With a club record season in League One over and done with, it's time to take a look back how events unfolded for Cheltenham Town during the 2021/22 season.
Dylan Watts has been doing just that as he begins with a busy opening month of the campaign as the team played across three different competitions and there were plenty of comings and goings on a transfer front too.
Matchday 1: Crewe Alexandra 1-1 Cheltenham Town
Competition: League One
Date: 07/08/2021
Venue: Alexandra Stadium
Attendance: 5301
Cheltenham’s return to League One started with a draw away at Crewe. Andy Williams scored the first goal of the campaign for the Robins to ensure Cheltenham started the season with a point on the board.
Crewe started the game strongly and scored in the 28th minute where Josh Lundstram combined with Mikael Mandron to give the hosts the lead. However, they weren’t ahead for long as in the final few minutes of the first half Williams pounced on a wayward back-pass from Crewe defender Donveron Daniels to slide in to reward the Robins with an opening point.
The second half brought no goals for either side but opportunities for Cheltenham through striker Alfie May who was prevented from getting the winner by Crewe goalkeeper Dave Richards twice after he performed an acrobatic double save causing Cheltenham to miss out on a win.
Matchday 2: Bristol Rovers 0-2 Cheltenham Town
Competition: Carabao Cup
Date: 10/08/2021
Venue: The Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 2409
Cheltenham’s second game of the campaign was in the first round of the Carabao Cup on the road at Bristol Rovers stadium, The Memorial Stadium. Goals from Alfie May and Kyle Vassell and assists both from Callum Wright gave the Robins their first win of the season to progress into the second round where they would later play Gillingham.
Cheltenham’s domination was rewarded in the 58th minute when May controlled a brilliant ball from Wright and blasted home to give the Robins the lead.
After a missed opportunity to equalise from Rovers' Luke Thomas which was blocked by Grant Horton, Cheltenham punished Rovers when Vassell scored on his debut to put the game out of reach for Rovers and to award his team a place in the next round.
Matchday 3: Cheltenham Town 1-3 Wycombe Wanderers
Competition: League One
Date: 14/08/2021
Venue: Jonny-Rocks Stadium
Attendance: 3860
The first home game of the season led to the first loss of the season against a Wycombe side who had just been relegated from the Championship.
Wycombe’s teenager Oliver Pendlebury sunk Cheltenham with a quickfire brace late in the second half.
Andy Williams' second goal of the season put the Robins back level in the last minute before the interval but it wasn’t enough to earn a point.
After an early opener from Welsh international Sam Vokes, who headed Wycombe in front from Joe Jacobson’s corner, Cheltenham bounced back just before the break to equalise where Wright’s cross found Williams at the back post which marked his 35th birthday with a goal.
May failed to take his chances in the second half and was denied from scoring twice by David Stockdale. The Robins were made to pay when Pendlebury’s brace took it out of reach for the hosts.
Matchday 4: Cheltenham Town 2-1 Ipswich Town
Competition: League One
Date: 17/08/2021
Venue: Jonny-Rocks Stadium
Attendance: 4746
Coming into the midweek fixture, Ipswich Town had yet to win and Cheltenham were winless in the League. The Robins were set back early on in the game but they fought back from a goal down to beat Ipswich with the captain, Will Boyle securing the comeback with the winner.
Cheltenham Town were put behind in the 9th minute when a good strike from Ipswich full back Matt Penney rippled the net from distance. Ipswich controlled most of the first half creating lots of chances and should’ve gone two ahead when Macauley Bonne lifted the ball over Owen Evans and missed an open goal.
In the second half, Cheltenham grew into the game and started to create good opportunities and in the 62nd minute from Boyle’s cross Callum Wright headed in.
Later, as the hosts had more of the ball, in the last 10 minutes Boyle scored from a Ben Tozer long throw which caused chaos for the defenders who couldn’t deal with it. The skipper ensured his side won their first League game of the season.
Matchday 5: Fleetwood Town 3-2 Cheltenham Town
Competition: League One
Date: 21/08/2021
Venue: Highbury Stadium
Attendance: 2392
As the Robins went away to Fleetwood on the road, they looked to grab a consecutive win.
Though they were left unlucky as a late Alfie May strike wasn’t enough to earn a point away at the Highbury Stadium.
Michael Duff’s side got off to a flying start as within the first 10 minutes on form Callum Wright finished off a good team move to give the visitors the lead. Fleetwood managed to respond to the early set back with a goal before half time following a corner which was buried by defender Tom Clarke.
Quick reaction saves from Scott Flinders early in the second half meant Cheltenham were still level. However, after another corner, Fleetwood pounced on Cheltenham’s failure to clear when full back Darnell Johnson put his team in front.
May’s goal minutes from full time seemed to be enough to add a point to Cheltenham’s tally, but in the final minute Shayden Morris reacted to a loose ball and finished to secure the three points for the hosts.
Matchday 6: Gillingham 1-1 Cheltenham Town (Cheltenham win on pens)
Competition: Carabao Cup
Date: 24/08/2021
Venue: Priestfield Stadium
Attendance: 2151
Cheltenham Town travelled to Priestfield Stadium looking to progress to the third round for the first time in the club's history, with Gillingham only standing in their way.
The Gills led on the 20-minute mark thanks to Vadaine Oliver’s header but weren’t ahead for long as the Robins bounced back four minutes later when Alfie May’s composed finish brought them level.
Despite Cheltenham being the better of the two sides in the second half, they had nothing to show for it leaving the contest to be decided by penalties.
Cheltenham players made no mistake from the spot all scoring while Owen Evans save in the shootout booked the Robins a record place in the third round.
Matchday 7: Burton Albion 1-1 Cheltenham Town
Competition: League One
Date: 27/08/2021
Venue: Pirelli Stadium
Attendance: 2909
The Robins hoped to continue the good form from the midweek win while Burton looked to go top early on with a win.
A third goal in League One for Callum Wright put Cheltenham in front but Lucas Akins equalised to gain the hosts a point.
Wright’s goal from long range was his third goal in as many League games for Cheltenham but it was later cancelled out by Akins’ back post header.
Wright tried his luck again from distance but blasted inches over. Burton went close to winning it as well when Scott Flinders was called into action to tip over a good effort from Leak. Both sides would have to settle for a point each as neither could find a winner.
Matchday 8: Bristol Rovers 2-0 Cheltenham Town
Competition: Papa John’s Trophy
Date: 31/08/2021
Venue: The Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 889
A fourth consecutive away day for Cheltenham saw them return to The Memorial Stadium.
This time in the Papa John’s Trophy the Robins hoped to win once again. A mixture of first team players and scholars made the trip to Bristol with Mattie Pollock debuting at centre back.
The hosts had most of the ball in the first half creating chances but it was still all to play for at the break.
A cross which was met by Sam Nicholson broke the deadlock just after the hour mark. Rovers quickly followed it up with a second nine minutes later which took the game out of reach for the Robins.
Andy Williams went near to pulling one back but volleyed over. Taylor Perry came the closest for Michael Duff’s side when he rattled the crossbar in the last minute of the match.
Player Signings:
• Callum Wright agreed a deal on loan from Leicester City after helping the Robins win the League Two title last season
• The talented 20-year-old Taylor Perry signed a loan deal with Cheltenham from Wolves
• Another loan deal saw Watford defender Mattie Pollock come to Cheltenham
• Kyle Vassell signed a one-year contract with the Robins before leaving later in January
• Cheltenham landed two deadline day loan deals, Christian Norton from Stoke and Kyle Joseph from Swansea
Player Departures:
• Ben Tozer left to join Wrexham after captaining the Robins to the League Two title in the previous season
• George Lloyd secured a season-long loan move to League Two side Port Vale
In news off the pitch, David Bloxham was appointed chairman of CTFC.