Cheltenham Town FC

Cheltenham Town came back from a goal down to beat Barrow AFC 2-1 at the World of Smile Stadium, a result which looked very unlikely with just 20 minutes to go.

After a poor first half the hosts found themselves behind at the break when captain Aaron Downes was unlucky to put into his own net from a corner. 

After three substitutions and a change of shape the hosts managed to take control and late goals from vice-captain Kyle Storer and debutant Rob Dickie won the game for the Robins with just one minute of normal time remaining.

In a sluggish first half under the baking hot sun, both teams struggled to keep hold of the ball for long periods of time.

Jason Walker for Barrow and Danny Wright for Cheltenham both had chances inside the first ten minutes without really threatening, whilst George McLennan's cross was just too high for Amari Morgan-Smith at the back post after good work from Jack Munns.

Munns, who looked the liveliest player during the first half beat several defenders before forcing the keeper into a save in a 45 minutes that Cheltenham will want to forget.

Just when it looked like it was going to be goalless going into the break, Barrow scored  in the 44th minute thanks to an own goal from Cheltenham skipper Aaron Downes.

Cheltenham keeper Dillon Phillips missed a punch at the near post from a corner and the ball hit Downes at the back post and skewed into the top corner to give the visitors the lead.

 

Gary Johnson reacted with two changes at half time and also changed the shape. Asa Hall replacing Harry Pell and Rob Dickie coming on to make his debut in place of Billy Waters with the Robins changing to three centre backs, two wing-backs and Jack Munns moving to just behind the strikers. 

Despite the changes Cheltenham still struggled at the start of the second half, with Dickie twice doing well to cover after defensive lapses in front of him.

Finally around the hour mark the new shape and personnel started to take control of the game as Barrow sat deeper and deeper to try and protect their lead.

Munns was everywhere, combining well with Jack Barthram down the right whose shot went straight at the keeper.

Danny Wright should have done better when Downes had knocked the ball down to him on the penalty spot from a Munns' corner. The striker couldn't control the ball and it was cleared to safety.

Cheltenham did manage to draw level in the 72nd minute. After a number of feisty challenges in the middle of the park, Asa Hall fed the ball out to Barthram on the right whose cross found Kyle Storer who did brilliantly to beat his man at the back post and fire home a header from six yards.

From then on the the Robins dominated. They brought on Josh Cooke for Danny Wright and the substitute should have scored with five minutes left when put clean through by George McLennan. The striker took the ball round the keeper but from a wide angle couldn't get a clean connection and the ball was cleared off the line.

The Robins did manage then to win it in dramatic fashion when debutant Rob Dickie made himself an instant hero when he rose highest at the back post to power home an 89th minute Munns' corner to send the home fans into a frenzy.

Barrow never managed to recover from the disappointment of the late goal and the match finished 2-1.

Teams:

Cheltenham:

Dillon Phillips,

Jack Barthram, Daniel Parslow, Aaron Downes (c), George McLennan

Harry Pell (46, Asa Hall), Kyle Storer, Billy Waters (46, Rob Dickie), Jack Munns

Amari Morgan-Smith, Danny Wright (77, Josh Cooke)

Barrow AFC:

Joel Dixon,

George Williams, Danny Livesey (68, Niall Cowperthwaite), Simon Grand (c), Neil Ashton

Andy Howarth, Paddy Lacey (69, Mamadou Fofana), David Mellor, Alex-Ray Harvey

Sam Cosgrove, Jason Walker (77, Elliot Newby)

Referee: Chris Powell

Attendance: 2209 (113)