Great Matches of the Past - Number 13

Last updated : 21 February 2005 By Jon Palmer
Cheltenham Town v Yeovil Town

Nationwide Conference - 22/4/99 - Whaddon Road

Nine months of hard work came to fruition for Cheltenham on 22nd April 1999, when they clinched the Conference title on their own turf in front of a bumper crowd.

The Robins went into the game knowing that a win would seal the Championship, but what unfolded was one of the most dramatic matches ever witnessed at Whaddon Road.

After a kick off delayed by 15 minutes due to the huge volume of fans, Yeovil, who had an outside chance of taking the title themselves, were determined to spoil the party and took the lead after 82 seconds. Their scorer was none other than Owen Pickard, who had been a transfer target for Steve Cotterill during the summer of 1997.

Jamie Victory settled Cheltenham nerves, forcing home an equaliser from close range at the third attempt after a goalmouth scramble. Neil Grayson then put Cheltenham within touching distance of the Football League after 22 minutes, powering home a near post header from a Michael Duff cross.

There was an electric atmosphere inside the ground and Yeovil hit back soon after half-time to change the mood in the crowd once again. Victory handled a cross inside the area and Warren Patmore made no mistake from the spot.

With the scores level, Paul Steele was sent off for Yeovil and Cheltenham went in search of a winner. They bombarded Tony Pennock's goal with shots and headers flying in from all angles. Pennock was in inspired form and seemed to be unbeatable, making saves from Neil Grayson, John Brough and David Norton. The breathtaking display of goalkeeping may have meant that Cheltenham would have to put champagne on ice, but the deadlock was finally broken deep into injury time.

Keith Knight floated in a free-kick from the right and Duff and Victory rose in unison and the ball was headed past a stranded Pennock to send Whaddon Road into raptures. Who scored the goal was unclear at the time and although it was officially credited to Duff, Victory still maintains that he made contact. It didn't really matter as Cheltenham had achieved something special and there were tears of joy from Steve Cotterill and jubilant scenes from players and fans alike as the reality set in that Cheltenham would have a full-time Football League club for the first time.

Cheltenham Town (2) 3 (Victory 4 , Grayson 22, Duff 90)

Yeovil Town (1) 2 (Pickard 2, Patmore, pen 47)

Cheltenham: Book, Duff, Victory, Banks, Freeman, Brough, Howells, Bloomer, Grayson, Bailey (Knight 85), Norton.

Yeovil: Pennock, Piper (Simpson 69), Fishlock, Brown, Steele, Cousins, Chandler, Hayfield, Patmore, Pickard (Keeling 76), Smith (Pounder 90).

Referee: A. Penn (Kingswinford)

Attendance: 6,150