📝 Match Preview: Cheltenham Town (A)

City return to EFL Trophy action

5 October 2021

Exeter City continue their Papa John's Trophy campaign with a trip to League One Cheltenham Town.

The Grecians picked up a point their opening fixture with Chelsea U21's after Matt Jay equalised in the last minute of normal time. The Blues took the bonus point on penalties. The Robins also fell to defeat on matchday one of the Papa John's Trophy with a 2-0 loss to Bristol Rovers.

City, likely to chop and change the squad after a battling draw against Walsall on Saturday, go into the game unbeaten in eight. In stark contrast Cheltenham are on a run of four consecutive defeats and will be looking to kick start their season on Tuesday night

Matt Taylor's Thoughts

"Some players need a good performance on Tuesday and it's another opportunity for them. We're resolute when e need to be, but other teams are dictating games so that my be a shape thing.

"I'll look to address that this week, and might try some new bits and pieces on Tuesday, as a free hit on how personnel react."

Josh Coley's Thoughts

The summer signing was a half time substitute in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Walsall and was pleased to finally make his maiden appearance in red and white.

"My last game was 29th May, so it felt amazing to be out there. It's always hard to come into a new team and not be able to play straight. I was just great," he said.

"The fans were obviously amazing, too. They went crazy after I made a great tackle so I can only imagine what it will be like when I score my first goal."

Coley has the opportunity to pick up more minutes in Tuesday's match, and he is hoping to impress the manager, who was forced to wait to see his new signing in action.

"We go into every game wanting to win and a lot of the boys will be using this game to showcase what we're about. It's an opportunity for myself and a few others to give the manager something to think about."

Hear more from Josh 👇

Tickets and Travel

The prices are as follows:

Adult - £5
Concession (65+/Student) - £3
Under 18 - £1

To purchase tickets, which must be done directly from Cheltenham, please click here.

Prices increase by £1 on the day. They will be physical tickets, but available for collection on the day, (or post if purchased before Thursday.)

Away fans will be unallocated seating in Block 7 of the Colin Farmer Stand. Entrance is through the turnstiles on the corner of Whaddon Road and Wymans Road.

There will be no Grecian Travel for this fixture.

Cheltenham Town are currently asking all supporters to comply with the following rules and regulations:

Use hand sanitizer stations at ground
Maintain social distance from others not in your group as far as possible
Wear facemasks when entering via turnstiles, indoor concourses/refreshment areas, when leaving the ground and any crowded areas (apply personal preference to remove whilst seated)
Follow stewards instructions and any social distancing signage when moving around, exiting the stadium and using toilet facilities etc.
Consider taking a lateral flow test on day of game
Don’t attend if you have symptoms or told to self-isolate
Listen for any Covid 19 related PA announcements.

By Car:

Jonny-Rocks Stadium, Whaddon Road, Cheltenham, GL52 5NA

Leave the M5 at Junction 11 turning right towards Cheltenham. Go across 1st roundabout - GCHQ is on your left. Turn left at the next roundabout, into Princess Elizabeth Way. Go straight over the next roundabout, (the exit is over at about "1 o'clock"). Keep on up this road, and you will come to a big roundabout, where you will see a McDonalds on the corner. Go straight across this roundabout and continue up this road going over a double mini roundabout.

Keep going for about 300 yards and then turn right into Swindon Lane. Go over the level crossing and straight over the next roundabout (signposted Prestbury) passing the race course on your left. Turn right into Albert Road (signposted Gloucestershire University) and at the bottom at the roundabout turn left into Prestbury Road, (the ground is signposted from here) and then further down Prestbury Road, turn right into Whaddon Road. The Jonny-Rocks Stadium is down on the left.

By Train:

The nearest train station to the Jonny-Rocks Stadium is Cheltenham Spa, which is on the Crosscountry mainline toward Birmingham New Street and the North. Services run approximately every half an hour from Exeter St Davids.

To get to the town centre from Cheltenham Spa railway station you can either walk (approximately 20 minutes), get the Stagecoach D bus (departs every 10 minutes during peak times) or get a taxi (there is a taxi rank at the station).

How to Follow

If you can't make it to Gloucestershire on Tuesday night you can still follow the game live on our social media, as well as live of iFollow for just £10, with commentary coming from the Cheltenham Town's feed.

After the match we will bring you reaction from manager Matt Taylor and a player.

Click here to purchase.

Exeter City on social media

One To Watch

Liam Sercombe

Another ‘one of our own’ who has flown the nest and continues to shine, Liam Sercombe is very much a fan favourite at both St James Park and now Whaddon Road. Sercs signed for the Robins after being released from Bristol Rovers in the summer of 2020.

Sercombe began his career at City and was an influential part of the Exeter midfield under Tisdale and helped secure back-to-back promotions in 2008 and 09.

In his time at City, Sercombe scored 23 goals including a wonder strike against next month’s FA Cup opposition Sheffield Wednesday and a couple of memorable derby day goals against Plymouth Argyle.

He flourished at Oxford before his move to Rovers in 2017 for a six-figure sum, then teamed up with Michael Duff in the summer. Sercombe has already pierced the hearts of Exeter City fans this season, putting in a fine man of the match performance against the Grecians back in December 2020, scoring twice.

Cheltenham's last Papa John's Trophy fixture.

Bristol Rovers 2 Cheltenham Town 0 | Memorial Stadium | August 31 2021

Previous Encounter

Exeter City 0 Cheltenham Town 1 | Sky Bet League Two | St James Park | March 14 2021

Match Reports

📝 Match Report: Cheltenham Town 2 Exeter City 2*: Papa John's Trophy

*Exeter City win 3-2 on penalties to take the bonus point.

5 October 2021

Harry Lee’s heroics in a penalty shoot-out earned Exeter City a bonus point against League One Cheltenham Town in the Papa John’s Trophy.

Lee made two brilliant saves after Pierce Sweeney, Jake Caprice and Harry Kite were on target for the Grecians.

In normal time, Colin Daniel netted on his City debut with a thumping header in the first half, before Town equalised through Ellis Chapman.

Archie Collins restored the Grecians lead instantaneously before a second half strike from Felix Miles sent the game to penalties.

Matt Taylor handed full debuts to Josh Coley and Collin Daniel as the gaffer made wholesale changes from Saturday’s draw with Walsall. Archie Collins also started his first game after a couple of cameo appearences so far.

Owura Edwards almost gave City the best start possible. Podge Amond delivered a sumptuous cross just a minute into the game. The unmarked Edwards diverted over from close range.

The positive start continued. The early Cheltenham nerves almost gifted City a City goal and Amond pounced upon a loose back pass, but couldn’t quite beat Owen Evans at his near post.

In the spell City capitalised. Owura Edwards forced a corner on the left-hand side. The Grecians took it short to Callum Rowe who delivered a pinpoint cross onto the head of Colin Daniel who thumped home with his head.

Kyle Vassell carved the League One side’s first chance of the evening. Jake Caprice flumped a high ball into the Gloucestershire sky. Vassell expertly brought it down, shrugged off Pierce Sweeney put struck over with his left-foot.

Edwards was getting a lot of joy down the left in the first half hour and floated a ball precariously into the Cheltenham box. The Robins keeper looked nervous as he tipped it over.

In a rare foray forward, the Robins stung Harry Lee’s hands as Christian Norton’s snapshot was fired in. Sweeney was on hand to pick up the pieces.

Despite City’s dominance of the half, Town were level on 37 minutes. Chris Hussey swept in a free-kick. Jonathan Grounds could only half-clear to Ellis Chapman who fired the ball beyond Harry Lee.

Parity was pointless for the Robins. From the restart City sent a long ball forward. The Cheltenham defender couldn’t sort his feet out and Archie Collins nicked the ball on the edge of the home side’s area and calmy slotted past Evans to restore the Grecians’ lead.

Josh Coley almost bagged a beauty as his he clattered the post from all but 40-yards. Cheltenham themselves were far from out the game as Lee was called into action again, claiming Norton’s low effort.

On 49 minutes, Matt Taylor gave the travelling City fans a moment to remember. Sonny Cox was introduced for his Exeter City first team debut at just 16. Another ‘One of our Own’ given his chance to shine in a senior City shirt.

In action Cheltenham hit the side netting as they came out from the break searching for an equaliser. Elliot Bonds soon fired over as the home side grew in confidence.

The game began to look like it was losing its momentum, but Cheltenham’s Felix Miles scored Town’s second equaliser of the evening out of nothing. Miles plucked the ball from the sky and fired home.

Dan Crowley then bent wide as the League One side became the hungrier of the two teams. Vassell also went for goal from range but suffered the same outcome.

Vassell went close again with 12 minutes to play but Alfie Pond scrambled across to prevent the effort. From the resulting corner, Norton somehow turned the ball wide from a yard out.

Cox had City’s best chance of a drab second half. Grounds made a surge down the left and delivered to the youngster to head over. That was how it stayed until full time and for the second EFL Trophy game in a row, the bonus point was to be decided on penalties.

Chelt Lee.jpg

Amond skied the first penalty for Exeter before Norton took the advantage for the Robins.

Sweeney showed his composure rolling into the corner before Chris Hussey nonchalantly sent Lee the wrong way.

Cox was denied by a good save from Evans as Town looked destined for the bonus point. That was until Harry Lee made a brilliant save down to his right to keep City somewhat in the game.

Jake Caprice found the net with his penalty and Elliot Bond put straight into the hands of Lee to level the scores.

Harry Kite made it match point City… and Vassell blazed wide as City took the extra point!

The games continue thick and fast, as Exeter travel to Stevenage on Saturday to try and make in ten unbeaten...

Cheltenham Town: Evans, Horton, Armitage, Freestone, Hussey, Barkers, Bonds, Crowley, Chapman (Miles 62’), Vassell, Norton

Subs: Flinders, Williams, Ebanks, Hunt, Taylor, Jakeways

Exeter City: Lee, Caprice, Grounds, Daniel, Rowe, Atangana, Collins (Cox 49’), Coley (Kite 62’), Amond, Edwards (Pond 72’)

Subs: S.Brown, Jay, J. Brown

Referee: Craig Hicks

Attendance: 987 (103 away)

Ticket News

🎟 Ticket News: Cheltenham Town (A)

Papa John's Trophy trip ticket details

3 October 2021

Ticket details have been confirmed for our trip to Cheltenham Town in the Papa John's Trophy group stage on Tuesday October 5, 7pm.