By Smole AKA Villa
May 1 2003

The biggest crowd since Boxing Day visited Whaddon Road for Cheltenhams biggest game of the season and the Robins didnt disappoint. Town went into this last home game of the season knowing that they may not be seeing Division Two Football at Whaddon Road next season if they didn’t get a win from this match and they set out to try and confirm their spot in the Division for next season.

Before the start of play they were lying in 21st position and one point behind Chesterfield in the last relegation spot. Chesterfield were at home to in form Bristol City so Cheltenham knew they could stutter and were aiming to take full advantage with a decent display here.

Paul Baker, the chairman, had written a positive contribution to his programme notes for this penultimate game of the season. One sentence read ‘Whatever the outcome we can take a lot of positives from this season’. This was very true but deep down he, like everyone else, would be praying for Cheltenham to keep their Division Two status into next season.

Player of the season awards were presented before the start of the match and the winner of Supporters Player of the year was deservedly won by Martin Devaney. John Finnigan picked up the Players Player of the year as well as the Sponsors award. Shane Duff and Dave Bird shared the Young Player of the year award.

Mike Heather, the groundsman won the Second Division groundsman of the year award which is a great testament to the brilliant playing surface which he provides for Cheltenham Town.

The action kicked off in an open style with a few half chances at either end but nothing too serious; however Cheltenham had just about been the better side.

Thirty Seven minutes in a corner was won to the left of the C & G stand which Cheltenham were attacking. Grant McCann floated it in and Jamie Victory towered above everyone else to send a header crashing down into the back of the net. Whaddon Road roared and the survival battle had begun.

Only three minutes later Cheltenham were away again, ex Aston Villa player Simon Grayson stumbled on an interception which allowed John Finnigan to set Michael Duff on his way. He used great pace and strength to hold off a defender and slot home to send the ground into Raptures as Cheltenham Town increased their lead to two nil.

Duff, a centre back by trade had been converted to a striker in the last match against Peterborough and managed to grab a goal so Bobby Gould kept faith in him and it paid dividends today.

Two goals in three minutes had not only shocked Blackpool, but Whaddon Road as well, they were not used to seeing this much finishing in front of goal this season from their beloved Cheltenham.

Not many more chances followed and the referee blew up for half time and the ground cheered as if it was the final whistle. As the players were walking off Bobby Gould got up from the dug out and took a few paces to the C & G stand and indicated them to build up the atmosphere.

The second half began without Blackpool getting out of the traps; Cheltenham dominated the first ten minutes and created a few half chances which were not converted.

It was surprising Blackpool were not proving much of an opposition against Cheltenham considering the players they have. Their captain was Ex Aston Villa defender Simon Grayson and their most creative player was Ex Manchester United Midfielder Ritchie Wellens. Midfield maestro Martin Bullock and experienced defender Mike Flynn, both previously of Barnsley were also in the side.

Just after the hour mark Cheltenham upped the tempo of the game in search of the third goal to put the lights out for Blackpool.

A creative move forward began with the ball being played down the right which Martin Devaney somehow managed to flick across to Dave Bird with the inside of his foot, a flick which the likes of Zidane and Figo would have admired. Bird ran a little and then played a good ball into the feet of Tony Naylor who did a simply brilliant Cruyff turn and fired the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

It was absolutely superb, if someone had just walked into the ground and been told that one of the teams were in 21st and one in 12th they would not have believed for a second that Cheltenham was the team languishing at the bottom end of the table. The third goal had pretty much killed off any chance that Blackpool had of getting anything from the game, which wasn’t much.

The goal was fitting for Tony Naylor, it was announced in the week that he would be released in the summer so this was his last ever home game for Cheltenham. The fans chanted a song of ‘Sign him up, sign him up, sign him up…’ to show their appreciation.

A few minutes later however bad news hit Whaddon Road, reports from Chesterfield were that Bristol City were down to nine men after having two sent off. The fans shuddered at the thought of Chesterfield winning the game and they had a great chance playing against nine men.

Blackpool were beginning to create a few openings with Ritchie Wellens at the heart of most of them, the white booted man was the playmaker for Blackpool but overall they were restricted to shots from outside the area.

John Brough came on for Shane Duff and his brother Mike reverted to his more natural position at centre back, Brough going up front. He flicked on a few balls, but didn’t have much to do in the remaining fifteen minutes that he was given.

Tony Naylor also made way and was given a massive standing ovation from the jubilant Cheltenham fans, showing their appreciation for all he’s done for them in the three seasons he’s been with the club. Altogether he started 73 matches, has come on in 12 and has scored a total of 26 goals, including his wonder-strike today. Damian Spencer was the man who replaced him.

Two more people who will also be leaving are Central Defender Neil Howarth and Midfield genius Russell Milton. Between them they have managed just fewer than 350 appearances for the club. Howarth played the whole match and Milton made it on as a sub replacing Grant McCann.

Martin Devaney was class throughout the whole match and looked well worth of his Supporters Player of the year award on this display alone. He proved tricky to deal with all match and some of his flicks and step overs were good enough to be produced by Premiership players.

It was all looking good for Cheltenham, outplaying a Blackpool side who before the start of play looked tricky opposition on paper. However, with four minutes to go via text messages and radios; bad news began to filter through to the Cheltenham faithful. Chesterfield had taken the lead at home to Bristol City. The feeling that you get when someone has just punched you in the stomach had now encroached onto all the Cheltenham fans inside Whaddon Road. If the score stayed the same then Cheltenham would need to better Chesterfields result in the last game of the season next week.

Cheltenham carried onto the end and the final whistle greeted with a cheer but in the fans mind was the match at Saltergate. The full time scores were announced, Whaddon Road waited with baited breath and the fear became a reality, despite only being a latest score ‘Chesterfield 1 Bristol City 0’ rung around the stadium.

During the players’ lap of honour it was heard via radios that Chesterfield had gone further ahead, so Cheltenham knew Bristol weren’t coming back from that.

Cheltenham stayed at the end for a lap of honour which they thoroughly deserved for their efforts in this game and throughout the season. With still one game to go they will need to better Chesterfields result if they are going to stay up. Cheltenham have to play Notts County away next week and ironically Chesterfield face Blackpool away.

Cheltenham Town:

Higgs, Bird, Howarth, S.Duff (Brough 75), Victory, Devaney, Yates(c), Finnigan, McCann (Milton), M.Duff, Naylor (Spencer 82). Subs not used: Griffin, Brayson.

Goal Scorers: Victory 37, Duff 40, Naylor 65.
Yellow Cards: McCann 85
Red Cards: none

Blackpool:

Barnes, Coid, Flynn, Grayson, Hughes, Burns (Taylor 55), McMahon, Wellens, O’Kane (Hills 55), Bullock, Blinkhorn (Robinson 75) Subs not used: Milligan, Walker.

Goal Scorers: none
Yellow Cards: McMahon 2, Wellens 59.
Red Cards: none

Referee: J.J Ross (London) Attendance: 5,150