Bloomer's boys show Gould how its' done 2-1!

By Peegs
October 22 2003

The Robins claimed a well earned 2-1 win against a Darlo team who came for a draw. Bob Bloomer was the gaffer on a successful night all round as I won myself £33 with Jamie Victory scoring the first goal!

In rainy conditions Cheltenham worked hard, it wasn’t pretty but an important win to pull them away from the relegation zone and up towards mid table.

My bet on Jamie Victory to score the first goal nearly failed in the 3rd minute when McCann went close with a trademark free kick that sailed just over the bar.

In the wet conditions Cheltenham won some early corners however no one could get on the end of any of the crosses.

The moment the public of Cheltenham had been waiting for – especially myself! – arrived in the 31st minute when the Robins won a corner, Martin Devaney took a corner and swung it into the are where Jamie Victory met it with a powerful header that creaped in via a deflection or two! £33 was on it’s way to Peegs!

Cheltenham were playing their best football for many weeks and had a number of chances to extend their lead nearing the half time break. Bob Taylor had a shot saved by Darlington ‘keeper Price and McCann hit a superb dipping volley at goal that Price chose to palm around the post.

3 minutes before half time with their first shot at goal the ‘Quakers’ equalised. The stupid rule of players having to go off after being treated lead to Mark Yates being off the pitch as Darlington came forward. A break down the right saw Neil Wainwright deliver a perfect low cross that was met by Alan Morgan at the back post who fired the ball past Higgs. He then proceeded to celebrate in front of the 50 or so Darlington fans seated in the In2print.

H/T 1-1

Their was no need for any changes at the half time break as a Gouldless Cheltenham side were playing some nice football. They continued to press forward in the early stages of the second half as Jamie Victory pounded forward down the left cut into the area and fired in a cross that was deflected over the bar by a Darlington boot.

Shortly after an exquisite cross from Dave Bird was met 6 yards out by Bob Taylor who headed over the bar when he really should have scored. More is needed from Bob if we are to achieve anything this season.

Cheltenham were playing with some confidence after the crowd had driven out the failure known as Bobby Gould but nearly paid for being to over confident when Victory tried to chest the ball back to Higgs which was woefully to short, however Higgs was quick to react and managed to claim the ball before the Darlington player could pounce.

Paul Brayson rightly recalled by Bloomer to the starting line up showed some nice touches during the game however had few chances during the game. On the one occasion he did get some space near the goal he dragged his shot wide of the target.

Shane Higgs pulled off a wonder save from Morgan in the 75th minute, a powerful shot from 20 yards he managed to tip acrobatically over the cross bar in front of the C and G Stand.

Bob Bloomer made his first sub as Cheltenham manager with 10 minutes left on the clock sending on Damian Spencer for Bob Taylor.

The crowd were getting a bit restless as Cheltenham deserved to be winning the game however now in the closing stages were only drawing 1-1. McCann had a couple of long range efforts that sailed just over the cross bar.

With the game entering injury time the Robins claimed an all important winner to send the crowd wild. A long desperate punt forward by Jamie Victory arrived to the on rushing Martin Devaney who also had Yates running parallel to him, Devaney took it upon himself to shoot at goal from 12 yards and into the back of the net to send the Darlo fan back ‘Ope Narth’ with no points and a bit of frostbite!

The final whistle blew shortly after and Cheltenham fans went home knowing they had got their moneys worth, chants of ‘are you watching Bobby Gould’ echoed around the ground. Congratulations to Bob Bloomer on claiming his first win as a Cheltenham manager and I’d give him the job over another candidate who was in the crowd....... Carlton Palmer!

However my first choices as manager would be either Steve Parkin or Lawrie Sanchez.

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F/T 2-1

CHELTENHAM TOWN: Higgs, Bird, Jones, M.Duff, Victory, Devaney, Yates, Howells, McCann, Taylor (Spencer 79), Brayson

DARLINGTON: Price, Hutchinson, Liddle, McGurk, Valentine, Wainwright (Convery 80), Keltie, Pearson, Morgan, Clark, Mellanby (Clarke 69)

Attendance 2,745