Saturday’s 1-0 home win over Harry Pell’s Colchester United saw Cheltenham Town reclaim the top spot in League Two with three games to go.
It was a close affair with both sides sharing possession in the first half but with the home side seeing the majority of the shots on goal. It wasn’t until the 82nd minute that Connor Thomas found the net to out the home side 1-0 up and capitalise on Cambridge’s 1-0 defeat to Stevenage.
Here we’ve compiled the top five games so far this season which lead to today’s triumph and put Michael Duff’s side within one point of League One.
TRANMERE ROVERS 0-3 CHELTENHAM TOWN 19/9/20
In September Cheltenham travelled to Prenton Park to visit Tranmere Rovers who had been relegated from League One the previous season. The squad had the weight of the town’s high expectations on their shoulders following their own disappointing end to 2019/20, losing to Northampton in the play offs.
Promotion was the sole focus of the robins faithful but Duff’s side opened their league campaign with a 2-1 home defeat to the season’s surprise package Morecambe. Tranmere were the perfect test to kickstart the campaign against one of the league’s favourites.
First half goals from Charlie Raglan, Andy Williams and an own goal from Paul Lewis saw Town bring all three points back to Whaddon Road.
CHELTENHAM TOWN 2-1 FOREST GREEN ROVERS 31/10/20
A first win over Gloucestershire rivals Forest Green since 1998 saw Cheltenham climb into the top three for the first time this season, leapfrogging their noisy neighbours in the process.
The now infamous Ben Tozer long throw proved clinical at the Jonny Rocks Stadium as Will Boyle headed home in the eleventh minute. Sofas were rocking once more when Andy Williams capitalised on a defensive mix up to slot home a second in the 57th minute.
A second half penalty brought one back for Mark Coopers side wasn’t enough as Cheltenham climbed up the table, with Rovers having dropped down since.
CHELTENHAM TOWN 5-3 EXETER CITY 5/12/20
It was a special occasion as Whaddon Road saw the return of supporters or the visit of Exeter City in a second versus third crunch clash.
The home side put on a show with Liam Sercombe, Alfie May, Andy Williams and Will Boyle hitting the back of the net in a 5-3 humbling of promotion rival Exeter who had almost always enjoyed success from their trips to the Whaddon Road.
It was a rare chance for the fans to see in person and experience what is one of Cheltenham’s best ever sides. It was also a chance for the players to see what it meant to the fans and show what they could do to win their favour.
The Devon side have since fallen away but the robins have continued to climb for the perch.
CAMBRIDGE UNITED 0-1 CHELTENHAM TOWN 23/2/21
The red army marched upon the Abbey Stadium as they took the game to league leaders and title rivals Cambridge. It was an understandable tight affair, the two stand out teams of the season going head to head in a promotion six pointer.
Cheltenham went into the game on the back of a disappointing 2-0 loss to Bradford leaving them five points off top, sitting in third behind Cambridge and Forest Green. The importance of three points was clear to see.
The only goal of the game came from Sean Long, heading home an Alfie May cross to put an injury riddled Cheltenham side two points off top with two games in hand.
CHELTENHAM 4-0 TRANMERE ROVERS 2/4/21
The return of Will Boyle helped Cheltenham put on a real show for the Sky Sports cameras in another second versus third tie at Whaddon Road.
Three first half goals from Will Boyle, Connor Thomas and Matty Blair gave the home side a comfortable cushion going into the second half.
Callum Wright stepped up in 57th minute to volley home the clubs probable goal of the season to add a fourth and kill off any fight back that Rovers may have had and to keep Cheltenham in the race for the title.
The match also saw a resurgent Bolton Wanderers climb up into the top three.
Then came today's game against Colchester...
It’s a game that will live long in the memory in result only. A tight and cagey affair looked to be ending goalless until Connor Thomas tapped in from two yards to put the home side ahead on the 82nd minute.
The game had few moments of note, Harry Pell of course making his mark on the match with a first half challenge which saw him lucky to only receive a yellow.
The big news came elsewhere as Stevenage’s 1-0 win over Cambridge, who needed to win to secure promotion, meaning that the robins reached their perch with three games to go, with Cambridge only having two.
Promotion can be secured on Tuesday night with Carlisle United the guests at Whaddon Road, but Duff has made it clear that promotion is not the only target. A first ever League Two title in the sight of the fans and players alike, with supporters hoping we fare better than last seasons champions Swindon Town who were relegated today.
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