By Peegs
November 30 2003

Cheltenham saw off a corageous Carlisle side who had only won a single game in the League all season. The Robins came from a goal down through 2 Bob Taylor strikes to seal a 2-1 win and gain 3 valuable points. In John Ward's first official home game incharge the ex Wolves coach made 3 changes to the team that started in the away defeat at Torquay last time out. In came Martin Devaney, Richard Forsyth and Bob Taylor inplace of Lee Howells, Ben Cleverley and Paul Brayson.

It was a game Cheltenham were expecting to win, Carlisle's form going into the match was dismal as they had lost in all of their previous 9 matches. However it was the Cumbrians who wento closest to breaking the deadlock in the early stages with 2 close long distance shot. Firstly player manager Paul Simpson flashed a shot just over the bar and into the disused Away End shortly followed by a similar effort from Chris Billy that also just cleared the upright of Shane Higgs goal.

The Robins playing with a lop sided midfield compiling of 3 central midfielders and Martin Devaney nearly opened the scoring soon after the Carlisle chances, John Finnigan playing on the left hit a dipping shot from 25 yards that took a deflection, the deviation off the Carlisle defender nearly took the ball out of the reach of Glennon in goal, however the big 'keeper was able to stretch long enough and just gather the ball with a diving stop.

With 19 minutes on the clock the men from Carlisle gave their loyal fans - who travelled down in good numbers - something to cheer about with a cracking goal. A stupid pass out of defence by Grant McCann was intercepted by Chris Billy, he shot at goal but Forsyth got in the way and made a good block, however the ball fell nicely to Paul Simpson who volleyed at goal, Shane Higgs was left with no chance as the ball rocketed past him and off the underside of the bar.

Surely Cheltenham couldn't lose at home to the worst team in the Football League? In the 28th minute you thought to yourself - this isn't going to be our day. How the Robins did not score in the 28th minute God only knows! A free kick by Grant McCann cannoned back off the cross bar, It fell to Taylor who headed back at goal, however the ball was cleared off the line by Steven Schumacher - no relation to Michael - the clearance then fell to John Brough who powered a shot at goal, again Schumacher was inplace to clear off the line.

5 minutes later and not even Schumacher could come to Carlisle's rescue as Cheltenham deservedly equalised. 4 of Cheltenham's most experienced players played leading roles in the equlaiser. John Brough played a ball forward, Mark Yates headed to Richard Forsyth on the edge of the area, the ex Peterborough player looked like he was going to shoot at goal however he used all of his experience to play a delicate through ball to Taylor who stroked the ball past Glennon and into the corner from 15 yards for his 5th goal since joining from the Baggies.

Chances continued to come as half time approached, Simpson - Carlisle classiest player on the day - stung the palms of Higgs from 20 yards and down the other end Spencer continued his recent good form with a shot that Glennon had to palm away.

Sadly for Cheltenham the first half ended on a bad note with Richard Forsyth signalling to the bench that he was injured, it was later revealed that Richard had suffered a hamstring injury and it would seem he will face further time on the sidelines. Graham Fyfe came onto replace him with John Finnigan now moving to a central midfield position.

H/T 1-1

John Ward made no half time changes and Cheltenham came out and created further chances with Damian Spencer and Mark Yates both sending shots wide of the target. 5 minutes into the second half the Robins took what was probably a deserved lead on the balance of play. Martin Devaney went on a diagonal run across the box from right to left, approaching the touchline he turned and crossed the ball on a plate to Bob Taylor who had the simplest of tasks of tapping the ball past the helpless Glennon to make it 2-1.

Chances continued to come as Grant McCann - cruelly denied by the crossbar in the first half - sent another free kick close, this time Glennon using his finger tips to divert the ball over the bar. Shortly after John Finnigan used all of his 5 ft 9" frame to head at goal, Glennon however was equal to the task as he dived full stretch to divert the ball clear and keep Carlisle in the game.

The game then went into a quiet phases with both team failing to carve out any openings. Paul Simpson his team mates and the travelling contingent in the In2Print Stand would have known that with only 1 goal in it they still had a good chance of getting something from the fixture. Paul Simpson again threatened the Cheltenham goal with a free kick that went inches wide.

Damian Spencer came close to making it 4 goals in 4 games as he turned and shot from 20 yards, however he couldn't get enough curl on the ball and it went wide.

For once this season inept officiatin came to the rescue of Cheltenham as both the referee and linesman missed a clear handball from Grant McCann in the Cheltenham penalty area. A deep ball into the box should have just been headed away by the Northern Ireland International, however for some reason he rose his hand in the air and seemed to palm the ball away - he later chuckled when I questioned him about it in town later that Saturday night. To the disgust of the Carlisle players nothing was given, this from the same officials who blew up earlier in the game for a foul by Bob Taylor when it was clearly handball in the box by a Carlisle defender!

Carlisle kept fighting until the bitter end and all players except the goalee went forward for 3 late corners, however Cheltenham dealt with these and held on for 3 vital points to pull them further up the table and away from the dreaded 2 relegation zone places.

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F/T 2-1

CHELTENHAM TOWN: Higgs, Bird, Brough, M.Duff, McCann, Devaney, Yates, Forsyth (Fyfe 41), Finnigan, Taylor (Griffin 87), Spencer.

CARLISLE UNITED: Glennon, Shelley, Andrews, McDonagh, Smith, Arnison, Schumacher (Molloy 73), Billy, Simpson, Russell, Henderson.

Attendance 3,414