Cheltenham Town 1 Gillingham 2 – Too Early

My clipping from this morning's copy of The Sun

How often do we see it? Your team scores a very early goal and then eventually gets turned over in the dying stages.

This is what happened to the Robins on Sunday. To be fair to them though they didn’t sit on the lead and just try and shut Gillingham out and they could have sealed a win if Jeff Goulding’s volley hadn’t hit the post and bounced back into keeper Alan Julian’s hands.

And home keeper Scott Brown must have been as stunned as anyone after producing a string of great saves in the second half, but ultimately Gillingham showed the class they’ll need to end up in the play-off positions at the end of the season – or even snatch an automatic promotion spot.

Cheltenham reminded me of the team that opened the season. They knocked the ball about well and their movement was great.

Danny Andrew whipped in a third minute cross for skipper Steve Elliott to prod home from about four yards to open the scoring and the home side had much of the first half.

The Gills forced their way back into the game after the break though and Cody McDonald’s 86^th minute leveler was definitely deserved.

The striker – on loan from Norwich – nodded the ball against the woodwork, but was first to the rebound to head home his 21^st goal of the season.

The winner though was a little harsh on Cheltenham who deserved a share of the points.

Co-striker Adebayo Akinfenwa hooked the ball across the face of goal and McDonald had the easiest o headers to win the game in the 90^th minute.

While Gillingham have it all to play for now, Mark Yates now has the luxury of being able to plan for next season while the players have seven games to show they are worth keeping at the club.

I suspect that most of them will be. Of the players that started yesterday, Martin Riley and Frankie Artus are looking for new contracts while top scorer Wes Young has apparently indicated he will open contract negotiations at the end of the season.

I would expect Wes to move on and who can blame him? He’s done the business this season and presumably there will be bigger clubs ready to offer him a chance. As a professional he has every right to try and better himself and will probably leave with the best wishes of the Cheltenham faithful ringing in his ears.

It’s doubtful that Cody McDonald will be replacing him next season as Paul Lambert will have taken note of his efforts during his loan spell in Kent and probably has a squad number already assigned to him.

Adebayo Akinfenwa might be up for grabs though and most managers would give their right arms for someone like him. Forget the rotund figure, this fella can play and has a great football brain.

It’s the second time I’ve seen Akinfenwa play this season and he’s given both the Wycombe and Cheltenham defenders a torrid time.