Brentford 0 Cheltenham Town 2

Last updated : 07 April 2007 By Footymad Previewer
Cheltenham proved themselves to be a class above fellow basement dwellers Brentford in a relegation six-pointer at Griffin Park.

Early goals in both halves for the Robins highlighted the gulf in heart and mind between the relegation strugglers.

Brentford started brightly and in the first minute Charlie Ide's acrobatic volley from a Joe Keith free-kick was bravely blocked by Shane Duff.

The early warning stung last season's League Two play-off winners into life and they scored almost at will six minutes later.

Kayode Odejayi, who proved to be a handful all afternoon broke, from the midfield and released Damian Spencer.

The winger's cross found John Melligan, but his header was thwarted by Stuart Nelson and in the ensuing scramble Steven Gillespie reacted quickest firing in off the underside of the bar from three yards.

On nine minutes, Melligan broke through and with a clear sight on goal mis-timed his shot to produce another good save from Nelson.

Gillespie and Odejayi were both profligate when a modicum of composure would have ended the contest.

Brentford's best chance fell to the returning Lloyd Owusu but he headed wide from Jo Kuffour's cross.

Cheltenham made their Easter a happy one by finishing the tie in the first minute of the second half.

Melligan's free-kick appeared harmless until it deflected off Gillespie and looped over a hapless Nelson.

Brentford rallied and forced some smart saves from substitute goalkeeper Scott Brown in the 55th minute, but Garry Richards' and Matt Heywood's efforts from inside the penalty box weren't clinical enough.

In the 70th minute Paul Brooker's 25-yard drive crashed against the upright, but Brentford lacked the inclination or character to pull themselves out of the relegation mire.