High spot from Low earns Robins a draw

BISHOP'S CLEEVE 2 CHELTENHAM TOWN 2

A MOMENT of individual brilliance from transfer-listed Josh Low saved Cheltenham Town from a friendly defeat by a bright Bishop's Cleeve side at Kayte Lane last night.

With Cheltenham trailing 2-1, Low charged past several defenders on the right wing before firing an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net in the 70th minute.

Unwanted by Martin Allen for most of last season and throughout this summer, Low will now hold talks with the Robins boss over a reduction in his appearance money that could see him feature for Cheltenham in League Two.

A Cheltenham side including trialist midfielder Ben Smith opened the scoring after five minutes through fit-again striker Elvis Hammond, who looked sharp early on.

He was brought down by goalkeeper Tom King after Marley Watkins' pass caused problems for Cleeve's defence.

Hammond, who has recovered from ankle surgery, safely tucked away the spot kick, sending King the wrong way.

Cleeve hit back in the 34th minute when a long throw from Ben Gascoyne was flicked on by former Robins favourite Julian Alsop.

Adam Mayo's header was nodded off the line by his former Cheltenham youth team colleague Shane Duff, but Kevin Slack marked his return to Cleeve with a goal by forcing the ball over the line from close range.

Slack added a second five minutes later, rounding Puddy after being allowed to burst into the box all too easily.

With the mobile Gascoyne and Slack dangerous and Alsop a constant aerial threat, Southern League Division One South and West club Cleeve looked a useful outfit.

Cheltenham fielded an entirely different XI for the second half, including new boys David Hutton and Justin Richards.

Richards missed a clear-cut headed chance, but formed an effective partnership with young Theo Lewis.

Richards put the ball in the net after straying offside in the 80th minute, but Low had already levelled the scores with the best moment of the match.

Cleeve: T King (M Pearce 46); S Avery (R Paddock 46), G Hopkins (S Avery 77), J Routledge, J Cant (D Avery 46); B Gascoyne, A Mayo (J Meadows 46), N Williams (B Maguire 52), R Mansell; J Alsop (J Vercesi 46), K Slack (L Sheehan 76).

Cheltenham Town (first half): W Puddy; D Diallo, R Keen, S Duff, J Quaynor; M Watkins, B Smith, D Bird, J Emery; J Lee, E Hammond.

(second half): S Brown; K Haynes, J Durrant, M Townsend, L Ridley; J Low, C Tosh, A Gallinagh, D Hutton; T Lewis, J Richards.

Referee: D Eaton (Tewkesbury).