Comedy had ensued before the game when the Cheltenham mascot, Whadney the Wobin, threw sweets into the crowd and received an old burger in return on the head.
The average height of the Cheltenham side seemed to be around seven foot from my viewpoint on the terrace, though I'm sure it wasnt. They were a big side but havent we the players to pass around this type of player?
It looked like one of those games when we couldn't seem to make a break and the run of the ball just didn't seem to be favouring us. We were virtually back at a first choice team, only Carruthers and Dawson missing, one on the bench and one on a two match ban.
The referee was letting allsorts go, possibly under the advantage rule and the crowd were getting quite impatient with him. Cheltenham looked dangerous on the break, but we seemed in no danger, it was only matter of tiring their defenders out and the breaks would come.
Beagrie saw a shot saved well and we seemed to be getting through the stubborn Cheltenham rearguard. Then a calamity, we all thought that the linesman had flagged for offside, but Cheltenham played to the whistle and Alsop headed the easiest goal of his career from four yds, then proceeded to taunt both the terrace and the seats on his way back to the restart.
Very disappointing, though had we played to the whistle the chance would not have presented itself. We had had all the game yet were 1-0 down to a physical side, who kicked lumps out of us, when given the opportunity.
We emerged after the break looking confident and were straight on the ball. Cheltenham weren't getting a look in and were on the back foot for long periods, Sparrow and Beagrie being tormetors in chief.
Jeffrey hit the post, swiftly followed by Torpey missing a chance and substitutions were the order of the day.
Carruthers for Ridley seemed the obvious one, yet it was Jeffrey who was withdrawn for Carruthers to the surprise and frustration of the crowd.
Players were falling over now, for no apparent reason and Alsop seemed to be involved with everything.
Then the second goal came, out of the sole period of Cheltenham pressure in the second half.
We seemed dead and buried but back we came, Alex converting ball and defence into the net and then scoring again, only to be ruled out for offside.
We had had all the second half. only to be denied at the death by an iffy decision from a poor set of officials. Never mind, we lost to Swansea before beating them in the playoffs didn't we?
Jeffrey hit the post, swiftly followed by Torpey missing a chance and substitutions were the order of the day.
Carruthers for Ridley seemed the obvious one, yet it was Jeffrey who was withdrawn for Carruthers to the surprise and frustration of the crowd.
Players were falling over now, for no apparent reason and Alsop seemed to be involved with everything.
Then the second goal came, out of the sole period of Cheltenham pressure in the second half.
We seemed dead and buried but back we came, Alex converting ball and defence into the net and then scoring again, only to be ruled out for offside.
We had had all the second half. only to be denied at the death by an iffy decision from a poor set of officials. Never mind, we lost to Swansea before beating them in the playoffs didn't we?
This makes next week all the more important, as Rushden had a good win today, but third spot for us looks a long way off and probably out of reach.
Good luck to Cheltenham, they'll need it if they approach Division two with the mindset they currently employ.
Good luck to Cheltenham, they'll need it if they approach Division two with the mindset they currently employ.