FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round - 28/9/96- Whaddon Road
On their way to a first round clash with Peterborough at London Road, Cheltenham faced Salisbury in the 2nd qualifying round and it turned out to be a classic topsy-turvy up tie.
Salisbury had already claimed a shock league win at Whaddon Road earlier in the season when goals from former Cheltenham defender Matt Lovell and Robbie Harbut gave them a 2-0 victory. The cup draw presented Cheltenham with a chance to exact some revenge.
Both the league meetings between the two sides during the 1995/96 season ended 3-3 so it was no surprise when the goals began to flow once again. Dave Boyce put the Whites ahead after only six minutes and his opener was cancelled out by Darren Wright who fired home six minutes later.
Roger Emms put Salisbury ahead for the second time, as both sides seem to abandon defending in favour of all out attack. Jason Eaton then hit his first goal as the sides went in all-square at half-time.
Eaton scored his second after 56 minutes to give Cheltenham the lead, but Salisbury refused to lie down and levelled the scores again five minutes later.
With still half an hour to go, Eaton completed his hat-trick to put Cheltenham 4-3 up. Salisbury bombarded the Cheltenham goal much of the remainder of
the match, but finally some defensive solidarity was displayed and no further goals followed.
Eaton was the difference between the two sides and it was a great example of lethal finishing from the expert goal poacher. Chris Banks performed well in an unaccustomed midfield role and Paul Chenoweth was the main creative force behind Eaton's treble.
Having already beaten Gosport in the first qualifier, Cheltenham went on to face Weymouth in the third. A Jimmy Smith goal gave the Robins a safe passage through to the fourth qualifying round, where they overcame Bath in another memorable cup tie.
Salisbury went on to finish 12th in the Dr Marten's Premier Division and their 3-1 win over Gloucester City on the final day of the season meant that
Cheltenham's 0-0 draw at Burton was enough to secure promotion to the Conference after a five-year wait.
Cheltenham Town (2) 4 (Wright 12, Eaton (3) 39, 56, 62)
Salisbury City (2) 3 (Boyce 6, Emms 25, Webb 61)
Cheltenham: Maloy, Duff (Howells 45), Wring (Clarke 86), Wotton, Freeman, Victory, Wright, Banks, Eaton, Chenoweth (Bellingham 65), Bloomer.
Salisbury: Simpkins, Lovell, Browne, Baird, Emms, Masters, Shaw, Webb, Harbut (Sandrey 80), Chalk (Smith 59), Boyce.
Referee: Referee: I. C. Mills (Kidlington).
Attendance: 714