Five goal thrashing is huge boost to morale
CHELTENHAM Town’s long wait for a win ended in the most emphatic style as acting boss John Schofield celebrated his first much-needed victory in the hot seat.
Barnet took a 13th minute lead, but two goals from the outstanding Ben Marshall, along with strikes from Andy Gallinagh, Justin Richards and an own goal ended the Robins’ 11-match winless streak.
Cheltenham were chasing their first home success since the opening day of the season when Grimsby Town were defeated 2-1 at the Abbey Business Stadium and they took all of their frustrations out on unsuspecting Bees to provide the perfect tonic to a difficult period on and off the pitch.
Nine home fixtures and three-and-a-half months have passed since then and if ever the club were in need of a morale boost in front of their own supporters, it was this evening.
The Robins made a tentative opening, playing against a strong wind and Albert Jarrett’s cross from the right was allowed to travel into the penalty area where the unmarked John O’Flynn planted a header past Brown and into the bottom left corner.
Cheltenham have developed a worrying habit of collapsing after falling behind this term, but they battled on against the elements and levelled in the 21st minute.
Daniel Leach was cautioned for a foul on home debutant Marshall and David Bird’s free-kick was swung beautifully into the six-yard box, where Gallinagh arrived to glance a header inside the far post via a deflection off a Barnet player. It was only Gallinagh’s second goal for Cheltenham and capped a fine individual display for the central defender.
Scott Brown was called upon to make a smart save low to his left to keep out Yannick Bolasie’s effort, but Cheltenham were visibly lifted by their goal and they took the lead in the 38th minute.
Kenny Gillet brought down the recalled Barry Hayles on the left and another dangerous cross from Bird was won by Gallinagh, but it was cleared as far as Justin Richards, who sent it straight back under the crossbar with a clever overhead kick, fast becoming his speciality, and Marshall nodded in from close range.
A piece of Hayles magic set up Richards for a chance in the first minute of the second period, but Jake Cole in the Barnet goal made a diving save.
Cheltenham appealed strongly for a penalty in the 54th minute when Marshall went down under a challenge after robbing Gillet and bursting into the area.
But leading scorer Richards made it 3-1 in the 55th minute finishing well after Hayles had helped on Marshall’s right-wing cross.
Marshall rounded off a superb individual performance in the 86th minute, seizing on an error from Leach and confidently rounding Cole and slotting in and less than two minutes later Richards’ low shot was turned into his own net by Ismail Yakubu as Barnet crumbled.
CHELTENHAM TOWN: S Brown; K Haynes, A Gallinagh, D Diallo, J Low; B Marshall (M Watkins 90), J Labadie, D Bird, T Lewis; B Hayles, J Richards. Subs not used: M Pook, D Hutton, E Hammond, J Perry, J Quaynor, J Alsop.
BARNET: J Cole; A Deen, I Yakubu, D Leach, K Gillett (K Lockhart-Adams 79); Y Bolasie (A Adomah 46), M Hyde, M Hughes, A Jarrett; J O’Flynn, P Furlong (J Hyde 65). Subs not used: N Deverics, D Hart, P Carpenter, R Scott.
REFEREE: R East.
ATTENDANCE: 2,331 ( 115 from Barnet).
STAR MAN: Ben Marshall.
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