Two pre-season friendlies give Cheltenham 2 wins!

By Peegs
July 23 2002

Cheltenham Town started there pre season games against local rivals Forest Green and Worcester City. With a tough season ahead the players will be lookin to impress Graham Allner and get in his 1st team.

Cheltenham Town's pre season campaign has got off to a flying start with 2 comprehensive wins. 4 players missed both games, the players being Lee Howells who now looks like being out till December with his broken leg, Shane Higgs are 'reserve keeper who has broken a finger!(deary me), Julain Alsop who has a slight groin strain and centre back John Brough. Both Brough and Alsop's injuries are not serious and were just left out as a procaution.

The first pre-season match saw Cheltenham travel to local rivals Forest Green. The match was held at the Lawn (home of Forest Green) and saw ex Cheltenham player Neil Grayson line up in attack for Rovers against his former employees.

Cheltenham took the lead on 22 minutes when chubby striker Tony Naylor blocked a clearance from the Forest Green keeper. The keeper then pulled down Nylor in the box and Mark Yates swept home the resulting penalty from the spot. Rovers equalised shortly after the break when Steve Jenkins rose in the box to head an Alex Sykes corner past the stranded Steve Book.

Forest Green only stayed on level terms for 2 minutes when trialist Damien Spencer collected a long ball, side stepped hos marker and planted a shot past Glassup in the goal. The young trialist formerly of Bristol City then grabbed his 2nd goal on his debut when he smashed a left footed shot into the roof of the opposition net.

Then a minute into injury time Forest Green defender John Richardson directed a Russell Milton centre into his own net to make the score 4-1. Slightly flattering to Cheltenham.

2 days later the same squad plus 2 other trialists Ryan mcCann and James Bittner - a young keeper from Fulham - travelled to Worcester City. The game proved to be a comfortable win for Cheltenham Town. It didn't take the Robins long to take the lead. After just 6 minutes Jamie Victory crossed over from the left wing and the ball somehow squeezed its way through to the back post where Tony Naylor bundled the ball home from close range.

Shortly before halftime Cheltenham Town doubled there lead in the game. Mark Yates who was patrolling the centre of the pitch laid the ball square along the edge of the box and the waiting Naylor recieved the ball and passes the ball past the Worcester keeper int the corner of the net.

As usual in friendlies the gaffer made lots if substitutes at half time - 9 in all - including Ryan McCann the young Rangers trialist. Cheltenham added one further goal in the second half. Lee Williams swung in a corner from the right hand side, a Worcester defender headed clear straight to the waiting McAuley who banged the ball past the keeper helped by a deflection off the head of Holloway.

After the game Graham Allner told the Official Site "We had three trialists out there and i thought Ryan McCann looked confident on the ball, passed it well and u could tell he knew what he was doing in the game. You don't play for Glasgow Rangers without havin plenty of ability and i thought he showed that today. He has had one 45 minute run now so we will try and get him a bit more on Tuesday night" "James in goal didn't have much to do but Damien up front did okay again. He has done everything we could have expected of him so far and we will have another look at him on Tuesday as well."

Allner will be looking for the young keeper to be tested more in our next friendly. And he will as 1st division Crystal Palace will be visiting Whaddon Road for a 7.30pm kick off. Check bak for a detailed match report by Peegs!