,. R Savage (T Fraser 90), A Virgo, K Thornton (A El-Abd 74); G Murray, N Forster Subs: D Cox, D Loft, J Anyinsah.
REFEREE: G Ward.
ATTENDANCE: 5,859 (101 from Cheltenham).
STAR MAN: Scott Murray.
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