By Peegs
February 1 2004

Cheltenham claimed there 3rd win over Leyton Orient at a wet and windy Whaddon Road thanks to a first half strike from Paul Brayson who was only in the team due tothe injury to Bob Taylor and the suspension of Damian Spencer. The Robins were hit on Friday with the news that Brian Wilson had been recalled by Stoke City due to an injury crisis at the Brittania Stadium, Dave Bird slotted in at right back, with Paul Brayson and loan signing Peter Hynes starting upfront.

Shane Higgs was called into action early in an afternoon where he would make a number of fine saves. A long throw from David Hunt aided with the strong wind made its way to Gary Alexander at the back post, he struck a low shot at goal that Higgs managed to tip around the post.

Brayson and Hinds were not linking up in the early stages which is understandable but the ex Cardiff man sent a shot wide of the post from 15 yards.

Grant McCann curled in a free kick from the right hand side that Shane Duff flung himself at, he just missed making contact with the ball and nearly slid into the C and G advertsing hordings much like the Coca Cola Premiership mickey take!

With 25 minutes on the clock the Robins piled on some immense pressure with corner after corner. The strong winds werwe making it hard for goalkeepers to coem and claim the balls from set plays, however luckily for Orient they managed to deal with the corners.

Karl Henry nearly opened his Cheltenham accoutn having joined from Stoke with a fierce shot from the edge of the box after good work from Brayson and Devaney, howerver his powerful shot was expertly saved by Morris in the Orient goal.

2 minutes before the break the Robins took the lead and with it scored there 1st league goal of 2004. The ball ran kindly to Brayson in the Orient area, he ran at a defender and struck a low shot that took a slight deflection and past Morris in the C and G stand goal. It is Brayson's first goal since his strike against Yeovil.

H/T 1-0

John Ward made no subs at half time and would have been happy with what he had seen during the first 45 minutes.

Brayson nearly claimed his 2nd goal of the game shortly after the break, a long ball forward ran kindly for him and he ran into the box, with only Morris to beat he tried to round the young 'keeper however Morris made a block and claimed the ball denying Brayson a deserved 2nd goal.

Oreint would go on to dominate the rest of the 2nd half. Wayne Purser should have equalised on the hour mark. Good work from Gary Alexander saw Purser run on to a free ball from 18 yards, however he shot tamely straight at Higgs and it was an easy save, i've seen more harder his back passes then Purser's shot.

Tall striker Chris Tate and Charlton loan signing Lloyd Sam were introduced shortly after the hour mark. Sam would prove a tricky customer down the Orient right flank and it was his cross that nearly led to an equaliser. Sam hoisted in a cross that Higgs and Alexander both wentfor, the ex worcester goalee gotafist to the ball however his punch went straight to Leyton Orient defender Mark Peters who headed back towards goal with Higgs stranded, luckily for Cheltenham the ball hit the bar and went clear.

Deaveny came close to extending the Robins lead approaching the final 10 minutes however instaed of shooting across goal he went for the near post and the ball rocketed into the side netting.

Another Lloyd Sam cross caused problems in the Town defence and Chris Tate should have doen better with his free header from 6 yards that went wide.

Kayode Odejayi was given a run out in the last 4 minutes and the Robins hung on for 3 vital points to pull them further clear of the relegation zone, infact with most other games being called off due to the inclement weather we find ourselvs up in the dizzy heights of 17th position.

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F/T 1-0

CHELTENHAM TOWN : Higgs, Bird, S.Duff, M.Duff, Victory, Devaney, Finnigan, Henry, McCann (Odejayi 84), Brayson, Hinds

LEYTON ORIENT : Morris, Barnard, Mackie, Peters, Jones, Toner, Hunt, Miller, Newey (Sam 65), Alexander, Purser (Tate 65)

Attendance 3,336