Not so long ago the gulf between these two teams was so great that no sane fan would ever have foreseen a tie played under these circumstances so soon. A team with the history and support of Rovers would have once phased the Robins but now it seems no one can frighten Cheltenham as they bid to move even further up the league, building on the progress of the last five years since Steve Cotterill’s arrival.
The game was a close affair with either side desperate for three points; Cheltenham looking to add to their run of 13 unbeaten games in the league and Rovers to end a run of 5 defeats and restore some much needed confidence.
There were chances for either side, Russell Milton coming close with a volley in the third minute to test the competence of goalkeeper Scott Howie. Chances fell also to Michael Duff and Mark Yates, both missing with headers over the bar. Sergio Ommel and Nathan Ellington struggled to pass Cheltenham’s resistant defence and their shots were easily dealt with.
As the half-hour mark arrived Cheltenham fans held their breath as Lee Howells went down a leg injury. After five minutes on the ground he was stretchered off and it has been confirmed that he will now miss the rest of the season, leaving Steve Cotterill the near impossible task of replacing the Cheltenham legend.
On 43 minutes Carlo Sanchez-Lopez capitalised on a rare defensive error from Cheltenham’s back four and shot past Steve Book into the left-hand corner of the goal. Bristol Rovers 1 Cheltenham Town 0. The referee signalled for 6 minutes of injury time to be played and Cheltenham persevered until the equaliser came. Earlier in the week Steve Cotterill told Michael Duff he needed to get on the scoresheet more and add some material to his new found confidence since playing for Northern Ireland. In fact it was Richard Walker, on for Lee Howells after his own long-term injury, who scored after Duff had his header parried by keeper Howie.
Half-time Bristol Rovers 1 Cheltenham Town 1
The second half opened with a yellow card for Michael Duff. Referee Brian Curson from Leicester showed Duff the card for unsporting behaviour. Indeed this was the first time in the match that Curson got his book out and in a game where he failed to command a lot of respect it is quite surprising that he did not get it out sooner.
Liverpool and Rangers legend Mark Walters, whose goal 10 years ago denied Manchester United their first league championship for 25 years, came on after 60 minutes and saw a crafty free kick curl only slightly past the post and a stranded Steve Book.
Cheltenham had come to do a job and were finally rewarded when in the 70th minute Julian Alsop, once a Rovers player, leaped to put one of his now trademark headers into the net from a Lee Williams cross. As Steve Cotterill smelt victory in the air – combined with that of the proper Cornish pasties – he sent on Martin Devaney and Neil Grayson to allow Williams and Milton to see the rest of the game from the dugout.
A late surge from Rovers was defended against and Cheltenham held on for a much needed win and extended their run of away wins in the league to six.
Final Score Bristol Rovers 1 Cheltenham Town 2