Central League Match
A very strong Cheltenham Town XI drew 1-1 with Swindon Town today in the Central League as Dan Holman's first half penalty was cancelled out just after the break.Cheltenham started the game the stronger and could have scored in the second minute when Holman stole the ball off the defender and then raced clear on goal. However the striker's shot was well saved by Will Henry in the Swindon net.
Keeper Calum Kitscha was Cheltenham's star player, making his first in a string of excellent saves in the 20th minute, somehow keeping out Christian Frimpong's bullet header from a corner with a brilliant reflex save.
Both teams had more chances to score before half-time but it was Cheltenham who broke the deadlock as Dan Holman's penalty squeezed past Henry. It was Holman himself who had won the penalty after being taken down just inside the box.
After the break Swindon came out strongly and dominated the match. Inside the first 20 seconds Kitscha made another great save, keeping out Sean Murray's sweet strike.
Kitscha could do nothing to stop the equaliser a minute later, the onrushing striker took the ball around him and then teed up a trailist for Swindon who smashed it home at the second attempt.
Defender Jordan Cranston, playing after missing Saturday's game with illness, had to be stretchered off around the hour mark after taking the ball to the face. Both teams made changes with younger faces coming on, including U19 Development team players Dom Thompson and Josh Bennai.
With chances on goal becoming rarer towards the end, it was down to Kitscha yet again to earn Cheltenham a point as he pushed a long ranged volley over the bar from Jake Evans with minutes to go.
Watch Gary's reaction to the game, Cranston's injury and Calum's performance on Robins TV here:
Cheltenham line-up:
Kitscha, Barthram (Pike, 46), Bower (Dom Thompson), Downes (c), Cranston (Waters, 60), Munns, Storer, Asa, Dayton, Pell (De Girolamo, 46), Holman (John Bennai)