Another 2 points dropped against Colchester
By Peegs
February 22 2003
Damaian Spencer missed 4 second half chances as Cheltenham had to settle for 1 point against Colchester having taken an early lead through top scorer Julian Alsop. The final score being 1-1
Bobby Gould made 3 changes from the team that lost to Barnsley in midweek, Greg Strong - who has returned to Hull City - and John Brough stepped down and were replaced by Jamie Victory and Shane Duff. Mark Yates replaced Marvin Brown who dropped to the bench.
The first action of the match was a goal for Cheltenham, a Grant McCann corner was cleared to Mike Duff, he headed the ball back across goal for Julian Alsop to head in from 8 yards, it was a simple goal but Cheltenham had to keep going in search for more goals.
A lovely cross field pass from Grant McCann - who has to play on the left - gave Devaney space, he went for an ambitiuos lob of the 'keeper but the ball went over the bar and into the small Colchester away following. Tony Naylor used all of his 5ft4" to send a header goalwards but it drifted just wide of Simon Brown's right hand post.
Cheltenham were in control of the game but it was imperative that they added to their goal tally, this was shown when Gareth Williams ran unchallenged to the edge of the box and rifled a shot goalwards that Book had to bash away.
The match was certainly better than the recent Barnsley match and further chances followed in the first half, Mike Duff carelessly let Williams get the ball whilst trying to shepherd it out for a goal kick, he ran into the box before smashing a shot into the side netting, at the other end Grant McCann - having another impressive game - sent a 25 yard swirling shot towards goal that borwn took at the second attempt.
Just as it looked like Cheltenham would go in at half time 1-0 up disaster struck as Colchester got a goal and such a simple on at that, Joe Keith ran unchallenged left to right to the edge of the Cheltenham area, he threaded a simple through pass to a static an un straight back line and Gareth Williams - the striker cheltenhamtown.tk outlined as a danger man - smashed the ball in from close range.
H/T 1-1
Half time saw substitutions made by both managers, Cheltenham sent on Dave Bird for his first game at Whaddon Road inplace of Hugh McAuley, this was a popular choice amongst fans but in all honesty Hugh did nothing wrong in the first half. Micky Stockwell came on inplace of ex Barnet man Sam Stockley.
Bird showed Town fans what he could do with an early second half shot that was gathered by Brown, along with Shane Duff and Richard Kear he is one to look out for in the future.
Mark Yates will be dissapointed with himself for planting a free header wide from a Steve Jones cross on 50 minutes. Moments later a moment that defines Cheltenham's season, Martin Devaney beat Liam Chilvers on the right charged inwards before laying a ball to Alsop 4 yards out who somehow missed the target and the C and G Stand, if only that had gone in!
Damain Spencer was sent on in the 58th minute for the tiring Tony Naylor and he would go on to have an eventful 30 minutes on the pitch.
His first touch of the ball was a poor one, he muscled himself away from defender White and found himself running through on goal, but he managed to over touch the ball at a crucial moment and the 'goalie was able to claim the loose ball.
Colchester looked like they could nick a goal at the other end and Steve Book made a superb save from a rasping Gareth Williams drive, this was to be Williams last contribution to the match as he was surprisingly taken off to be replaced by Dean Morgan, Williams certainly looked the most likely Colchester player to add to the score sheet.
Thomas Pinault nearly scored with a 20 yard header! He dived to divert the ball towards goal after a clearance from a corner by a Cheltenham player, it certainly would have been a bizzare goal!
Up step Damian Spencer, he forstly missed controled a pass that would have seen him through on goal, and then scuffed a shot weakly towars goal from 20 yards, however his worst miss came with 12 minutes left on the clock, a through ball from Julian Alsop saw Spencer free on goal, he took the ball into the area and all he had to do was place the ball either side of Brown, instead he balsted it into the legs of Brown, the follow up chance from Julain Alsop was blocked by a Colchester player rushing back.
These missed chances summed up the season, not having a young proven Division 2 goal scorer has hampered us all season. In injury time a free kick was awarded 25 yards out, Grant McCann stepped up and struck a sweet curling and dipping free kick towards goal but somehow the 'keeper tipped it over.
That was the end of the game, just one point, for the 3rd time in 3 games we had are hands on all 3 points only to let are leads slip, these loss points may and its looking like they will prove costly at the end of the season. If were goin to stay up we HAVE to stop dropping points!
You can vote for your Colchester Man of the Match by accessing the Message Board and using the poll provided there.
F/T 1-1
CHELTENHAM TOWN: Book, Jones, M.Duff, S.Duff, Victory, Devaney (Brown 69), McAuley (Bird 46), Yates, McCann, Naylor (Spencer 58), Alsop
COLCHESTER UNITED: Brown, Stockley (Stockwell 46), Fitzgerald, White, Chilvers, Duguid, Izzet, Pinault, Keith, Williams (Morgan 63), McGleish
Attendance 3,607