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Search forRobins claim another encouraging friendly draw
Tuesday, July 29, 2008, 21:31
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).
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