Robins battle out draw against Cardiff City

By Peegs
September 1 2002

The Robins came from a goal down against Sam Hammam's high spending Cardiff City. A match played infront of a dissapointing crowd of just 4395 saw Cheltenham claim a hard earned point but inturn saw them go bottom of Division 2.

The match saw the return of Julian Alsop, he came into the team inplace of Lee Williams. Paul Brayson started upfront against his former team alongside Naylor.

The Cardiff team included star names such as ex Middlesborough striker Andy Campbell, Rep of Ireland International Graham Kavanagh, £1.7 million record signing Peter Thorne and ex Derby and Man City defender Spencer Prior. The list goes on plus Welsh International forwrd Rob Earnshaw amongst the substitutes.

The 1st opening of the game fell to the "Bluebirds". A trademark long throw by Andy Legg made its way through to Willie Boland who blasted wide of the target.

Cardiff were well and truly on top in the opening stages of the game and it wasnt long before they took the lead. A perfectly waited pass by Peter Thorne between centre back Duff and keeper Book saw Andy Campbell latch onto the ball and stroke a shot past Book into the bottom corner of the net.

The Robins were under the kosh and on 16 minutes a crazy moment in the match occured. Andy Legg smashed a volley towrds goal from 20 yards. Steve Book made a fantastic save, but the ball was parried up in the air and it span towards goal. There on hand was Julian Alsop who somehow headed the ball off the line with help of the cross bar. It was a moment that will live in my mind for a long time to come!

Paul Brayson was having a quiet game against his former club, he came close to equalising when he found himslef with some space on the left hand side, he cut inside Rhys Weston but sent his curling shot straight at Scottish Goalie Neil Alexander.

4 minutes later Cheltenham got themselves back on level terms. Rhys Weston hacked down Paul Brayson 30 yards out and received a yellow card from Graham Barber. Russell Milton clipped a left footed free-kick into the box, Alsop and Prior tangled and the ball ran loose to Neil Howarth who smashed the ball low past Alexander to make the scoreline 1-1.

During the latter stages off the 1st half Cheltenham were playing the better football of the two sides but didnt manage any further chances of note.

H/T 1-1

The second half was played for the majority in the Cheltenham half. Early chances fell the way of Campbell and Whalley but they both shot wide of the goal to the dismay of the Blubirds faithful.

Cardiff must have been wondering how they hadn't scored a 2nd goal and were left scratching their heads again mid way into the 2nd half. An Andy Legg front post corner was headed powerfully at goal by ex WBA defender Danny Gabbidon, it was heading for the roof of the net until the head of Neil Howarth blocked its path. Again it was an unbeleivable clearance.

Cardiff's best weapon on the afternoon was andy Legg's long throws. He continued to bombard the Cheltenham area with them but a combination of safe handling by Book, galant defending and the ref's whistle save the Robins from conceeding this way.

In a desperate attempt to take 3 points from the game, Cardiff manager Lennie Lawrence sent on Rob Earnshaw and beastly striker Leo Fortune-West who as ever got a frosty reception from the Town faithful.

On the few occasions Cheltenham did get an opening the referee's assistant favoured the Cardiff backline. One occasion saw Brayson receive a pass from Naylor only to see the lino' for some reason stick his flag up for offside. It was one of the worse decisions you could imagine and was worthy of it's mention in my match report!

Rob Earnshaw nearly grabbed a late winner when he collected a loose ball on the edge of the area. He swivled and sent a curling shot that had book beaten but thankfully the shot wen a yard wide.

Cardiff continued to pressure the Town goal but couldnt firther brake down the Town defence. Inparticular Richard Walker and mike Duff come in for specail praise.

Overall even though the result meant we go bottom we can be satisfied by claiming a point against a team assembled at a cost of over £6million compared to our squad costing under £100k. All we need now - i now its a cliche- is a bit of luck infront of goal and hopefully we will claim are 1st leagye win of the season next Saturday away at Colchester at Layer Road

F/T 1-1

CHELTENHAM TOWN: Book, Howarth, Duff, Walker, Victory, McAuley, Yates, Milton (Finnigan 53),Naylor, Brayson (Williams 77), Alsop

CARDIFF CITY: Alexander, Weston, Prior, Gabbidon, Croft, Boland, Whalley, Kavanagh, Legg (Fortune-West 82), Thorne, Campbell (Earnshaw 73)

Referee: Graham Barber