Cheltenham Town FC

Carlisle United 1-1 Cheltenham Town

Cheltenham Town drew 1-1 with Carlisle in an exciting match to remain unbeaten since they returned to the English Football League.

Although The Cumbrians arguably had the better of the first half the sides went in level at the break.

The Robins came out fighting in the second half, though, and took the lead thanks to a goal from Harry Pell.

With just a minute left substitute Jason Kennedy scored the equaliser to give the teams a share of the spoils at Brunton Park.

Cheltenham carved out the first chance after four minutes as a ball forward to Danny Wright enabled the front man to lay it off to Billy Waters, but his shot from distance went high and wide.

On the 10 minute mark Mike Jones made a surging run forward and put in a dangerous cross towards the head of Charlie Wyke, but his attempt was straight at Russell Griffiths.

A minute later, Griffiths was forced into making another save as he pushed Danny Grainger’s long-range shot onto the crossbar in a dominant start for The Cumbrians.

After 26 minutes Jack Barthram picked up the ball on the right hand side and whipped a dangerous cross into Waters, but his header whistled just past the far post in a rare chance for The Robins.

Carlisle were then an inch away from taking the lead on the half hour mark as Grainger lined a free kick up on the edge of the box, but his curling shot went agonisingly wide.

With just 10 minutes to go until half time United hit the woodwork again as Shaun Miller tried his luck from the edge of the box, but was denied only by a lick of paint.

Five minutes after the break a quick counter attack from Cheltenham saw Jordan Cranston release Dan Whitehead down the left, but his cross was just in front of the oncoming James Dayton.

In the 57th minute another quick break gave Cheltenham the lead as Dayton ran half the pitch and played in Harry Pell, who slotted the ball into the bottom right corner.

Despite heavy pressure from Carlisle, it was Cheltenham who created the next clear-cut chance with just 15 minutes to go as Pell had a powerful free kick well saved by Mark Gillespie.

In the 81st minute Cranston gave away a free kick on the edge of the box, but Gillespie was unable to do anything other than hit it high and wide.

Carlisle equalised through substitute Kennedy late on to send The Robins back to The South West with no more than a point.

Carlisle United Line-Up: M Gillespie (C), D Granger, M Raynes, M Ellis (J Kennedy, 73), T Miller, L Joyce, M Jones, N Adams, R Lambe (J Devitt, 58), C Wyke, S Miller (J Ibehre, 59).

Unused Subs: M Crocombe, D Atkinson, M Gillesphey, R Penn.

Cheltenham Town Line-Up: R Griffiths, J Cranston, D Parslow (C), D O’Shaughnessy, E Suliman, A Hall, D Whitehead, H Pell (J Rowe, 88), J Barthram (J Dayton, 45), B Waters, D Wright.

Unused Subs: C Kitscha, J Jennings, J Lymn.