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Match Reports

Report & highlights: Accrington Stanley 4-4 Robins

2 April 2022

Match Reports

Report & highlights: Accrington Stanley 4-4 Robins

2 April 2022

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Will Boyle scored a dramatic late equaliser to help Cheltenham Town gain a point in an entertaining eight goal clash at Accrington Stanley.

The defender was twice on the scoresheet as the Robins fought back in a great watch for the Wham Stadium crowd.

Alfie May was on target again to get the first of the eight, but by half time Accrington were ahead thanks to Tommy Leigh's first and Sean McConville's well-placed strike.

The hosts extended their lead immediately after half time when Leigh got his second, but Boyle headed in for his first midway through the second half to hand Michael Duff's side a lifeline.

It looked as though the hosts would wrap up the win when Ellis Chapman scored an own goal on 87 minutes, only for Callum Wright to pull one back a minute later.

Ross Sykes was then sent off for the home side, but the drama didn't stop there, as Boyle popped up in the box and brilliantly levelled the game at the death.

Despite the eight goals, opportunities were limited for both teams in the opening exchanges. A quality forward pass from Elliot Bonds created the first notable opening - sending George Lloyd through down the side of the Accrington centre backs and the young striker was denied by a Toby Savin save.

Ethan Hamilton's long-range hit was deflected behind as Accrington headed towards goal, but it was Cheltenham who struck the first blow.

A ball forward was poorly dealt with at the back and May confidently lobbed Savin with a classy first time finish.

It looked as though Michael Duff's side would go into the break ahead, but within the first minute of stoppage time the scores were level when Leigh drew the hosts level.

And then in the fifth of six minutes of stoppage time it was 2-1 as long-serving McConville blasted in when the ball broke to him on the right-hand side.

The half time break did little to stop Accrington's attacking momentum and on 48 minutes Leigh got his second and their third.

A fifth goal of the afternoon enabled Cheltenham to get back into the contest. Half time substitute Liam Sercombe's free kick from the left reached Boyle at the back post who headed in.

McConville saw his header on 71 minutes tipped over the bar by Evans and the Welsh stopper kept out another shot from Hamilton as the game entered a lively final ten minutes.

Accrington got a fourth when Michael Nottingham's dash forward saw him cross low and Chapman touched the ball past Evans into his own net.

Only a minute later though and there was just one goal between the sides again as May's good work on the right allowed Wright to sweep in at the near post.

Just like the first half, there was six minutes of stoppage time shown at the end of the half, and it was towards the start of additional time that Accrington were reduced to ten men when Sykes was dismissed for picking up a second yellow card.

While it had been the hosts who were able to take advantage of stoppage time to get their goals at the end of the first half, this time it was Cheltenham who benefited, and remarkably six minutes into the additional time Boyle slammed in his second with a striker-like finish to salvage a thrilling late point.

ACCRINGTON: T Savin, J Rich-Baghuelou, E Hamilton, R Sykes, H Pell (J O'Sullivan 17), C Bishop, S McConville, M Nottingham, L Coyle, T Leigh (J Pritchard 73), M Clark

Subs not used: L Isherwood, S Conneely, R Longelo, Y Amankwah, K Adedoyin

ROBINS: O Evans, S Long, C Raglan, W Boyle, M Blair, L Freestone, E Bonds (E Chapman 74), A Ramsey (L Sercombe 46), C Wright, A May, G Lloyd (C Brown 80)

Subs not used: S Flinders, M Pollock, A Williams, R Hutchinson

Referee: Robert Lewis

Attendance: 2181 (177 Robins)


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