Cheltenham Town FC

Two late goals by Rob Dickie and Dan Holman means that the title is now well within the grasp of Gary Johnson and his side.

Guiseley are the division's draw specialists, with 16 to their name, and at one point it looked like it could be a frustrating afternoon of missed chances.

But when it counted, they delivered, and if they match Forest Green Rovers' result next weekend then the Championship is heading up Whaddon Road.

There were a handful of decent chances before the interval, the lion's share falling to Dan Holman.

But Johnson sent out his side for the second half without Jack Munns and Amari Morgan-Smith, instead pressing Asa Hall and Billy Waters into action and it paid dividends inside the final 10 minutes.

Dickie headed home his first league goal since his injury lay-off, while Holman put the seal on victory with his 12th goal in 15 games, and his 26th this term.

The only blot on the afternoon was the dismissal of Harry Pell, sent off for two bookings and the midfielder will now miss the Halifax match at the World of Smile Stadium next weekend.

Danny Wright missed his first league match of the season through suspension, charged in midweek by the FA for the incident with Grimsby Town goalkeeper James McKeown during last weekend’s 3-1 win.

Morgan-Smith had come into the attack to partner Holman for the first time, while Jack Barthram replaced James Dayton, who dropped to the bench.

The first two of Holman’s chances arrived in the opening 15 minutes of the game, but the striker dragged both of them a foot wide of the left upright.

Dan Parslow met a Jack Munns’ corner with a bullet header, but it flew a foot over.

Steven French, the Lions’ goalkeeper, was then called into a couple of saves as the first half drew to a close, both to prevent Holman.

The first was a flying stop to deny the striker from distance, and dropped down well to block his angled drive a few moments later. Morgan-Smith couldn’t get the loose ball out from under his legs to poke home from close range.

Johnson’s double switch injected some urgency into his side, and Hall headed narrowly over early on.

Holman drew a foul after a typically rangey run by Pell down the middle, and boss Johnson did not hesitate at that moment to send on Dayton from the bench (in place of Barthram).

The winger had scored two wonderful free-kicks in the previous two games against Wrexham and Grimsby, but this time Drench dived to his left to turn it around for a corner.

At the other end Dan Parslow, who was excellent throughout, bravely blocked a ferocious strike by Oliver Norwood. 

Waters curled one over the angle of the goal after cutting in from the left.

And he went much closer a few moments, smacking the left post with an effort from the angle.

It span out to the right, and was delivered back to the far post by Dayton where Pell headed against virtually the same spot before it was scrambled away by the home side.

And the pressure told 10 minutes from, when the Robins attacked down the right through Dickie who was hauled down. 

Kyle Storer supplied the inch-perfect delivery and the Reading loanee’s bullet header left Drench with no chance to send the away support into raptures behind the goal.

Then Holman put the seal on victory, riding a couple of challenges before beating Drench from 16 yards.

GUISELEY (4-5-1): Drench; Toulson, Atkinson, Parker (c), Lowe; Hurst, Hatfield, Lawlor, Norbury, Rotary; Sinclair (Boyes 12). Subs not used: Craddock, Atkinson, Johnson, Dudley.

CHELTENHAM TOWN (4-4-2): Flatt; Dickie, Parlsow, Burgess, McLennan; Barthram, Pell, Storer (c), Munns (Hall 46); Morgan-Smith (Waters 46), Holman. Subs not useD: Kitscha (Gk), Rowe, Dayton.

REFEREE: O Yates

ATTENDANCE: 1,058