Cheltenham Town FC

Saturday 23rd July

It was a Gloucestershire Derby to forget for Cheltenham as Gloucester came out 3-1 winners on a hot summer’s afternoon at Whaddon Road.

First half goals from Ethan Moore, Joe Hanks and Craig Reid saw the Tigers three goals ahead and cruising at the interval.

The Robins were improved after the break, and created a lot more chances than they did in the first half.

James Rowe pulled a goal back in injury time but it goes down as a game that certainly won’t live long in the memories of Cheltenham supporters.

It wasn’t until quarter of an hour in until the first real action came as a mix up between Dan Parslow and Jack Rose saw Moore round the goalkeeper and slot the ball into the empty net to put Gloucester ahead.

10 minutes later The Tigers doubled their lead as Hanks hit a low free kick under the wall and into the bottom left corner.

With half an hour on the clock Cheltenham started to get into the game as Andreas Komodikis had his shot blocked before Danny Whitehead’s effort was deflected onto the post by the back of Billy Waters.

Kyle Storer had a go at goal in the 35th minute as he spotted Jasbir Singh off his line, but his side-footed shot went just wide.

Two minutes later Gloucester went up the other end and extended their lead even further with a great volley from Craig Reid to make it 3-0 at half time.

After the break it was Cheltenham who started the better as Waters had the first shot of the half for the Robins, but his effort was dragged wide.

Just after the hour mark Jack Munns was brought down on the edge of the box, but after he dusted himself down to step up and take the free kick his effort went over the bar.

Five minutes later Waters had the chance to pull a goal back as he wiggled through the Gloucester defence, but his effort with the outside of his boot went agonisingly past the post.

Substitute James Dayton went on a mazy run with just over quarter of an hour to go, but his powerful shot went just over the bar.

As the game headed into injury time, James Rowe went clean through on goal and rounded the goalkeeper before slotting the ball into the empty net.

Cheltenham Line-up: J Rose, D Parslow, J Cranston, J Lymn, M Bower, J Rowe, J Munns, A Komodikis, K Storer (C), B Waters, A Morgan-Smith.

Gloucester Line-up: J Singh, K Thomas, L Odiero, S Hamilton, J Deaman, C Dinsley, J Hanks, T Webb (C), C Reid, E Moore, E Williams.