George Lloyd’s brace inspired Cheltenham Town to a 2-0 victory over Shrewsbury Town on Boxing Day at the Completely-Suzuki Stadium.
A pinpoint glancing header in the first half set the Robins on their way before he was in the right place at the right time to double the lead late on and lift his side off the bottom of the table.
“Happy Christmas to everybody and hopefully that’s given them a late present, it certainly has us,” said assistant manager Adam Murray post-match.
“First half we were a yard off the tempo we have been at.
“We tweaked it at half time and came out a totally different team and it could’ve been three or four.”
A lively tempo was set from the first whistle but with it came a scrappy game as both sides wrestled for control with a chance apiece in the opening 32 minutes.
Suitably, the opening goal came from a dead ball situation as Liam Sercombe’s low whipped ball was met by a glancing header from Lloyd into the far corner.
A second nearly followed immediately as Lloyd’s header this time went over the upright.
Shrewsbury launched a mini resurgence before the break with Chey Dunkley heading over and Daniel Udoh’s volley being well blocked by Lewis Freestone.
The Robins regained control in the second half and should’ve doubled their lead when Lloyd burst inside and picked out Rob Street on the penalty spot but after sitting one defender down his effort was cleared off the line.
Another chance followed four minutes later as substitute Ben Williams’ free-kick needed parrying over by Marko Marosi.
His next free-kick rattled the upright from 25 yards before the decisive second goal followed four minutes later.
Captain Sean Long’s lofted corner found Tom Bradbury at the back post and his measured header back across goal found Lloyd who steered the ball past Marosi to seal all three points.
CHELTENHAM TOWN (3-5-2): Southwood; Smith, Bradbury, Freestone; Long (c), Bonds, Sercombe (Pett 46), Thompson, Ferry (B. Williams 46); Lloyd (Keena 90), Street. Subs not used: Pardington (Gk), Horton, Hammond, Butler-Oyedeji.
SHREWSBURY TOWN (3-4-1-2): Marosi; Dunkley (c), Pierre, Anderson (Benning 72); Bennett (Sobowale 72), Kenneh, Winchester, Shipley; Perry (Mata 54); Bowman (Feeney 87), Udoh (Whitney 87). Subs not used: Burgoyne (Gk), Loughran.
REFEREE: P Howard
ATTENDANCE: 5,146 (593 from Shrewsbury)