By Peegs
August 25 2002

It was a tale of two halfs at Whaddon Road as two second half Plymouth Argyle goals cancelled out Cheltenham's first half strike. Cheltenham made two changes to the team that went down one nil to Tranmere. New players Damian Specner and Paul Brayson came into the team in place of Martin Devaney and the injured Julian Alsop.

Infront of a dissapointing crowd of 4,713 Plymouth had the 1st chance of the match as early as the 2nd minute. Pilgrims Midfielder David Beresford floated a cross from the right and fellow midfielder Lee Hodges guested in from the left hand side but sent his diving header narrowly wide.

The Robins were not going to be overawed by last years Division 3 champions. Brayson - who was playing an attacking left sided role- sent over a number of teasing crosses from the left hand side which bulky striker Spencer just failed to get on the end of.

Cheltenham's first clear cut chance came just before the 20 minute mark when a corner from Lee Williams was met by a front post run by Mark Yates but he sent his header wide of Romain Larrieu's left hand post.

It was end to end stuff mid way through the 1st half and Plymouth midfielders Beresford and Friio both had clear cut chances but sent their shots wide of the target.

The moment all Town fans had been waiting for came on 33 minutes when Naylor passed the ball to Damian Spencer he cut across the 18 yard box from the right hand side, resisted a couple of challenges and hit a shot with the outside of his left boot into the net off of the left hand post. It was a goal of pure class by a striker we hope will go on to score many goals for us.

Cheltenham were now very on top and looked to extend there lead. Inparticular Spencer had 2 decent chances, firstly a powerful shot was blocked by Argyle defender Paul Wotton, then a through ball by John Finnigan sent Spencer one on one with Larrieu but the Plymouth shot stopper saved the Cheltenham strikers shot with his legs.

H/T 1-0

The Robins did actually start the 2nd half the better side and Brayson found himself with space on the edge of the area after receiving a pass by Spencer but he flashed his shot wide of the goal.

Some bad news for Plymouth on the afternoon was a nasty looking injury to left back Brian McGlinchey who went down witha suspected broken ankle. He was stretchered off and replaced by the managers son Blair Sturrock.

Plymouth began to get into the game and a shot by the tricky David Beresford was tipped over and round the post by Steve Book. Unfortunately the resulting corner by Paul Wotton was met by his fellow defender Graham Coughlan who planted a back post header pat Steve Book from close range. It was a soft goal to give away.

Plymouth kept on attacking but were finding it hard to find the final pass to unlock the Town defence. Then with 15 minutes left on the clock referee K.D Hill was fooled by Pilgrims French midfielder David Friio into giving a free kick. It was a clear dive and what was worse is Mark Yates was booked for the "foul". Defender Paul Wotton lined up the free kick and blasted it into the roof of the net off the cross bar past the stranded Steve Book from fully 30 yards. Questions will be asked why we only had 2 players in the wall.

Graham Allner responded with a double substitution introducing McAuley and Milton inplace of Finniagn and Williams.

Further chances followed with Canadian international missing a sitter for Argyle with a free header from 10 yards after ghosting in past Howarth on the Pilgrims left hand side. Paul Brayson had a shot spooned wide and was substituted by Martin Devaney.

"Disco" Devaney as he is known, nearly earnt the Robins a point in the closing stages as he collected a floated past by McAuley, he tried to clip the ball over the advancing Larrieu but the stopper managed to get something on the ball and preserved Argyles 3 points.

A draw probably would have been a fair result but Town will have to keep looking for there first win after letting Argyle come back into the game in the second half.

F/T 1-2

CHELTENHAM TOWN: Book, Howarth, Duff, Walker, Victory, Williams (Milton 78), Yates, Finnigan (McAuley 78), Brayson, Naylor, Spencer (Devaney 85)

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE: Larrieu, Worrell, Coughlan, Wotton, McGlinchey (Sturrock 53), Beresford (Phillips 72), Friio, Adams, Bent, Hodges, Evans (Keith 78)