Cheltenham Preview
By: Richard Hubbert
Date: 27/01/2005
AFTER the disappointing home defeat to Lincoln last Saturday, Town will be hoping not to lose more ground to the chasing pack when they travel to John Ward’s Cheltenham, who are just two points ahead of the Mariners.
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Home > 2004-2005 Season > Previews > Cheltenham (a) |
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The Opposition | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Since taking over in November 2003, John Ward (left) has made steady progress with the Robins. A difficult start to the season, Cheltenham have improved in recent months, but like Town, are lacking that consistency needed to make them serious play off contenders. For example, a few weeks ago they recorded a good win against Rushden with a few valuable draws at Bristol Rovers and Wycombe, but lost at home to Notts County. However, this will need to change if the Robins are to beat their 14th place finish last season.
A near ever-present in the Cheltenham defence this season has been Brian Wilson (not of Beach Boys fame, surprisingly) who is a young 21-year-old who was signed for £50,000 in March last year. Jamie Victory is a long-serving defender who was part of the team that saw the Robins promoted to the league under Steve Cotterill. With over 200 appearances to his name, Victory is due a testimonial next year, despite being 29 years old. JJ Meligan (with perhaps one of the coolest names in football) will play in their central midfield. Melligan started his career at Wolves but had loan spells with Kidderminster, Bournemouth and Doncaster before a £25,000 move to the Robins last July. Stephen Gillespie signed a loan deal from Bristol City earlier this month and in two starts for the club has netted two goals. The 19-year-old has worked well with the experienced Steve Guinan who has 5 goals this season. Guinan was brought in from Hereford in the summer and had played for the likes of Forest, Crewe, Plymouth, Scunthorpe and Halifax.
Martin Devaney (left). Right midfielder who made his Robins debut in 1999. He scored a goal in the 3rd Division play off final to earn Cheltenham promotion in 2001-2002 and has been a firm fans favourite since. Always pops up with a goal or two, Devaney is one of a whole hoard of Robins players with five goals this season.
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Last Meeting | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Town did what they have done so many times this season in their last meeting with Cheltenham on another Friday night last September. That is, take a lead tear the opposition apart but get only one goal and concede a late goal. Thomas Pinault missed a penalty in only the second minute until 14 minutes later when Andy Parkinson netted for Town. The Mariners looked to be heading to three points until five minutes from time when Damian Spencer netted for the Robins.
Grimsby Team: Williams, Whittle, Forbes, Gordon, McDermott, Pinault, Fleming, Crowe, Sestanovich, Reddy, Parkinson
Cheltenham Team: Higgs, Gill, Duff, Brough, Victory, Wilson (Caines, 81), Finnigan, Bird, McCann, Vincent, Guinan (Spencer, 65) Attendance: 6,133 Report
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Click on the link for directions to Whaddon Road (left).
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Since taking over in November 2003, John Ward (left) has made steady progress with the Robins. A difficult start to the season, Cheltenham have improved in recent months, but like Town, are lacking that consistency needed to make them serious play off contenders. For example, a few weeks ago they recorded a good win against Rushden with a few valuable draws at Bristol Rovers and Wycombe, but lost at home to Notts County. However, this will need to change if the Robins are to beat their 14th place finish last season.
A near ever-present in the Cheltenham defence this season has been Brian Wilson (not of Beach Boys fame, surprisingly) who is a young 21-year-old who was signed for £50,000 in March last year. Jamie Victory is a long-serving defender who was part of the team that saw the Robins promoted to the league under Steve Cotterill. With over 200 appearances to his name, Victory is due a testimonial next year, despite being 29 years old. JJ Meligan (with perhaps one of the coolest names in football) will play in their central midfield. Melligan started his career at Wolves but had loan spells with Kidderminster, Bournemouth and Doncaster before a £25,000 move to the Robins last July. Stephen Gillespie signed a loan deal from Bristol City earlier this month and in two starts for the club has netted two goals. The 19-year-old has worked well with the experienced Steve Guinan who has 5 goals this season. Guinan was brought in from Hereford in the summer and had played for the likes of Forest, Crewe, Plymouth, Scunthorpe and Halifax.
Martin Devaney (left). Right midfielder who made his Robins debut in 1999. He scored a goal in the 3rd Division play off final to earn Cheltenham promotion in 2001-2002 and has been a firm fans favourite since. Always pops up with a goal or two, Devaney is one of a whole hoard of Robins players with five goals this season.
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