Cheltenham Town 2 - 2 Northampton Town

Saturday 5th December, Football League 2


Cheltenham Town made a spirited contribution to the season of good will with some excellent slap-stick defending. Having gone in at half-time with two scrappy goals from Barry Hayles under their belts they quickly let Akinfenwa get his second. A long kick from the slightly dodgy Dunn was helped in past the advancing Brown and a variety of pantomime characters who were ineffectually throwing themselves around like policemen from Aladdin.

Akinfenwa was an excellent dame - buxom and wiley - who only exerted himself when in his interests. He must have made a calculation about how much of an unhealthy lifestyle he can enjoy whilst still keeping a couple of League Two centre backs busy and earning a crust. So far so good and given half a chance he would have done for Cheltenham this afternoon. He looked like a man who could steal a hat-trick.

At least Cheltenham had some idea of the script - everything directed at Alsop who held it up or nodded it on - for Richards or Hayles to make use of. Hayles got in the right place a few more times than he had been doing recently and Richards persisted. But neither goal keeper had much to do and as the afternoon wore on a draw seemed more acceptable.

Pipe & Eastham were having their debutes and did ok whilst Marshall gave a couple of glimpses of his class. Theo Lewis was a bit of a shrinking violet (perhaps he is saving himself for greater things?) Low can be useful but shirks at 50=50 situations which too frequently renders them 40-60. Gallinagh is a worker as is Bird but the team is lacking in inspiration; except for Alsop who makes a good Buttons.

CHELTENHAM TOWN: S Brown; D Pipe, A Gallinagh, A Eastham, J Low; B Marshall, D Bird, T Lewis, B Hayles (M Watkins 89); J Alsop, J Richards. Subs not used: D Diallo, M Pook, D Hutton, E Hammond, K Haynes, B Richardson.

NORTHAMPTON TOWN: C Dunn; J Johnson, C Hinton, D Swailes (D Beckwith 63), P Gilbert; B McKay (P Rodgers 46), R Gilligan, J Curtis, A Holt; A Akinfenwa, C Herbert (S Guinan 88). Subs not used: A Dyer, M Jacobs, S Brown, P Kanyuka.

REFEREE: K G Evans.

ATTENDANCE: 2,824 (244 from Northampton).