Full Time: Robins 1, Aldershot 1
Cheltenham Town have drawn 1-1 at home this afternoon against Aldershot Town.
Aldershot's Danny Rose gave them the lead in the first half, but Cheltenham rallied in the second period with constant pressure and Paul Benson's looping header secured a share of the spoils.
Mark Yates named an unchanged starting eleven from his Cheltenham team who beat Southend United 2-1 last week. Darren Carter returned to the bench in replacement of Billy Jones who was out through illness. Paul Benson, who hobbled off with a dead leg against Southend, started alongside Byron Harrison, who made his first home start since joining from AFC Wimbledon. Luke McCullough made his first appearance for the Robins when he came on to replace Steve Elliott just before half time.
There were solid starts by both sides and Aldershot were determined to keep the ball in the Robins half. Striker Danny Hylton showed some nice flicks early on but the home fans nearly had a goal to cheer about by loanee Michael Hector. A Marlon Pack corner in the seventh minute wasn't cleared by the Shots and defender Hector showed quick feet to create himself space, before unleashing a great effort on goal with his left foot from the edge of the box, but only the cross bar denied him.
Five minutes later and Keith Lowe drove a free kick just wide of Jamie Young's right hand post with the keeper, in his distinguishable fluorescent green kit, scrambling across and he would have breathed a huge sigh of relief to see it go wide. Against the run of play though the away side took the lead. Jeff Goulding, on his Aldershot debut, playing his part in the build up. The striker helped the ball on following a cross from the right and he found Peter Vincenti, whose ball back across the penalty area was stabbed in by Danny Rose after 24 minutes.
The referee Keith Hill was certainly being kept busy as Aldershot got stuck in, trying to unsettle the home side and this was certainly having some effect. With the half nearing its end, Goulding chased a ball into the box and Elliott cleared but the ball fell to Cadogan who volleyed a dipping shot over the bar. Shortly after Goulding then scuffed a shot horribly wide when one-on-one with Scott Brown, much to the home fans' delight.
Aldershot's Danny Rose gave them the lead in the first half, but Cheltenham rallied in the second period with constant pressure and Paul Benson's looping header secured a share of the spoils.
Mark Yates named an unchanged starting eleven from his Cheltenham team who beat Southend United 2-1 last week. Darren Carter returned to the bench in replacement of Billy Jones who was out through illness. Paul Benson, who hobbled off with a dead leg against Southend, started alongside Byron Harrison, who made his first home start since joining from AFC Wimbledon. Luke McCullough made his first appearance for the Robins when he came on to replace Steve Elliott just before half time.
There were solid starts by both sides and Aldershot were determined to keep the ball in the Robins half. Striker Danny Hylton showed some nice flicks early on but the home fans nearly had a goal to cheer about by loanee Michael Hector. A Marlon Pack corner in the seventh minute wasn't cleared by the Shots and defender Hector showed quick feet to create himself space, before unleashing a great effort on goal with his left foot from the edge of the box, but only the cross bar denied him.
Five minutes later and Keith Lowe drove a free kick just wide of Jamie Young's right hand post with the keeper, in his distinguishable fluorescent green kit, scrambling across and he would have breathed a huge sigh of relief to see it go wide. Against the run of play though the away side took the lead. Jeff Goulding, on his Aldershot debut, playing his part in the build up. The striker helped the ball on following a cross from the right and he found Peter Vincenti, whose ball back across the penalty area was stabbed in by Danny Rose after 24 minutes.
The referee Keith Hill was certainly being kept busy as Aldershot got stuck in, trying to unsettle the home side and this was certainly having some effect. With the half nearing its end, Goulding chased a ball into the box and Elliott cleared but the ball fell to Cadogan who volleyed a dipping shot over the bar. Shortly after Goulding then scuffed a shot horribly wide when one-on-one with Scott Brown, much to the home fans' delight.
Half Time: Cheltenham Town 0-1 Aldershot Town
Kaid Mohamed was brought on at half time to give Yates' side a more attacking threat and they were certainly fired up for the second period. Marlon Pack scooped over the bar from eight yards four minutes in after Keith Lowe's low cross. They were looking lively but were being frustrated by an organized Aldershot defence and for a while were lacking in ideas in the final third.
Mohamed was warming into the game and just after an hour of play, he picked the ball up mid-way inside the Shots' half and ran towards goal but saw his low shot finely tipped wide by Young as Cheltenham went looking for an equaliser, and it soon came. A long throw into the box by Lowe was flicked on by Jombati towards the head of Benson and his looping header dropped over Young, much to the delight of 2849 home supporters.
Shortly after and Aldershot's Anthony Tonkin saw his marching orders with a second yellow card for a foul on McGlashan, and this only enabled Cheltenham to continue controlling the game.
Shaun Harrad, coming on to replace Harrison, showed nice close control and skill to get past Troy Brown and his shot went beyond Young and the far post. McGlashan, against his former side, was starting to find more space as the game went on and after turning his marker, darted towards the touchline. His pacy cross was feebly punched by Young but cleared again with Mohamed lurking in the box.
Aldershot had nothing to offer in the second half at all and despite all of Cheltenham's constant pressure, the Robins were unable to find a winning goal against an Aldershot side battling to stay in the Football League.
Full Time: Cheltenham Town 1-1 Aldershot Town
Cheltenham Town FC (4-4-2): Brown (GK); Lowe, Elliott (McCullough 45+1), Hector, Jombati; McGlashan, Taylor, Pack, Penn (Mohamed 46); Harrison (Harrad 63), Benson.
Subs not used: Roberts (GK), Carter, Deering, Duffy.
Aldershot Town FC (4-4-2): Young (GK); Herd, Bradley, Brown, Tonkin; Ainsworth (Cadogan 37, Morris 76), Risser, Rose, Vincenti; Hylton (Hall 60), Goulding.
Subs not used: Morris (GK), McNamee, Mekki, Forbes.
Referee: Keith Hill
Attendance: 3119 (270 from Aldershot)
Robins' Star Man: Jermaine McGlashan