Chesterbore sorry Chesterfield report
By Peegs
January 27 2003
Bobby Gould's first game in charge of the Robins saw his team draw 0-0 at home to Chesterfield in a very dissapointing game, Cheltenham dominated but failed to make a break through.
With injuries to Mark Yates and Richard Forsyth the midfield had an unfamiliar look to it. Paul Brayson lined up on the right, Russell Milton on the left with Hugh McAuley and John Finnigan in the centre. Martin Devaney played upfront alongside top scorer Julian Alsop.
How Cheltenham didn't take the lead after 6 minutes I dont know, Devaney gathered a loose clearance by Edwards on the right, crossed it to Finnigan who mis kicked and the ball fell to Alsop 6 yards out who jabbed the ball against the post, it was an open goal and should have made the score 1-0 to Cheltenham. Goals have been few and far between lately so do we need to buy a striker?
23 minutes into the match it was Chesterfield's turn to strike a post, Andy Rushbury - the son of Chesterfield manager Dave Rushbury - played a through ball to Glynn Hurst, one of Mike Duff or Steve Book should have cleared the ball, instead Hurst nipped in and clipped the ball over Book but luckily onto the post. The communication at the back was poor considering these 2 have played over 300 games together.
Unforunatly the game was stopped for a long time in the first half as Steve Blatherwick suffered a serious broken nose after a challenge with Julian Alsop. It was just a 50/50 challenge and no mallice by "Big Jules". All credit to the Whaddon Road crowd who gave Blatherwick a standing ovation as he left the field on a stretcher.
The onyl other talking point of the first half was the stoppage time of only 3 minutes, pretty laughable seeing as Blatherwick was down for atleast 6! But no one was complaining as the action was at a minimum anyway!
H/T 0-0
Gould made no substitutions at half time but it was clear to see he had had words at half time, the players looked more urgent than in the first half.
A good move between Brayson - who had another quiet game - and Devaney sent a through ball to Victory, goalkeeper Ben Williams rusehd off his line to claim the ball seconds before Victory could poke the ball in the net.
On the hour Town nearly took the lead and again should have taken it. A free kick 40 yards out on the left was played to the back post by McAuley, Alsop headed back across goal and the ball was met by Devaney who flashed a header wide for 5 yards out, again the need for a proven Division 2 scorer was backed up by another blatent miss.
With 20 minutes to go Bobby Gould amde his first substitution as Cheltenham manager. He sent on Tony Naylor for the inefective Paul Brayson. Devaney dropped to the right hand side with Naylor and Alsop unfront.
There was alot of nice passing from Cheltenham but we were unable to break down the Chesterfield defence which now had striker David Reeves playing in it, he came on for the injured Steve Payne.
On 90 minutes I thought Cheltenham had one the match, I really did. Devaney collected the ball 35 yards out, he turned and cut inside and sent a curling shot at goal, it was heading for the top left corner until 'keeper Ben Williams somehow tipped the ball over the bar. It was a top class save and denied Town 2 more valuable points as the scores ended 0-0.
A couple of plus points from the game being we kept a clean sheet and the return of Tony Naylor after a 3 month absence from first team action. Wigan away on Saturday, lets just say I'd tale a point now!
F/T 0-0
CHELTENHAM TOWN: Book, Griffin, M.Duff, Brough, Victory, Milton, McAuley, Finnigan, Brayson (Naylor 71), Alsop, Devaney
CHESTERFIELD: Williams, Booty, Blatherwick (O'Hare 37), Payne (Reeves 69), Edwards, Brandon, Davies, Ebdon, Rushbury, Hurst, Bradley.
Attendance: 4423