Bristol City win battle of Robins 3-2

By Peegs
September 15 2002

The Real Robins Cheltenham Town (Bristol's mascot was a cat!) lost 3-2 at Whaddon Rd to Bristol City after a 2nd half free kick by Lee Matthews from 30yards found its way into the net.

Cheltenham kept the same team that thrashed Norwich in mid week in the Worthington (not worthless anymore!) Cup. The Bristol team included Scottish Internationla Scott Murray, ex Leeds striker Lee Matthews and on loan WBA defender Tony Butler and exciting young defender Danny Coles, a defender who has worked his way through the youth ranks at Ashton Gate.

The game got off to a flying start with 2 goals inside 3 minutes. 50 seconds had passed when Russell Milton laid a free kick to Neil Howarth, he strode down the right hand side, his cross arrived at Naylor who flicked the ball to tall strike partner Alsop who planted his 1st league goal of the season past Phillips in the City goal.

Town fans were still celebrating when Bristol equalised. It was like Paul Hall equalising straight away at Mill Stad last season. Tommy Doherty sent a ball down the inside right channel, his pace took him away from the defence and he drilled a shot across Book and into the corner of the net.

City gained confidence from the goal and had 3 good opportunites to take the lead in the following 10 minutes. Lee Matthews crossed for Woodman but he sent his volley high and over the C and G Stand, Murray who was proving dangerous on the right hand side sent over a cross for Aaron Brown but his header didn't threaten the goal. Woodman returned the compliment to Matthews by crossing to the former who just managed to reach the ball.

Against the run of play Cheltenham took the lead. 22 minutes were on the clock when new fans favourite (lol) Hugh McAuley floated a pin point cross from the right and Alsop towered a header past Phillips from 10 yards right infront of the City fans end - although fans were everywhere including the lot in the in2print who were ejected at half time!.

7 minutes prior to half time Alsop came so close to securing a first half hat trick and probably the points for Cheltenham. Milton crossed from the left and Alsop powered a header past Phillips and onto the inside of the post, everybody thought it had gone in but it trickled back along the line and was cleared by a defender. What was I saying in a previous report about needing luck in this division.

City went right up the other end on the attack. Scott Murray got free down the right, he crossed to the back post where Matthews met it with a header which was put behind by Book. Unfortunatly from the resulting corner Bristol equalised. Brwon sent over a corner from the left which was headed powerfully past the diving Book by young defender Coles from 10 yards. A disasterous time to concede a goal just before half time.

H/T 2-2

Both sides went out in the 2nd half trying to attack and Bristol City took the lead with a fire bomb of a free kick. McAuley fouled City captain Doherty 25 to 30 yards from goal. Matthews stepped up and walloped the ball into the roof of the net. It went high down the cwentre but Book or the wall should have stopped it.

City had further chances with the- quiet on the day- Peacock making Steve Book palm away a header and Tony Butler skimmed the top of the cross bar with a header.

Graham Allner sent on Williams, Brayson and ex City player Spencer in the search for an equalising goal but a couple of weak shots wide and over was all that the "Real Robins" couls muster. The game ended 3-2 Bristol City.

Overall a good game but once again City took the majority of there chances and claimed maximum points. If Alsop's header had gone in and made it 3-1 Cheltenham would probably have gone on to take all 3 points and not be propping up the table.

Swindon on Tuesday evening now really does become a MUST win game.