By Peegs
December 28 2002

It was a disaster! Crewe are a good team but we shouldn't lose 4-0 at home and have 2 players sent off! Anyway here is my match report, it wont make good reading for Robins fans. Mike Simpkins made his debut after signing on loan from Cardiff, he took John Brough's place in the centre of defence.

The Crewe line up included hot prospect Dean Ashton, Rodney Jack, Nigerian International Efe Sodje and Trinidad Goalie Clayton Ince.

Cheltenham nearly took the lead in the match! A corner was swung in and cleared to Mike Duff on the edge of the area he crossed in for Spencer who headed at goal, Ince clawed the ball away as far as Duff who volleyed it at goal from 20 yards, unfortunatly for him Efe Sodje was on the line to head the ball clear. If only that had gone in it could have been oh so different!

Instead Crewe went up the other end and took the lead. Referee Brian Curson gave a debatable free kick 40 yards out. Kenny Lunt swand it in and Ashto met the ball with a forward run and flicked the ball past Book. It was such a simple goal and new signing Simpkins should have got closer to Ashton, it was basicaly a free header.

Cheltenham played their best football of the match when the score was 1-0. It was Damian Spencer who was causing problems in the Crewe defence. Twice he got infront of the defenders to meat Devaney crosses but his headers missed the target. Again i'll use the word IF, if only Alsop had met those crosses.

Town were passing it about quite nicely in the 1st period - most fans post match views have ignored this spell of the match -and a move involving Forsyth and Howarth created a chance for Spencer. Forsyth and Spencer combined down the right, Forsyth crossed for Spencer who's shot was staright at Ince. Either side of the big Goalie and the Robins would have been level.

Crewe's movement ad passing was of Division one class and 7 minuted before half time against the run of play they doubled there lead. Ashton ran unchallenged to the edge of the box, then threaded a ball through to Vaughan, the Welsh Under 21 International fired a cross shot that gave Book no chance.

Before the players and crowd could come to terms with being 2-0 down Crewe had added a third goal and it should never have happened. Dave Brammer fired a long ball forward and Jack used his pace to get behind the static defence and he kept his cool to steer the ball past Book. He should never have got in that position, Simpkins needs to buck up his ideas if he wants regular 1st team football!

H/T 0-3

Remarkably Cheltenham made no changes at half time! Many fans have been disgruntled by this and the fact that the players came out with their heads down.

Dean Ashton started the 2nd half with a run and 25 yard shot that was creeping inside the right hand post until Book made a spectacular one handed save.

Things went from bad to terrible on 58 minutes when star defender Mike Duff was given his marching orders for a second bookable ooffence for a late challenge on Ashton. Any hopes of a remarkable comeback could now be forgotten. The main aim now was to keep the score respectable. Another thing that angered a number of fans was that the captains arm band was handed to McAuley! I'm not a McAuley hater but that made no sense. I would have given it to Finnigan of Forsyth.

Things surely couldn't get any worse. Well on 66 minutes they sure did. Ashton got clear in the area and Howarth pulled him down, after consulting his linesman Curson showed Howarth a straight red. There were other players around so a yellow would have probably done. Common sense Mr Curson you'd already sent off one!

Dave Brammer steped up to sweep the penalty past Book. 4-0 was the score, with 9 men and 20 minutes to go we could have been looking at a big big score!

With only 2 defenders on the pitch Shane Duff made his football league debut playing at right back. He played for 15 minutes and looks like a good prospect for the future.

Crewe took their foot of the gas and the game ended with a 4-0 scoreline. Credit to the fans who created a good atmospher considering the tripe we had just watched on the pitch.

The next 3 league games are Chesterfield (a), Plymouth (a) and Tranmere (h). I personally think that Plymouth will be a defeat but the games versus Chesterfield and Tranmere are definete chances for 3 points. Keep the faith we can do it! Live the dream!

F/T 0-4

CHELTENHAM TOWN: Book, Howarth, Duff, Simpkins, Victory, Devaney, Forsyth, Finnigan, McAuley (S.Duff 74), Alsop, Spencer (Brough 66)

CREWE ALEXANDRA: Ince, Sodje, Foster, Walton (Walker 72), Tierney (Jones 81), Lunt (Bell 72), Sorvel, Brammer, Vaughan, Jack, Ashton.

Attendance 5548