Aldershot 0-1 Cheltenham Town 25th August 2012

A 72nd minute header from Shaun Harrad handed Cheltenham Town all three points here at the EBB Stadium this afternoon.

Little happened in the first half except for a ten minute stoppage in play due to heavy rain and lightning but the Shots did waste a number of chances after the break in play and the Robins were happy to go in at the break with a draw. The second half was a tightly contested affair but Shaun Harrad's stooping header handed Mark Yates' team another three points ahead of next week's home match versus Accrington Stanley.

It was a wet thundery afternoon in Aldershot with the heaven's opening ahead of kick off but Mark Yates' Robins were looking to heat things up at the EBB Stadium and continue their strong start to the new season. It was also a big day for Jermaine McGlashan who was returning to his former club since joining the Robins back in January and the winger received a warm welcome from his former club's supporters. There was just one change for Cheltenham with Jeff Goulding replacing Sam Deering possibly because of the height of the host's team. New signing Darren Carter was also present but would have to wait for his debut starting the game from the substitutes bench.

It was a decent start for Cheltenham Town with the Robins grabbing the first opportunity on goal after just six minutes. A Billy Jones cross was met by a totally unmarked Steve Elliott but the defender's headed shot was palmed away by Jamie Young to calm the nerves of the hosts and deny Cheltenham a strong start to the fixture. That start continued and this time it was McGlashan who almost made something happen after linking up well with Jeff Goulding. The former Shots winger skipped past the full back and drove a low pass back inside which was cleared but only to Goulding whose effort was well blocked by Ben Herd. Aldershot weren't without their threats going forward however and Adam Mekki almost snatched the lead when he drove down the wing and fired an angled shot across goal and wide. The Shots had an opportunity on 17 minutes as well when Tonkin's freekick was headed over by Peter Vincenti.

The rain really was lashing down here in Aldershot and the referee took the decision to march the players off the pitch until it had subsided. The rain did calm and the players reappeared to kick this game back off ten minutes after they were withdrawn but Aldershot almost made Cheltenham wish they had left it a few minutes more. Adam Mekki was once again the culprit as slid past Hooman to fire in a left footed drive but Brown was comfortable wit ha pretty poor shot. They were at it again soon after when Jombati's sloppy pass allowed Payne to stroke the ball to the back post but Jordan Roberts' effort proved a shambled and Rankine's follow up was even worse - neither player even connected with the ball. Meanwhile, Dean Holdsworth was having kittens on the sideline with his belief that Cheltenham were being given the rub of the green. Josh Payne and Jordan Roberts both booked so far but for pretty obvious fouls.

A Billy Jones freekick was comfortably saved on 34 minutes as the Robins looked to step it up but the Shots were pouncing upon every single mistake they were making and Rankine should really have hit the target when Goulding made a mess of a back heel and allowed an attack on goal. An ironic applause from the Aldershot fans for the referee arose on 45 minutes when he booked Russ Penn for dragging Vincenti back on a counter attack and from the resulting freekick Vincenti almost headed his side ahead but Brown was alert and pushed the effort away from goal. That missed opportunity meant the scores remained at a stalemate however with an even game being contested.

Half Time: Aldershot 0-0 Cheltenham Town

There seemed to be little mistakes creeping in for both teams during the first half and second period started on the same footing but Cheltenham were able to withstand early pressure from Rankine and co. The Robins settled back into their own football however and it wasn't long before Shaun Harrad had won a foul 20 yards from goal. It was the strike himself that struck the set piece but it was a poor effort and Young was able to watch the shot rise above his bar and out of play. A Russ Penn foul on Mekki on the corner of the area threatened to undo the Robins but Scott Brown was commanding in his area and spared his defence the effort of clearing the ball with a big catch. Minutes later former Robin Guy Madjo was introduced at the expense of jordan Roberts and Peter Vincenti was rightly booked for a foul on McGlashan from which Harry Hooman headed over from Pack's freekick.

It was a new start for Darren Carter as he made his debut for the club as a substitute on 66 minutes having replaced Russ Penn. That extra authority in midfield paid dividends as Cheltenham pushed on and grabbed the opening goal right from under the noses of the Shots. A Billy Jones corner, won by Jombati, was whipped in towards the near post to meet the stooping head of Shaun Harrad. The striker's effort struck the inside of the post and dribbled over the line before it had the chance to be cleared and the Robins stole the lead. That is three in three games for Harrad.

It was only fair that Jermaine McGlashan should get in on the act and he was frustrating his former fans and team mates with some devilish skill on the right wing and eventually a yellow card for Tonkin with left back swiping at the winger. The Robins were perhaps the better side towards the end of this game but Aldershot were still asking questions of the stubborn Cheltenham defence. Hooman and Elliott were doing a superb job of clearing their lines and Brown was having a confident game between the sticks.

Goalscorer Shaun Harrad was withdrawn on 90 minutes and was replaced by Darryl Duffy before Ian Weston was called upon to treat Jeff Goulding who had been left sprawled on the pitch following a heavy collision. The forward seemed okay but was subbed for Keith Lowe in the final few minutes of this game. Substitute Myles Anderson was booked at the death with a pointless and stupid challenge on Jermaine McGlashan which was greeted with a chorus of boos from the home fans but there was no doubting the frustration in that challenge. Cheltenham continued to frustrate their opponents and took all three points on the whistle to continue an unbeaten start to the new league season.

Full Time: Aldershot 0-1 Cheltenham Town

Aldershot Town FC (4-2-3-1): Young (GK); Herd (C), Brown, Bradley, Tonkin; Morris, Payne; Mekki, Vincenti (Anderson 81), Roberts (Madjo 64); Rankine

Subs not used: Lancashire, Bergqvist, Connolly, Morris, Cooksley

Cheltenham Town FC (4-2-3-1): Brown (GK); Jombati, Hooman, Elliott, Jones; Pack (C), Penn (Carter 66); McGlashan, Goulding (Lowe 90+2), Zebroski; Harrad (Duffy 90)

Subs not used: Roberts (GK) Bennett, Deering, Graham

Referee: Mr. Darren Bond

Attendance: 2,166 (208 from Cheltenham)

 

Match Report courtesy of www.ctfc.com

New Signing-Darren Carter joins Cheltenham Town

There was breaking news this morning at Cheltenham Town FC and it would not be an understatement to say that it was a massive surprise to the supporters. The majority of fans knew that a central midfielder was high up on Mark Yates' shopping list and he himself confirmed after the game at Torquay that a signing was likely to take place on Thursday. Whilst most were trying to think of a young midfielder in need of first team games to increase their development, we were instead treated to a 28 year old midfielder who has never played outside of the top two divisions of English football. That player is Cheltenham's new number four, Darren Carter, who has signed on a six month contract for the time being.

Darren Carter started off his career at Birmingham City and made his debut for them in their 1-0 defeat to local rivals West Brom on 29 January 2002. He hit the headlines in May of the same year after scoring the winning penalty in Birmingham's victory over Norwich City and thus promoting Birmingham to the Premier League. He went on to make 45 appearances in a four year spell at Birmingham (which included a loan to Sunderland) and scored three goals for The Blues.

A move to West Brom followed in July 2005 for a fee of £1.5 million and his debut for The Baggies came in a 3-2 home defeat to Birmingham City, his former employers. His first goal for his new team was what can only be described as a stunner which defeated Arsenal 2-1 and won the club's goal of the season award.

However, things started to go downhill when, in August 2007, Carter joined Preston for £1.25 million after not being guaranteed first team football at West Brom. He went on to make 89 appearances but was transfer listed at the end of the 2009/10 season. He went on trial at Milwall and Southampton in 20010, before securing a three month loan to Milwall on August 4th. This loan was then extended until January.

Following Preston's relegation to League 1 in 2011, Darren Carter was released following the expiration of his contract. He trained at former club Birmingham and had a trial at Brighton. He also had a trial at Notts Forest and it was playing for their reserves that he picked up a groin muscle injury that required surgery. Following his return to fitness at the end of the 2011/12 season, Carter trained at Walsall and again at Birmingham before putting pen to paper on a six month deal at Cheltenham Town during the week. If he plays on Saturday against Aldershot it will be his first competitive action in over a year.

It cannot be doubted that the signing of Darren Carter is a major coup for us. He hasnt played outside of the top two divisions in his entire career and his vast experience, despite being just 28, also comes with skill to match. However I do think that the six month deal is a very risky one. As I have mentioned he hasn't played competitive football for a year so he is severely lacking in match practise. I doubt he will start against Aldershot tomorrow and it will take a good month at least for him to regain his match sharpness. Also, as he would be free to talk to clubs in January, this effectively puts him in the shop window for six months. Clubs can send scouts to watch him play games for Cheltenham and if they like what they see they can approach him and wont have to pay a fee.

The motives of why Darren Carter joined us can also be questioned. He has already said that 'what Cheltenham did for Jack Butland played a big part in me coming here'. In other words, move on to bigger and better things. I see Carter using Cheltenham Town as a stepping stone to bring his career back to where it was and canbot see him extending his deal past January. It is also surprising why he chose to join a League 2 club. No offence to my club Cheltenham Town, or all other clubs in the league, but he is much better than League 2 standard, the lowest I could see him play would be for a top three League 1 side. He certainly hasn't joined for money. Well, if he has, he has come to the wrong place! The only other reason would be that he had no other offers on the table. This again goes back to the idea that he joined Cheltenham as it was 'his only choice' in order to take his career back to where it was.

I hate putting a downer on good things, and for his skill and quality Darren Carter is a great signing for us. So lets be positive and show Carter how good a club we are and persuade him that we are his future for the time being. If we can get among the top three and go on a good cup run, not only in the FA cup but the JPT too, then we can hopefully persuade him to extend his contract and stick around for a bit longer. Fingers crossed! But for now lets turn our attentions to tomorrow and lets cheer on the boys in our away day in Aldershot. COYR!

Torquay United 2-2 Cheltenham Town Match Analysis

So, Cheltenham returned to the stadium where they memorably booked their place in the League 2 play-off final last season, again on a Tuesday night, and fans were hoping for some more magical performances from the Cheltenham Town elite.

We took the lead around the twenty minute mark following a real poachers effort by Shaun Harrad. A corner was wipped in from the left hand side and was headed back towards the near post by Harry Hooman. Harrad then managed to nip in front of the Torquay goalie to head home. I think that Shaun Harrad can be a great piece of business for us this season and I believe he can get around 20 goals for us this season. He can poach goals as he has shown in his first two games for Cheltenham, but he can also create chances and finish them himself. Provided he gets the service he will show that he is a natural finisher.

Cheltenham then found themselves behind in the space of two minutes as two headed efforts beat Scott Brown in the Cheltenham net. There was an air of defensive frailty in these two goals. This is probably due to the centreback pairing of Elliott and Hooman who have not played many games together. Also, Elliott is not as mobile as he used to be which means players can beat him on the run and the fact that Hooman is inexperienced means that from time to time he will find himself out of position. This is something which will improve over time, but Cheltenham cannot afford to let in sloppy goals too often if they wish to be fighting around the play off places.

Chris Zebroski scored the equaliser in the 80th minute and it was a well taken goal. He outmuscled the defender and then managed to poke the ball into the far corner from the left hand side of the box. I have heard reports from the game that Zebroski didnt do much in the game apart from the goal. This isnt a bad thing however as a sign of a good player is that he can score the small amount of chances he is provided with. Although I do feel that Chris does need to get involved in and around the box more as he is naturally a striker, even though he has played on the left in the last two games, and will score goals if he gets in the right positions.

At the end of the day a oint from this game is something that I would have taken if offered before kick off. Plainmoor is somewhere where we dont normally win, apart from the play-off semifinal in May, so a draw is a good result. Torquay is also a team that will be in and around the playoffs come the end of the season so to not lose is a bonus, however players and fans will be saying what if those sloppy goals were not conceded. But lets look ahead to Saturday away to Aldershot, which will be a tough game too but one which is certainly winnable.

Torquay United 2-2 Cheltenham Town 21st August 2012

Chris Zebroski's first goal for Cheltenham Town secured a point for Cheltenham Town in a real end to end fixture this evening.

Cheltenham had taken the lead in this fixture through a close range Shaun Harrad header but a mad few minutes saw both Aaron Downes and Rene Howe scored headed goals past Scott Brown to steal the lead and give the Robins some work to do at half time. It was nervy times early on i nthe second half with Torquay coming close to extending the lead on a number of occasions but a later surge from Cheltenham Town sealed a deserved equaliser from former Gulls forward Chris Zebroski and a valuable point.

The Robins now head to Aldershot looking to continue their good start to the new league season.

A beautiful evening on the coast set up an interesting encounter between two sides that met only in May in the npower League Two play-off semi-finals - a clash in which Cheltenham Town were victorious. Perhaps there would be an undertone of revenge for the Gulls this evening but both clubs knew what to expect from eachother and the match was set to be a fascinating one. Mark Yates made no changes to his side that had beaten Dagenham & Redbridge 2-0 on the opening day of the season but it was another game without Alan Bennett (shoulder) and Kaid Mohamed (ankle) who were both sidelined.

It was a bright start from the Robins with Chris Zebroski and Jermaine McGlashan quickly utilising the wings well in the early stages with boos ringing round the stadium courtesy of the home support. It was Torquay however that chalked up the first effort on goal this evening and it came from the right back Joe Oastler but his long shot dribbled wide of goal and Brown remained untested. Torquay continued to press forward on the break and it wasn't long before former Swindon winger Billy Bodin was getting involved with a near post strike which Brown was quick to block. The Robins were playing some decent stuff and Harry Hooman came close to the opening goal when he thumped a header in from the corner only to see it blocked on the back post. Another corner was due but it was poor and the Gulls immediately struck on the counter attack with four players versus two. The possession finally fell to Lloyd Macklin but the forward's effort was wild and flew well wide of goal.

It had been a busy opening 15 minutes for both teams but the Robins took charge on 15 minutes with the simplest of goals. A corner was won by Chris Zebroski and the set piece was sent long towards the head of Hooman. The young defender sent the ball back in towards the far post where a lurking Shaun Harrad was waiting and the striker made no mistake in directing the ball into the back of the net for 1-0. Two goals in two games for the Bury loanee and Cheltenham were suddenly in charge.

Cheltenham's lead was a welcome one but not a long one as Torquay pushed on looking for the equaliser. It came on 22 minutes when a Nicholson freekick was soundly dropped towards the back post and straight to the head of Aaron Downes who stooped low to direct the header past Brown for 1-1. The Gulls were in full flow and they stunned Cheltenham Town again two minutes later when a Lee Mansell cross found the dominating figure of Rene Howe who thundered a header past Brown for 2-1 and the lead. It had been a mad few minutes for Cheltenham Town and two similar conceded goals will have caused concern for Mark Yates and the bench.

There needed to be a reaction from the Robins and they nearly got one when Jermaine McGlashan rose highest from a Billy Jones cross but his headed effort was over the bar and into the stand. The sudden change of pace almost woke the Robins up a little and they seemed to flow better when on the attack. Torquay were however performing really well at the back and Downes was producing a superb performance at the back to limit his opposition's opportunities. A stoppage in play was forced with Damon Lathrope catching his foot in the ground and hurting himself. There had been a break in play where Lathrope was forced to the sidelines after his foot in the pitch whilst on the turn and, despite re-joining play, he was eventually forced off and replaced by Craig Easton on 42 minutes. There was one final opportunity for the Robin to regain their foothold in this game just before half time but Jermaine McGlashan could only head Billy Jones' cross past the far post. Lloyd Macklin finished off the first half opportunities with a poor dragged effort past Brown's post but the whistle blew allowing Mark Yates to take his team into the changing room for a re-think.

Half Time: Torquay United 2-1 Cheltenham Town

Cheltenham Town needed to react in this half but they almost suffered the worst possible start when Harry Hooman got a pass all wrong and allowed the Gulls to break on the counter attack, The final effort came from Rene Howe but it was poor and wide of goal. They had another wonderful opportunity to stretch their lead when Aaron Downes flew in at the back post for a diving header but it was wide of goal and Cheltenham breathed a sigh of relief. The first Cheltenham effort of this half came from the unlikely source of Steve Elliott who picked the ball up just past the halfway line and fired a 30 yarder in at goal which wasn't too far away from target.

Cheltenham had settled into their passing game a lot more and it was causing a few concerns for Torquay but again the Gulls almost ripped the Robins defence open again with a clever passage of play involving Howe and Bodin but the winger's cross was steered wide by the incoming Macklin and another shot was wasted. The game was incredibly open at this point and some individual magic from Sido Jombati allowed the Portuguese right back to burst into the Torquay area and drop a neat pass Russ Penn but the midfielder's snap shot was inches wide of the post. Down the other end there could have been another goal for Torquay in the blink of an eye. Howe's control and through pass found Macklin who, in turn, sprayed wide to Billy Bodin but the forward was well shepharded by Deering and Brown was on hand to collect the ball at his feet.

Jeff Goulding was introduced at the expense of Sam Deering on 64 minutes and moments later a goal mouth scramble threatened to stretch the hosts' lead. One of their strikers caught hold of a decent effort which rolled against the post before Howe stole the loose possession and attempted a back heel effort that needed Sido Jombati to clear off the line and save Cheltenham. Efforts were thick and fast at each end but Cheltenham were looking the most likely to make something happen and Steve Elliott came so close to an equaliser when he headed Jones' corner in at the top corner but it was cleared off the line by the head of Oastler. Next up was Sido Jombati who unleashed a wonderful curled effort with his left foot only to be denied by a wonderful save by Michael Poke. It was all Cheltenham but Torquay were hanging on.

Cheltenham deserved a goal and they got it. A long ball forward found Chris Zebroski in the forward line and the forward used his strength to bounce off Downes and fire a shot in past Poke for the equaliser on 80 minutes. It was no more than Cheltenham deserved with a performance that was now hounding the Gulls defence.

Harry Hooman was yellow carded late on as the pressure ramped up here at Plainmoor. Torquay weren't about to settle for a draw having led the game so long but Cheltenham were holding firm. Shaun Harrad was replaced by Darryl Duffy minutes before the 90 after another telling performance in front of goal as Mark Yates looked to snatch the game right from under the noses of the Gulls. Three minutes were added on, could Cheltenham do it?

The clock ticked down and Cheltenham pushed forward but the Gulls held on. The referee's whistle called time on a fascinating match between two very good teams. A late effort from Billy Bodin and another from Billy Jones threatened to steal victories for both sides but a draw was the result and one Mark Yates will be pleased with.

Full Time: Torquay United 2-2 Cheltenham Town

Torquay United FC (4-3-3): Poke (GK); Oastler, Saah, Downes, Nicholson; Lathrope (Easton 42), Mansell (C), Morris; Macklin (Cruise 68), Howe (Jarvis 81), Bodin

Subs not used: Rice (GK), Leadbitter, MacKenzie, Thompson

Cheltenham Town FC (4-2-3-1): Brown (GK); Jombati, Hooman, Elliott, Jones; Penn, Pack (C); McGlashan, Deering (Goulding 64), Zebroski; Harrad (Duffy 87)

Subs not used: Roberts (GK), Lowe, Andrew, Hanks, Graham

Referee: Mr. Mick Russell

Attendance: 2,517 (237 from Cheltenham)

Robins Star Man: Chris Zebroski - He bagged his first goal as a Cheltenham Town player and what a goal it was against his former club. Good strong performance throughout.

 

Match Report courtesy of www.ctfc.com

League 2 Players to watch 2012/13

The League 2 season has just kicked off and it is full of more talented players than ever before. There are many big names playing in this league now, including the likes of Damien Johnson who only a few seasons ago was plying his trade in the Premier League. However despite the big name players, there are always younger and lesser known players that make a huge impact on the league. Here are just a few of the players that I think will be stars of the 2012/13 League 2 season.

Marlon Pack

Club: Cheltenham Town

Position: Midfielder

Age: 21

I am almost 100% certain that Marlon Pack will be one of the star players this season. He was named in the team of the year and finished in the top three for player of the season last year so it is surely going to be a big season for the former Portsouth player.

You could argue that Marlon Pack is the complete midfield player. He can get forward and help the forwards and contributed seven goals last term. Creativity is one of his key attributes as he can pick a pass that not many other league 2 players can spot and this is how he helped Cheltenham to the playoffs with eight assists last season. Defensively he is also very strong and is not frightened to put his foot in when needed. It surely wont be long until teams from higher divisions come calling at rumours have gone around that championship clubs were after him this summer.

Matt Blair

Club: York

Position: Forward/Midfielder

Age:22

Blair was the scorer of important goals for the Minstermen last season as he bagged in the play-off semi-final, play-off final and the FA Trophy win. The versatile forward netted 20 goals in all competitions and looks more than capable of making the step up to league football from the Blue Square Premier. York snapped up Blair from Kidderminster at the start of last season and he was a major driving force in getting his side promoted via the play-off final at Wembley. He can play all across the front line and was right at home in York's three-pronged attack last term. Blair often pops up in the right place at the right time and has displayed all the instincts of a natural goal poacher. His movement and ball control is sure to catch the eye in League Two and City might be hard pressed to keep their prized asset if he continues where he left off.

Ryan Hall

Club: Southend

Position: Winger

Age: 24

Hall has hit the headlines for his off-the-field actions in recent years, but the highly-rated winger knuckled down last season and ended the campaign as Southend's top scorer with 14 goals. Hall's creative ability caught the eye last term as he managed a staggering 19 assists - more than any other player in England.

Signed from Bromley in July 2010, Hall is equally at home on the left or right wing and has pace and ability in equal measure and has been attracting the interest of Peterborough United. The former Crystal Palace man added consistency to his game last season and there are high hopes his link-up play with Freddy Eastwood and his early balls into the box will be a key factor as the Shrimpers plot for promotion.

Nakhi Wells

Club: Bradford

Position: Striker

Age: 22

Wells grabbed his chance at Valley Parade last December after an injury to fellow striker Ross Hannah. The frontman, who was seen as 'one for the future' when he signed in the summer of 2011 via the Richmond International Academic & Soccer Academy (RIASA) coaching project, certainly made the most of his chance and asserted himself as one of Phil Parkinson's star performers. He bagged 10 league goals from 18 starts last term and the Bermudian looks like a striker with the potential to play at least a couple of leagues above his current level. Unsurprisingly, he was offered increased terms on his Valley Parade contract for the coming season as the Bradford hierarchy quickly realised he was worth considerably more than the £250-a-week he was reportedly picking up.

Wells has lightning speed, terrific movement, remarkable bravery and the ability to score every type of goal. This has been demonstrated in pre-season - scoring in four of the club's five friendly games. His shooting from distance is also one of his key attributes, as Rochdale found out last season when Wells rattled home a 30-yarder in Bradford's FA Cup win at Valley Parade.

Cheltenham Town 2-0 Dagenham and Redbridge Match Analysis

Today marked the start of Cheltenham Town's league campaign and like most first games of the season, it wasn't a thriller. Both teams played some decent football with good spells of posession and some intricate passing. However there was also some spells when neither team could keep hold of the ball follow many miss-placed passes and mistakes. Cheltenham set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Pack and Penn sitting slightly deeper in midfield which allowed Sam Deering to play just behind Shaun Harrad and for Zebroski and McGlashan to play on the flanks. Sam Deering looked good in this position. He was everywhere on the pitch and looked good in posession of the football. Despite a few sloppy passes he showed some nice touches and his good work, skill and awareness enabled him to set up the opener for Shaun Harrad.

Chris Zebroski started in an attacking position on the left handside of an attacking midfield. In all honesty I wasnt too impressed by his performance. As he kept on wandering inside to play alongside Harrad, it made the team narrow and meant we often had to play long balls, which didn't work too often, as the centre of the pitch was grid-locked. Even though he grafted hard and put in a good shift, I felt he was fairly clumsy in posession and didnt really pose much of a threat. Although there was one moment in the second half when he nicely beat a player on the edge of the box and hit a nice chip towards the far post which was just in the keepers reach. This shows the skill that he does posess and after a few games to get to grips with a new team and to get fully match fit it looks like he could be an important player for us.

The width was provided on the right handside by Jermaine McGlashan. Always looks good with the ball at his feet and always looks to beat his man and get in a shot or a cross, but he is also happy to track back and defend which is an important job for wingers in the modern game. He had the left back in his back pocket the whole game and generally looked lively. The moment of the match belonged to him when he thrashed in a shot at the start of the second half to put Cheltenham two goals to the good and effectively kill the game off. It has been pretty obvious that he has improved his shooting since he joined Cheltenham. He had one effort in the first half that was fired agonisingly wide from a tight angle on the edge of the box. I truly believe that McGlashan will be an important player for us this year and good match Kaid Mohameds goal tally of last season by reaching ten goals for the sesaon.

Cheltenham fans also saw a rare glimpse of central defender Harry Hooman in what was one of a few appearences in the football league. Generally he was solid however there was a few nervy moments, most notably when he played a few back passes and some of his clearing headers were mis-timed. On the left of defence was Billy Jones. I think at times he looked a little lost about when he should defend and when he should go forward. But when he did get forward he showed some promising touches and whipped in a few nice balls with his left foot. I feel that this is a problem that will be overcome in time as he builds and understanding with his fellow team mates.

Cheltenham Town 2-0 Dagenham and Redbridge 18 August 2012

Cheltenham Town made the perfect start to their 2012-13 npower League Two campaign with a 2-0 victory over Dagenham & Redbridge this afternoon.

A goal right before half time from Shaun Harrad and a wonderful strike on 49 minutes from Jermaine McGlashan handed Cheltenham the three points on a boiling hot opening day of the season. It proved comfortable for Cheltenham after McGlashan's winner although the Daggers will be kicking themselves for missed opportunities in the first half but Mark Yates will be delighted with the victory and his first ever opening day win as Cheltenham manager.

The opening day of the npower League Two season brought about a clash of real interest with Cheltenham Town hosting John Still's Dagenham & Redbridge on a hot and humid afternoon here at the Abbey Business Stadium. The Daggers were looking to kick off their season with three points but Mark Yates' Robins were fancied favourites ahead of the game. Both sides had completely different campaigns last season but today was kicking off on an even footing and Mark Yates remained wary of the visitors' threats. Cheltenham Town were without Alan Bennett and Kaid Mohamed however but Harry Hooman and Shaun Harrad, who was making his first competitive start for the club, both filled the void.

It was a strong start for the Daggers as they immediately started to snap at the heels of the Cheltenham midfield and attacking the left wing but Jombati halted their attacks on a number of occasions. They did however have the first effort on goal when Luke Howell steered a right wing cross wide of Scott Brown's goal. Cheltenham weren't without their own attacks however and Jermaine McGlashan almost scored a wonderful goal on seven minutes with a well struck effort which flew just wide of the far post. It was on sixteen minutes however that Cheltenham saw themselves literally inches away from an opener when Shaun Harrad did well to cut inside and drag a low pass across goal but Zebroski, being well hassled, was only able to steer the ball past the far post with a stretched toe.

Cheltenham continued to push forward and McGlashan's searching cross on 20 minutes was almost steered in by former Arsenal youngster Gavin Hoyte but he was breathing a sigh of relief when the ball flew wide for a corner. The Daggers were tentative going forward but Brian Woodall almost pulled off a shock opener with a well struck freekick that flew just over Brown's crossbar. Former Robins loanee Medy Elito almost came back to haunt the club when his 20 yard strike swerved towards the corner of Scott Brown's goal but the Cheltenham number one saved well and pushed the effort clear of danger. It was a good spell of play for the visitors and they could have been celebrating a lead had Harry Hooman's poor back pass to Brown been a few more yards inside but there was a collective sigh of relief from home crowd as it dribbled wide. The Daggers front line was becoming a worry for the Robins when Elito was able to break past Jones on the right and set the striker up for a simple effort on goal but Hooman was on hand to make a last ditch block to save his side.

Efforts on goal from Chris Zebroski and Sam Deering, although it proved to be offside coming off the foot of Harrad, signalled Cheltenham's slow recovery after a spell of dominance for the visitors but Dagenham were still knocking on the door, this time with Dwight Gayle testing Brown at his near post with a thumping shot which was cleared well following the save. Cheltenham weren't about to roll over however and they had a perfect chance to nick the lead when Zebroski's flick header played the midfielder through on goal at an angle but his final shot struck the outside of the post. It would perhaps be a little harsh on the Daggers had Cheltenham taken the lead before half time but with a striker such as Shaun Harrad lurking there will always be the chance of a goal and so it happened on 45 minutes. Sam Deering broke down the right wing and delivered a lovely ball into the area with the incoming Harrad smashing a shot into the bottom corner for 1-0. Perhaps a little harsh on John Still's Dagenham but it 1-0 to the hosts at the break.

Half Time: Cheltenham 1-0 Dagenham & Redbridge

Perhaps the goal would settle the Robins down in the second period? It seemed so as the half began and Chris Zebroski instantly tried to get in on the act with a cheeky lobbed effort over Lewington but the goalkeeper was equal to it every step of the way. No questions were asked on 49 minutes however when Jermaine McGlashan found himself plenty of space in the middle of the park and the winger unleashed a wonderful strike from 25 yards past Lewington and into the back of the net for 2-0. It was a wonderful goal to start the half with and it was now seemingly Cheltenham's game to lose.

It was a constant pressure from Cheltenham at this point and McGlashan was doing his best to further unsettle the defence and he almost won a penalty going down under the challenge of the defender but the referee was having none of it and called out the handball against the Robins. There was another penalty appeal minutes later when a Dagenham defender appeared the handle the ball following a scramble in the box but, again, the referee was giving nothing away and allowed play to carry on. A penalty for Cheltenham at that point and it could well have been curtains for the Daggers but there was a yellow card on 63 minutes when left back Ilesanmi took McGlashan down unfairly.

Dag & Red had a lot to do but the closest they came mid-way through the half was an ambitious overhead kick from Dwight Gayle but the effort was far over and the Robins remained content at the back. The forward was in trouble moments later when he was adjudged to have made a dive under the pressure of Steve Elliott inside the Cheltenham area and was shown a yellow card but it looked harsh on the Daggers frontman. Cheltenham's first change of the afternoon was Jeff Goulding for the energetic Sam Deering and the midfielder rightly received a warm applause on his league debut for Cheltenham Town.

Dagenham & Redbridge had a golden opportunity to find a way back into this game on 80 minutes when Michael Spillane was allowed unleash a strike a few yards from goal unmarked but his effort was poor and it could only ricochet off the perimeter board wide of Brown's goal. Chris Zebroski was withdrawn eight minutes from time after a good performance and he was replaced by young winger Bagasan Graham in his first appearance of the new season. That was quickly followed by Darryl Duffy replacing Shaun Harrad on 85 minutes and Dagenham's Danny Green was also brought on for Luke Howell.

The pace of the game had slowed down rapidly with the scorching sun beaming down upon a glorious Abbey Business Stadium pitch but Brown had to be alert when substitute Williams fired in a long range effort forcing the Robins number one into a low save. The full tiem whistle wasn't far behind however and it blew up to signal a deserved victory for Cheltenham Town and a perfect start to the 2012-13 campaign.

Full Time: Cheltenham 2-0 Dagenham & Redbridge

Cheltenham Town FC (4-2-3-1): Brown (GK); Jombati, Elliott (C), Hooman, Jones; Penn, Pack; McGlashan, Deering (Goulding 73), Zebroski (Graham 82); Harrad (Duffy 85)

Subs not used: Roberts (GK), Lowe, Andrew

Dagenham & Redbridge FC (4-4-2): Lewington (GK); Hoyte, Spillane, Doe, Ilesanmi; Elito, Howell (Green 86), Ogogo (C), Bingham; Gayle, Woodall (Williams 69)

Subs not used: Seabright (GK), Wilkinson, Dennis, Reed, Scott

Referee: Mr. Jeremy Simpson

Attendance: 2,655 (164 from Dagenham)

Robins Star Man: Jermaine McGlashan - A constant menace all day long. He could be in for a wonderful season if he can keep this kind of form going.

 

Match report courtesy of  www.ctfc.com

Premier League Prediction 2012/13

The new season is fast approaching, so here is my prediction for how the Premier League will finish at the end of next season. Please note all predictions are based on squads as of August 17th 2012.

1st Man City
2nd Man United
3rd Chelsea
4th Arsenal
5th Liverpool
6th Newcastle
7th Tottenham
8th Everton
9th Stoke
10th QPR
11th Fulham
12th Sunderland
13th Norwich
14th Swansea
15th Aston Villa
16th Southampton
17th West Ham
18th West Brom
19th Reading
20th Wigan

I think Man City will win the league again but Man United wont be too far behind. Even though Man City havent delved into the transfer market like United have they are both very similar. They both have two world class strikers in Aguero and Tevez and Rooney and Van Persie. They both have a high quality creative midfielder in Silva and Kagawa, however we dont know how the latter will adapt to english football. Both defences are pretty solid too and I see the title being won in midfield. In Yaya Toure, City have a midfielder who can easily score 10 goals a season, I dont see Man United with this type of player. I also think that Giggs and Scholes will only be able to play around 20 games each, leaving the United midfield rather short of quality and creativity.

Chelsea have made some high quality attacking signings which means they should defininately get back into the top four, but I dont feel they have enough to mount a title challenge. Their defence is still a bit suspect and looks a bit bare as they dont have a natural right back. Ivanovic will play here for the time being but that only leaves them with three first team centrebacks. Arsenal have also made some astute signings but losing Robin Van Persie will be a major blow. The signing of Cazorla means they could have potentially replaced Fabregas, it just depends how well he gels into the team. However I dont see enough quality for them to mount a title challenge and if Van Persie isnt replaced by they will be nervously looking over their shoulder.

With Brendan Rodgers at the helm, Liverpool will immediately be a better team. They have also got rid of the dead wood in the likes of Kuyt, Bellamy, Max Rodriguez and bought in younger and hungrier recruits. Liverpools main problem this year will be on the wings as they only have one natural first team winger in Stewart Downing, who didnt exactly set the world alight last season. This could lead them to play very narrow and become one-dimensional. I think they will improve on previous seasons but wont have enough to break into the top-four.

Newcastle's season will be an interesting one. There first team squad is among the best in the league as it is solid defensively and is full of goals. The problem will come with the demands of the Europa League. Their success this season will depend on how they balance the demands of playing theThursday and Sunday fixtures and how they recover from the large amounts of travelling they will have to do. Injuries, fitness and the AFCON will also play a part, but they managed to overcome these last season.

In my opinion, Tottenham's summer couldnt have got much worse. They lost Harry Redknapp as manager, it looks like Moddric is on his way out, Ledley King was forced to retire and they only have one striker following the end of Adebayors loan. I dont see a lot of goals in the side and the centre of their defence looks tired and not very solid. I think they have gone from fighting for champions league to fighting for europe whoch is disappointing.

The middle of the league looks very tight and his hard to predict which means that one or two of the teams that I have predicted to finish towards the bottom could end up breaking into the top half. The sale of Rodwell, who didnt feature a lot last season, has freed up some funds and if this money is spent wisely they could mount a serious european push. These chances will also be improved if they make a solid start to the season, something which they dont normally do.

QPR have spent big over the summer which I think will reap rewards and they could just sneak into the top half. As for both Norwich and Swansea, both have retained the majority of their squads during the summer so it comes down to their managers as to how well they will do. It depends if Chris Hughton can do what he did at Newcastle for a whole season and if Michael Laudrup can adapt his tactics and philosophy to the English game.

 I think West Brom will struggle this season and could end up the wrong side of the drop line. I dont think the appointment of Steve Clarke was a good one due to his lack of experience, however I could be proved wrong. Also when you look at their squad, nobody shouts out as providing the quality to keep them in the league and just looks pretty average. This season will also be a tough one for Reading. They have recruited reasonably well in the summer but again there isnt one stand out performer. Pogrebnyak will get his fair share of goals, but I can just see games catching up with them, leaving them languishing at the bottom of the table. The same can be said of West Ham and Southampton, but I think they will both just survive. As for Wigan, well it's Wigan so you dont know what to expect. At christmas during last season I thought they were already down, but somehow they managed to stage a mighty fight back beating the likes of Man United meaning they live fight another day. This has become a regular feature in Wigan's season over their time in the Prem, but surely the law of averages mean they wont be able to do it again!

 

 

Season Preview 2012/13

Cheltenham Town kick off their season this Saturday August 18th at home against Dagenham and Redbridge, a side against which Cheltenham recorded one of their best results and performances last season with a 5-0 victory away from home. All in all, last season was hugely successful for The Rubies as for most of the season we were in the playoff places and were even in top spot during February. So much for being relegation favourites at the beginning of the season! However last seasons success brings with it more expectation and pressure for the season ahead.

On paper, most would say that Cheltenham's squad is even better this season than last. A rock solid defence has been boosted by the arrival of highly rated left back Billy Jones and the only absentee is last season's loan sensation Jack Butland. However current number one Scott Brown is more than capable of stepping back into the first team, in fact, I would say that Brown is even better thanks to the arrival of Butland, as was proven in the playoff semifinals against Torquay. In the middle of the park Luke Summerfield has departed in order to obtain League One football with Shrewsbury Town. A midfielder who had not only plenty of energy but technical skill too and will be sorely missed at Whaddon Road. On the upside, Mark Yates decided to replace Summerfield with former Barnet midfielder Sam Deering and going by his performance at the weekend against MK Dons, and against us last season, he is more than capable of stepping into Summerfield's shoes. Up top I would say that we look very dangerous as their is enough to speed to challenge Usain Bolt for his 100m title! Kaid Mohamed and Jermaine McGlashan can frighten any defence with their skill and ability and the arrival of Chris Zebroski only adds to this. Again, another player who has always played well against us, but after a rather disappointing season at Bristol Rovers he is looking to bounce pack, something which the gaffer often looks for in a player. These players should provide plenty of goals for the team, and this is only enhanced when you throw Daryl Duffy, and new loan signing Shaun Harrad who scored goals for fun at Burton Albion, into the mix.

Even though a playoff place and ultimately promotion is the aim, it won't necessarily be as straight forward as that. Season after season League 2 seems to get tighter and tighter and I predict that this year it could be the closest yet. The league contains the likes of free spending Rotherham who could be favourites for the title after undergoing a radical overhaul at the club following the appointment of Steve Evans as manager. York City and Fleetwood Town will also look to continue the tradition of clubs arriving from non-league challenging for Promotion. The teams that have come down from League 1, Exeter, Wycombe, Rochdale and Chesterfield, all look strong enough to push for promotion too. Add to that the likes of Northampton, Bradford, Gillingham, Oxford and Bristol Rovers who will seek to make up for a disappointing last campaign, and last seasons playoff semifinal losers Torquay and Southend, you can really see why it is so difficult to determine who will go up.

Another realistic possibility this season would be to go for the Johnstone Paint Trophy. Another Wembley appearance would do wonders for the club, however when you look at the fixtures this season it may be more of a hinderance. Due to the Olympics, the season has kicked off a week later than normal, and it also finishes in April this year too. This has resulted in more mid-week games, and even more in the JPT would surely just lead to fatigue and injury. Throw in a few inevitable postponements during the winter months and you could end up with as many Tuesday games as you have at the weekend.

 The aim this season is at least the playoffs, however in order to do this I think a couple more additions are needed. Another central midfielder is a must, especially if we play 4-3-3, but Yates has admitted there is a signing in this position that could be on the horizion. I would also like to see another natural winger arrive at the club. This is unlikely though as Zebroski would play here if needed but I am not a fan of players not playing in their natural position. I would also like to see another versatile defender too. We do have seven defenders on the cards, but this does include Danny Andrew who is on the transfer list and who personally I do not rate. This could leave us short following one or two injuries which could possibly make or break the campaign. Again, however, this is unlikely due to the clubs limited finances.

All in all, the overall aim is promotion this season, but I think we will do well to reach the playoffs in what is a very close and strong league. Unfortunately I do think we may just miss out. I am hopeful that Mark Yates will also add another face or two to the swuad but this is more likely to be in the form of loans as the season goes on. All will be revealed in time...

Cheltenham v MK Dons (Capital One Cup Round 1)

After an interesting preseason which saw a mixed bag of results, the 2012/2013 season finally kicked off today. However, it was in an unlikely fixture. This season, league fixtures dont start until August 18th due to the Olympics which means that the season kicks off with the first round of the league cup. For Cheltenham Town this meant a difficult game against League 1 promotion favourites MK Dons.

Preseason saw both departures and new arrivals for The Rubies. Josh Low, Theo Lewis and Brian Smikle left following the agonising defeat in the playoff final at the hands of Crewe and unfortunately Luke Summerfield chose not to renew his contract in order to sign for Shrewsbury. However, unlike in previous years, these players have been replaced by some rather high profile buys. Sam Deering has joined from Barnet and is likely to fill the void left by Luke Summerfield, whilst Billy Jones has signed from Exeter and is highly rated by his former club. meanwhile upfront sees two more players coming in. Shaun Harrad, a prolific goalscorer whilst at former club Burton Albion, joins on a season long loan from Bury and Chris Zebroski was bought from Bristol Rovers for a small fee and can play up top or out wide (I will create another post at the end of the transfer window providing more detail on signings)

After a couple of months of preparation which included a team bonding trip to South Wales, the season finally got underway on August 11th 2012 against MK Dons in the first round of the Capital One Cup at home at Whaddon Road. This was the first chance supporters got to see the first choice Cheltenham team which was up against strong opposition in League One promotion favourites MK Dons. The teams lined up as follows:

Cheltenham Town

• 01 Brown
• 03 Jones
• 05 Hooman
• 15 Bennett (Lowe - 85' )
• 22 Jombati
• 07 Pack
• 08 Deering Booked (Harrad - 68' )
• 11 McGlashan
• 16 Penn
• 23 Mohamed
• 26 Zebroski (Duffy - 84' )

Substitutes

• 12 Roberts
• 02 Lowe
• 17 Andrew
• 21 Graham
• 34 Hanks
• 09 Duffy
• 14 Harrad

Milton Keynes Dons

• 01 Martin
• 03 Lewington
• 05 MacKenzie
• 12 Chicksen
• 06 Williams (Kay - 29' Booked )
• 07 Gleeson Dismissed
• 08 Potter Booked
• 23 O'Shea (Smith - 61' )
• 26 Chadwick Booked (Lowe - 71' )
• 09 Bowditch
• 10 MacDonald

Substitutes

• 21 McLoughlin
• 24 Kay
• 11 Smith
• 17 Powell
• 14 Lowe

As the game kicked off Cheltenham started the brighter of the two teams by signalling their intent with several positive pasages of play through the midfield. The Rubies also provided the first shot of the day via Kaid Mohamed. Jombati and McGlashan provided plenty of trouble down the right wing and it was this pressure that resulted in a free kick for Cheltenham. It was new left back Billy Jones who swung the ball into the area and after MK Donst failed to clear the area Mohamed whistled a volley narrowly over the bar. McGlashan continued to trouble the Dons defence and he was brought down in a central position by Sean Williams. Again, Jones took the resulting free kick. He struck the ball sweetly and penalty appeals were waved away with the players claiming the ball clipped an arm on its way through.

First booking of the season came on 17 minutes when Sam Deering was adjudged to have taken a dive following a tackle by MacKenzie and he was booked for his crimes. The attacking midfielder was on the move again moments later but his 20 yard effort was comfortably saved by former Liverpool goalkeeper David Martin. MK Dons were struggling to cope with the Cheltenham onslaught but they are masters of the counter attack and they almost stole the opener when O'Shea fired a superb shot in at goal from 20 yards and forced Brown into a good save turning it onto the post. Luke Chadwick became the second player to be booked in this game on 26 minutes when he took Deering out with a very late challenge but the Robins midfielder was quickly back on his feet again. MK Dons were forced into making a substitution on 29 minutes when Shaun Williams appeared to go down injured during a Cheltenham corner. The central defender was replaced by Anthony Kay.

McGlashan continued to cause plenty of problems late on in this half and drew a foul from the increasingly frustrated Dean Lewington. The set piece almost created the opening goal of the game but Hooman couldn't quite steer Pack's cross into the back of the net. It was a constant threat for MK Dons with Cheltenham piling down the right wing but it was Zebroski who drew the fould from Kay this time and the central defender was yellow carded. It got worse for the visitors when Stephen Gleeson was red carded for a foul on Sam Deering. It was two footed and he connected with Deering but it was a controlled tackle and it seems the decision was a little harsh on the midfielder.

The Dons switched to a 4-4-1 formation and they almost grabbed an unlikely goal when MacDonald pulled away from the Robins defence and forced Brown into a low save. Three minutes of stoppage time were added onto the half and that was more than enough time for MK Dons to strike ahead of the break despite being one man down. O'Shea played well to find Bowditch on the left hand side of the area and the forward made no mistake in planting a lovely effort past Brown for 1-0. The scoreline stayed the aame until hald time and was perhaps against the run of play but the Dons had taken their chances when the Robins could not.

Half Time: Cheltenham Town 0-1 MK Dons

It was a lively start to the second half with Sido Jombati thinking fast to deny an incoming Dean Bowditch on the counter for MK Dons and Chris Zebroski tested David Martin with a long range effort on 49 minutes. The striker was causing trouble once again with a sweet cross across goal that was begging for a poached in the middle but it went unused and the Dons cleared their lines. Cheltenham had a great chance to pull level when a loftes pass from Deering found McGlashan cutting inside from the wing but his effort was over the bar. That deserving equaliser came on 57 minutes for the Robins and it was that man Kaid Mohamed who produced some cup magic to pull Cheltenham level. The winger cut inside and the winger fired in a wonder strike from 35 yards to beat Martin and hit the back of the net just under the crossbar. Great goal from Kaid and Cheltenham back in the game.

Jermaine McGlashan continued hia fantastic display with another near miss following his darting run beyond Lewington and into the area but Martin saved his shot well and denied the rampant Robins. Marlon Pack was up next with another opportunity from 20 yards but his effort was just wide of the near post but it was controlling stuff from the hosts and Mark Yates will have been pleased with the performance at this point in the game. Shaun Harrad was introduced after 68 minutes at the expense of Sam Deering in what was the striker's debut since joining loan from Bury. Another former Bury striker Ryan Lowe made his MK Dons debut on 72 minutes at the expense of Luke Chadwick and it was a clear sign of intent from the Dons bench as the game reached a midway point. Lowe's debut could have hit a perfect start with his first touch being a stunning half volley which glided just past Brown's near post.

Ryan Lowe was at it again on 74 minutes when he produced a great volley at goal from Lewington's deep cross but Scott Brown was equal to the effort with a wonderful save to keep his side level. Cheltenham went back o nthe attack after that point and Zebroski's header from a McGlashan cross threatened to put the hosts ahead but the effort was just wide much to the relief of David Martin. Despite Cheltenham's positive play, they were still being haunted by the presence of Ryan Lowe and Charlie MacDonald and it was the number ten that almost carved out a lead but his effort was over the bar having done all the hard work cutting into the area past Hooman. McGlashan had another fabulous chance on goal minutes later but he dragged an effort wide of the far post before Mark Yates chose to bring Zebroski off for Darryl Duffy at 84 minutes. That was swiftly followed by Keith Lowe replacing Alan Bennett with Marlon Pack handed the captain's armband.

MK Dons were still threatening though and Ryan Lowe was seemingly making all the difference for the League One side up front but the striker was finding himself up against a goalkeeper in form and Scott Brown produced another fine save at the feet of Lowe to deny the forward. The game was near it's 90 minute conclusion but with extra time looming upon both sides - perhaps not what either manager would have wanted at the start of the season but that's what they got as the referee blew his whistle.

Full Time: Cheltenham Town 1-1 MK Dons

The first chance of extra time saw Dean Lewington crash a freekick against the crossbar in what was an early warning sign for the Robins and the visitors continued that pressure when a corner threatened to cause problem at the back post but Pack was hand to head clear and pull his team mates forward. That early pressure from MK Dons was countered by some equally good attacks from Cheltenham Town and Darryl Duffy forced Martin into a good save with a rasping drive from outside the area. The pace of the game had evidently slowed down but both sides came close through Lowe and Mohamed. Darren Potter was yellow carded on the 105th minute when he took Mohamed out mid-charge through the middle of the pitch and the freekick almost led to a great opportunity but Sido, after being Lewington on the far side, couldn't pull his cross across goal to any of the lurking strikers.

Half Time in Extra Time: Cheltenham Town 1-1 MK Dons

There were tired legs out there at this point but both were still giving it their all when moving forward. Charlie MacDonald almost struck it lucky with a looped effort which landed upon Brown's net and Cheltenham almost created their own spot of luck when Mohamed charged down the middle into the area only for Kay's tackle to clip back onto his boot and just wide of the post. Cheltenham were largely dominant in this half of the extra time being played with Mohamed and McGlashan providing constant threats on the counter attack but the Dons were holding their own and providing their own attacks with Dean Bowditch coming closest with a long range drive past Brown's far post. Darryl Duffy threatened to steal the game for Cheltenham at the death with a curling effort but a defender claimed a vital deflection to steer it wide. The clock ticked down and penalties loomed but the referee confirmed the spot kicks to decide this tight cup fixture.

Full Time in Extra Time: Cheltenham Town 1-1 MK Dons (game to be decided on penalties.)

Penalty 1 - Bowditch scores.

Penalty 2 - Jones scores.

Penalty 3 - MacDonald scores

Penalty 4 - Duffy sees his shot well saved.

Penalty 5 - MacKenzie scores well.

Penalty 6 - Shaun Harrad buries his effort well.

Penalty 7 - Anthony Kay keeps MK Dons in cotnrol with a solid penalty strike.

Penalty 8 - Kaid Mohamed strikes a confident penalty past Martin.

Penalty 9 - Ryan Lowe smashes his penalty in for the win and MK Dons knock Cheltenham out of the cup.

Final Score - 5-3 to MK Dons on penalties

 

Match Report courtesy of www.ctfc.com