Magestic Robins blow away Mansfield 3-1
By Peegs
March 14 2003
A masterclass in striking by centre half John Brough helped Cheltenham on their way to 3 crucial points against relegation rivals Mansfield Town, the final score being 3-1 to the Robins.
Well my team selection on the site pre kick off was torn to shreds with the first name read out as Shane Higgs started his 1st league game since joining us 4 years ago. John Brough started upfront and Dave Bird lined up at right back.
Cheltenham got off to the perfect start, John Brough played a neat ball down the right side to Devaney, he rushed past his marker and fired a shot at goal, in all honesty Keith Welch should have saved it but the ball crept over the line and Town were infront! Now what we needed to do was build on this, not like in previous weeks when we have thrown valuable points away.
Shane Higgs had to make a sharp save from a Christie shot and in poor conditions for keeping looked solid in the opening stages. John Brough – who put in a world class performance – stung the palms of Welch with a stunning 20 yard volley from a Devaney flick on.
The game was proving to be one of the most entertaining at Whaddon Road this season. Higgs showed Robins fans what he could offer mid way through the first half with a truly stunning save, the ball ran lose on the Cheltenham area and Liam Lawrence wellied a low hard shot towards goal, Higgs flung himself low to his right and managed to deflect the ball away, it really was a world class save.
As was crucial Cheltenham continued to press forward and further chances were to follow, John “The Wasp” Finnigan let fly with a shot from 25 yards that Welch grabbed at the second attempt and minutes later the Robins could have and should have added a second. A long ball found its way to Marvin Brown, he got into the area but couldn’t get sufficient power on his shot and Keith Welch managed to gather the ball (for once).
The game entered an “offside section” after the half hour, with the linesman giving many blatant onside decisions as offside, someone needs to tell him its when the ball is played and not when it is received that the player has to be the right side of the player.
Yet on 38 minutes Cheltenham broke the offside trap and added to the scoresheet, John Finnigan – thank god he is back in the team – threaded a lovely through ball to the pacy Marvin Brown, he steadied himself before placing the ball past Welch from 15 yards, unlike previous home games against Barnsley and Colchester where we had 1-0 leads and gave them away we managed to add a crucial second.
Mansfield did their best to get a goal back before halftime, but Higgs once again came to the rescue when he blocked a shot from Wayne Corden, Steve Book could well find himself on the sidelines for the remainder of this season.
Considering the blustery conditions it was a very entertaining first half of football.
H/T 2-0
Unsurprisingly Cheltenham made no half time substitutions, Mansfield Player manager Keith Curle – who was suspended – sent on Neil MacKenzie for Lee Williamson.
A change in tactic from the usual hoof saw Cheltenham nearly score from the kick off, Devaney ran forward from the kick off, layed the ball to Brown who took the ball to the edge of the area but he blasted his finish over the bar and into the Bowling Green.
The impressive Brown hit a terrific low shot at goal 10 minutes into the second half from fully 30 yards, but Welch was equal to the test this time as he stretched low down to divert the ball behind for a corner. Brown has extended his loan deal until 29th March and I feel as though we should extend his deal to the end of April if Bristol City give us the option.
There was nearly a George Weah or Thierry moment 20 minutes from time as Martin Devaney sprinted the whole length of the pitch with the ball to the edge of the Mansfield area, unfortunately for him and Cheltenham a number of Mansfield defenders were able to get back and snuff out the danger.
Grant McCann – ho had a quiet game by his standards, tested Welch with a shot that the ‘keeper saved with his legs, you can be happy as a fan when your best player is having a quiet game yet you find yourself winning 2-0!
No Cheltenham fan in the ground wasn’t clapping on 81 minutes when John Brough was substituted, he had a truly great game and showed the kind of passion that will be needed for us to stay up, he was replaced by Damian Spencer.
When your in a relegation fight things are never easy and a tense finish was set up on 83 minutes when the “Stags” pulled a goal back, a somewhat dubious free kick was awarded 25 yards out in a central position, Liam Lawrence lined it up and curled a free kick over the wall and into Shane Higgs right hand corner, it was a shame as Higgsie had deserved to keep a clean sheet.
Tony Naylor was sent on in place of Marvin Brown who we hope only suffered cramp although rumour has it that it may be a hamstring injury.
2 minutes into added time Cheltenham settled the contest with a lovely goal, Mark Yates sent young Dave Bird away down the right, he kept his composure and measured a pin point cross onto the head of Damian Spencer who thumped home a diving header from 6 yards.
That was the last action of the game, Bobby Gould took a chance with his line up and it paid off, another positive to come from the game was the return of Archie on the bench, congratulations from us at cheltenhamtown.tk from your return from injury.
We travel to Swindon on Wednesday and hopefully we will see the same team appearing with John Brough starting upfront again.
Have a gander across to the message board and leave yor thoughts on prospects for the remainder of the season and Saturdays game.
F/T 3-1
CHELTENHAM TOWN : Higgs, Bird, M.Duff, S.Duff, Victory, Devaney, Yates, Finnigan, McCann, Brough (Spencer 81), Brown (Naylor 90).
MANSFIELD TOWN : Welch, Clarke, Gadsby, Day, Eaton, Lawrence, Williamson (MacKenzie 46), Curtie, Corden, Christie, Mendes (White 55).
Attendance 3889