The second month of the 2021/22 season, September, brought with it further progress at the start of the club's return to League One this season.
Dylan Watts carries on with the review of the Robins' highly successful 2021/22 campaign as Michael Duff's men took on former Premier League sides and faced a first ever Carabao Cup third round tie to make more history against Championship opposition.
Matchday 9: Cheltenham Town 1-1 MK Dons
Competition: League One
Date: 04/09/2021
Venue: Jonny-Rocks Stadium
Attendance: 3704
Coming into September, the Robins were just below Gillingham in 17th on five points from five games. MK Dons were on eight points from five games. Kyle Joseph scored for Cheltenham on his debut for the club but his strike was cancelled out by Dons to earn them a point away.
In the first quarter of an hour, the loanee from Swansea City opened his Robins debut with a left footed strike which nestled in the bottom corner. The Dons missed a lot of chances to draw level before half time meaning the hosts remained leading coming into the break.
Scott Flinders was forced into action by substitute Hiram Boateng when he fired a volley towards Flinders’ goal with his first touch. At the other end, Chris Hussey’s free kick was stopped at full stretch by Dons’ keeper Andrew Fisher.
Ellis Chapman came very close to doubling the Robins lead but his effort was headed off the line by Peter Kioso. Boateng finally rewarded his team for the growing pressure on Cheltenham when he fired a good strike into the roof of the net in the final minutes.
Matchday 10: Charlton Athletic 1-2 Cheltenham Town
Competition: League One
Date: 11/09/2021
Venue: The Valley
Attendance: 13790
The Robins looked to pick up their first three points of the month on the road at The Valley. Goals from Matty Blair and Wolves loanee Taylor Perry was enough to secure a great away day win against Charlton.
The first goal came in the opening few minutes of the game when Blair lashed in a strike into the bottom corner from a tight angle. He then provided the cross for Perry’s goal which doubled the Robins’ advantage.
After the interval, the hosts had a big chance to get back into the match but Diallang Jaiyesimi had just the keeper to beat but blazed his effort over the bar.
Just before the hour mark, Charlton finally scored when both substitutes Conor Washington and Jonathan Leko combined to give the hosts a chance.
The Robins defended strongly to hold out for a well-deserved win.
Matchday 11: Cheltenham Town 1-0 Oxford United
Competition: League One
Date: 18/09/2021
Venue: Jonny-Rocks Stadium
Attendance: 5004
Cheltenham Town hoped to retain their winning form when they welcomed Oxford United to the Jonny-Rocks Stadium. Alfie May's second half strike was enough for the Robins to take all three points at home.
Goalkeeper Scott Flinders had to keep out shots from Oxford midfielder James Henry to ensure Cheltenham were level going into the second half.
The Robins showed a big improvement after the break, Ellis Chapman and Mattie Pollock going close to the opener. But it was May who broke the deadlock in the 68th minute giving the hosts the lead.
Michael Duff’s side held out for the win whilst keeping their first clean sheet since they made their League One return.
Matchday 12: Preston North End 4-1 Cheltenham Town
Competition: Carabao Cup
Date: 21/09/2021
Venue: Deepdale
Attendance: 6561
After narrowly progressing to the third round for the first time through penalty kicks against Gillingham, Cheltenham travelled to Deepdale to face Championship side Preston North End.
A poor first half performance from the Robins meant they went down early on due to Andrew Hughes’ power header from a corner.
Things went from bad to worse for Cheltenham as before the break Preston doubled their lead through Joe Rafferty.
The game wasn’t done yet though, huge improvements in the second half from the Robins meant that Kyle Vassell pulled a goal back to put pressure on the home side.
However, late goals from Sean Maguire and Emil Riis Jakobsen progressed the hosts to the fourth round, knocking Cheltenham out after their best Carabao Cup run in the club’s history.
Matchday 13: Wigan Athletic 2-0 Cheltenham Town
Competition: League One
Date: 25/09/2021
Venue: DW Stadium
Attendance: 8867
Cheltenham hoped to bounce back from dropping out of the Carabao Cup when they were on the road again at the DW Stadium trying to overcome former Premier League side Wigan Athletic.
Wigan took the lead early on when Charlie Wyke laid off for Callum Lang to bury his shot. Lang should’ve had a second when he was through one-on-one with Scott Flinders but the Cheltenham 'keeper did well to smother.
Just after the break, Wigan caught the Robins out in the first minute of the restart when this time Lang assisted Wyke as he blasted his strike home.
Cheltenham failed to make an impact on the game whilst Wigan, the Champions to be, dominated the game.
Matchday 14: Sunderland 5-0 Cheltenham Town
Competition: League One
Date: 28/09/2021
Venue: Stadium of Light
Attendance: 28313
Sunderland welcomed Cheltenham Town to the Stadium of Light where the Robins played in front of 28,000 fans. The Black Cats were never troubled by Cheltenham as they eased to victory at home.
It started with Bailey Wright’s 11th minute opener where he headed his side in front from Aiden McGeady’s corner. It was followed by a first half brace from Ross Stewart to strongly put the hosts in charge going into the interval.
After the break, in the 65th and 66th minutes Luke O’Nien and Leon Dajaku capped off a great night for the Black Cats as they moved top of League One.
The Robins ended off September with a tough result but Michael Duff’s team had to stay focused going into October.
