Cheltenham Town crashed to their heaviest defeat of the season this afternoon on their first-ever visit to the rather cosy surroundings of Accrington Stanley's Crown Ground.
All four goals arrived in 14 devastating second half minutes when the Robins' makeshift defence simply folded under the weight of Accrington pressure following a forgettable first half in which the manager's plans were wrecked.
Martin Allen's problems began only half an hour before kick-off after Lee Ridley was forced out through injury before losing skipper for the day Michael Townsend on the half hour mark with an apparent back injury.
Accrington Stanley however will look on with envy at the problems mounting for Allen, facing extinction at the end of the month should they fail to meet an Inland Revenue bill for £308,000.
Recent reports suggest the total raised is around the £100,000-mark although pencilled-in matches against Blackburn Rovers and former Everton striker Adrian Heath's Austin Aztex side, from the American Soccer League first division, should help chip away at the remaining deficit during the week.
Cheltenham then have only win to their name in 10 outings ahead of Friday night's important match against Macclesfield Town at the Abbey Business Stadium, where they haven't won since the opening game of the season against Grimsby Town.
Accrington Stanley leapfrog Cheltenham in the table with this success, their third win in succession at home.
TEAM NEWS: Boss Allen's plans were thrown into disarray after Ridley was forced out of the game through an injury he collected only half an hour before the start. Kyle Haynes was hurriedly prepared to slot in at right back while Josh Low started at left back, returning to the side after watching the game against the Magpies from the bench seven days ago.
Otherwise the side displayed three changes to the side which held Notts County to a 1-1 draw last weekend. David Bird (calf) and Drissa Diallo (hip) both missed out after collecting injuries in training during the week while Holmar Eyjolfsson was away with the Iceland Under-21 squad, which thumped San Marino 8-0 last night. Sam Cox, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur and Romone Rose, borrowed from QPR in midweek, made full their Cheltenham Town debuts in central midfield and right wing respectively. Townsend, who partnered Andy Gallinagh in central defence, began the game with the armband.
13th minute: Chances were at a premium in the opening half hour here with perhaps the clearest opportunity falling to Luke Joyce, who blasted one over from 18 yards after John Miles had swung a corner over from the Accrington left.
30 SUBSTITUTION: Cheltenham's game plan was left in tatters on the half hour mark after Townsend suffered a back injury and was unable to continue. Cox dropped back to help out Gallinagh in central defence while Rose was brought inside to accommodate David Hutton, who was pressed into action on the right. Allen seemed to utilise a 4-2-3-1 formation from this point, using Rose and Pook to shield the centre halves with Hutton, Hayles and Richards supporting Hammond up front while Barry Hayles completed the match as the skipper.
40: Hammond was presented with Cheltenham's first chance of note five minutes before the break after he was released by Rose down the left. The striker cut inside his marker but shot high and wide from the corner of the box.
41: Hayles forged a chance of his own only one minute later, pinching the ball off Accrington right back Tom Lees before striking a left footer into the side netting from a promising position 12 yards out.
45+1: Miles called Brown into a superb diving stop with a rasping free-kick from 25 yards.
HALF TIME: 0-0
50: Scott Brown denied Chris Turner with his legs after some good work by Miles down the left created a decent shooting chance for the right winger from 14 yards.
53: Skipper Andrew Procter thumped one over as Accrington made a purposeful start to the second half which would eventually lead to the opening goal on the day.
54 GOAL: Accrington Stanley 1-0 Cheltenham Town
Turner claimed the breakthrough nine minutes after the restart when he picked up another cross by Miles from the left before dispatching a low drive past Brown at his near post.
56: Michael Symes post wriggled away from Cox on the edge of the box and smashed his shot against the base of the right post with Brown rooted to the spot.
56 SUBSTITUTION: Richards was withdrawn with 56 minutes on the clock and replaced by Julian Alsop.
58 GOAL: Accrington Stanley 2-0 Cheltenham Town
Accrington claimed their second only four minutes after their first when they were awarded a penalty when Gallinagh tripped Symes inside the box. Phil Edwards stepped up and sent Brown the wrong way from the spot.
60: It was all Accrington in the second half with the next opportunity falling to Symes after Turner had picked him out from the right with another precise delivery. Gallinagh though did enough to put the striker off before he lifted it over.
62 GOAL: Accrington Stanley 3-0 Cheltenham Town
Goal number three arrived with 62 minutes on the clock after Grant had raced onto a searching ball forward to take it past Haynes before beating Brown with a low shot to the Cheltenham number one's left.
65: The home side crafted a delicious opening 25 minutes from time, Symes scooping a ball forward for Miles who volleyed across the face of Brown's goal.
68 GOAL: Accrington Stanley 4-0 Cheltenham Town
The pick of the bunch was provided by Grant only 14 minutes after his side's first goal when the striker flighted a perfect effort into the top right-hand corner to lob Brown from 20 yards.
70 SUBSTITUTION: Theo Lewis swapped with Rose for the final 20 minutes of the game. Alsop finished the game at centre half.
73: Brown pulled off a smart save to prevent Symes making it five, blocking his effort with his legs after a precision delivery from Turner out on the right to find the man of the match.
75: Brown gathered another effort by Symes at the second attempt with Cheltenham simply pinned back inside their own half.
88: Brown's late heroics ensured his side were not consigned to their heaviest ever Football League defeat, again saving from Symes in the final minutes of the contest.
89 SUBSTITUTION: Adam Black replaced the impressive Miles in the penultimate minute of the game.
FULL TIME: 4-0
ACCRINGTON STANLEY (4-4-2): Dunbavin; Lees, Edwards, Kempson (Murphy 81), Winnard; Turner (King 84), Procter (c), Joyce, Miles (Black 89); Symes, Grant. Subs not used: Ryan, McConville, Riley, Molloy.
CHELTENHAM TOWN (4-4-2): Brown; Haynes, Gallinagh, Townsend (c) (Hutton 30), Low; Rose (Lewis 70), Cox, Pook, Richards (Alsop 56); Hammond, Hayles. Subs not used: Richardson (Gk), Lewis, Denton, Emery.
REFEREE: G Eltringham
ATTENDANCE: 1,843 (118 from Cheltenham)
Murry Toms at the Crown Ground
