Match Reports

Match Report: Cheltenham Town 2 Exeter City 2 (4-3 Pens)

22nd September

A late equaliser denied Exeter City the win against Cheltenham Town in the Jersey Mike's Subs Trophy.

The Grecians travelled to the EV Charger Points Stadium off the back of a 0-0 draw against Tranmere Rovers at St James Park, whereas the Robins returned to home soil following a 1-1 draw against Colchester United in the league.

First Half

Cheltenham Town looked to start fast by means of a well-placed cross into the Exeter City penalty area where Archie Hill met the ball at the back post but headed well wide inside two minutes. The Grecians responded sharply with a spell of possession on the edge of the Cheltenham penalty area before Gwion Edwards found Ed James in space, though his effort was too tame for Joe Day between the Robins’ sticks.

The hosts looked to pile the pressure back on the Grecian back line shortly before the quarter of an hour mark with George Miller breaking free down the left wing. City captain Ed James came to save the day and brought Miller’s run to an end, however paid the price and went into the referee’s book.

The Robins continued to search for an opener with a smartly timed through ball over the top of the City defence where Miller was waiting once more. The striker took a touch before shooting, however his attempted chip on Frankie Phillips was all too easy for the young goalkeeper who made a comfortable stop.

Taylor Perry responded with an opportunity at the other end of the pitch on the half-hour mark by meeting a neatly dragged back ball from Ajay Matthews, however his effort on goal took a heavy deflection off the outstretched leg of a Cheltenham defender resulting in a comfortable save for Day.

Likely frustrated by his first attempt on goal, Miller took his second strike with much more vigour, however Phillips pulled off a superb save at point-blank range to keep the game level. A raised flag from the linesman though confirmed that the strike wouldn’t have counted anyway.

With half-time approaching, Perry fought hard in the Cheltenham penalty area to win the ball back before spreading play wide to Gwion Edwards on the wing. The Welshman sent a delightful cross back into the area where Perry was there again to meet the ball, however his header was scrambled away by Day.

Seconds after the fourth official announced the minimum added time to be played, the hosts broke forward quickly. Kirsten Otchere found Jake Bickerstaff inside the penalty area who drilled the opening goal into the bottom right of the net, and ensured the Robins went into the break narrowly ahead.

Second Half

With three changes made during the break, City came out of the blocks in the second half immediately looking for an equaliser. Liam Oakes battled hard to win the ball in the Cheltenham defensive third before driving forward and getting a shot off, though Day was able to make a routine stop. Edwards followed suit minutes later and won the ball high up the pitch, likewise though his effort was well read by Day.

Ten minutes into the half, second half substitute Josh Gordon found himself in a dangerous area and produced a fine curling effort into the corner of the Robins goal, however a raised flag from the linesman soon quelled the celebrations.

Charlie Cummins, who likewise came onto the field at the start of the second half, got a shooting chance of his own with 20 minutes left. The Irishman picked his corner but was unable to steer the ball on target and saw his effort drift wide of the post.

The unrelenting pressure on the Robins’ goal finally told with just under 15 minutes left to play. Ethan Sutherland found himself possessing a promising position on the wing before a cross into the box met the head of Gordon, who confidently headed home to level the affair.

With five minutes left on the clock, Cummins met a well-placed cross inside the penalty area and made the sweetest of contact to strike home and put the Grecians ahead. As the clock ticked down, Sutherland was shown the red card for a challenge on a Cheltenham player meaning that the Grecians would have to survive with ten men.

With the hosts pouncing on a vulnerability such as this, pressure told with the giving of a penalty in their favour. Miller confidently poked home to level the affair with seconds left on the clock, resulting in a penalty shootout to decide the additional point in the affair. Four well taken penalties from the Robins got the better of the Grecians and walked away with one extra point.