SUN 1.40pm: Cheltenham 1 - 2 Scunthorpe: With Martin Allen audio
Cheltenham Town were the better side at Whaddon Road this afternoon, but they failed to stop Scunthorpe United continuing their relentless progress at the top of the table.
The Robins controlled much of the opening half, but found themselves a goal down in the 34th minute when an attack broke down and a midfield challenge between Josh Payne and Matt Sparrow broke kindly for the visitors.
A quick ball forward released Robins summer transfer target Gary Hooper, who raced through one-on-one and applied a low finish between the legs of goalkeeper Scott Brown.
It was a rare attack for the Iron, who were second best for long periods.
Cheltenham’s exciting young midfield of Josh Payne and James Wesolowski were on top against former Robins favourite Grant McCann and another summer target for ex-boss Keith Downing, Sam Togwell.
Drissa Diallo met Alan Wright’s corner with a diving header that was held by Joe Murphy and Payne curled a free-kick wide within five minutes.
Ashley Vincent ran at a defender and saw a shot held by Murphy and Scunthorpe were pinned in their own half.
Payne had been recalled in place of the injured Alex Russell, while at the back right-back Andy Gallinagh came in for Michael Townsend, with Darren Kenton starting at centre-back.
After wondering how they had returned to the dressing rooms 1-0 down at half-time, the Robins started the second period strongly.
Stuart Fleetwood had a quiet game, but he linked up with tackling machine Wesolowski, who crossed for Scott Murray and his shot was deflected wide for a corner.
Murray’s cross was palmed away by Murphy before McCann was cautioned for a foul on Payne that had the 17-year-old airborne.
McCann then showed the other side of his game, curling a shot narrowly wide with Brown at full stretch.
Almost immediately, Lloyd Owusu almost latched onto a pass from Wesolowski, but his first touch was loose and Murphy was out quickly and bravely to smother at the big striker’s feet.
The keeper needed treatment after coming off worse in the challenge, but the Ireland international was fit to continue.
Wright’s ball in was flicked on by Owusu in the 69th minute and with Vincent lurking, Mirfin made a last ditch intervention as Cheltenham pressed for a fully-deserved equaliser.
But from the resulting corner, substitute Connor headed in his first of the season from Wright’s excellent delivery.
A mix-up between Diallo and Kenton saw the ball rebound through to Hooper, who found himself with Brown to beat, but the keeper delayed his progress well and then claimed brilliantly at the feet of Ben May.
Brown was preferred to the fit again Shane Higgs, who had to settle for a place on the bench for the first time in many years, and vindicated his inclusion.
But Brown was beaten with 10 seconds of the 90 minutes to go, when Sparrow’s shot rolled into the bottom corner after May won a flick on.
CHELTENHAM TOWN: S P A Brown; A Gallinagh, D Kenton, D Diallo, A Wright; S Murray, J Payne (L Ridley 86), J Wesolowski, A Vincent; S Fleetwood (P Connor 53), L Owusu. Subs not used: S Higgs, G Caines, B Gill.
SCUNTHORPE UNITED: J Murphy; C Byrne, D Mirfin, K Pearce, M Williams; M Sparrow, S Togwell, G McCann, M Woolford (J Forte 77); P Hayes (B May 55), G Hooper (A Wright 90). Subs not used: A Crosby, J Lillis.
REFEREE: K D Hill (Hertfordshire).
ATTENDANCE: 3, 682 (337 from Scunthorpe).
Click here to listen to the post match thoughts of Martin Allen
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