Saturday saw Cheltenham Town score three goals in a league match for the first time in the 2022/23 season as they travelled to Peterborough United and left with all three points after a convincing 3-0 win.
A brace of the highest order from Alfie May, including a volley from the half way line followed Tom Bradbury’s first goal for the Robins.
The win leaves Town on 40 points and sat in 16th in League One, with Saturday’s victory being the biggest scalp since the 1-0 win at home to Bolton Wanderers in October.
Head Coach Wade Elliott was clearly in a positive mood after the win, praising his sides’ performance as their best in the campaign.
“Over the 90 minutes probably (the best performance), there are a lot of aspects that are really pleasing,” began Elliott.
“A good performance, defensively really solid, we played some really good football on transitions. I said to the players this week its probably an opportunity to show from the start of the season to now where we have come from.
“I have said all along, it is a young group, it is a process, I believe that we are improving, and getting better. We were 2-0 up against them in the home game at half time, and we didn’t manage the game as well as we did today. I think it is an indication of the growth we have showed over seven/eight months.”
The first half was a carbon copy of the opening day of the league season, when the Robins held a 2-0 lead at half time after a Frankie Kent own goal and Alife May’s strike. On that afternoon in late July the Posh came back to win 3-2, and Elliott was well aware of the fixture’s history.
“I didn’t want to mention it and put a negative thought in their head,” continued Elliott.
“You have enough trust in them, but they are not silly, one or two of them realised it was the same scenario. There are lot of positives. We have scored off a set play, we kept a clean sheet. It was a really good away performance.”
“We know we haven’t got as many league appearances as some other clubs but I do believe they are growing and getting better and the one thing I’ve been telling you all along is to never doubt their character and spirit.”
The plaudits will mainly go towards forward May, but Elliott was quick to point out the performance at both ends, giving credit to the afternoon’s other scorer, Bradbury.
“I am pleased for Tom. He has had to be really patient, and he has done the right things day in day out. We always say hard work pays you back.
“I don’t think he will take the headlines away from Alfie, but everyone in the dressing room realizes how hard he has worked to get to that point, and its not just the goal, he’s kept two clean sheets now and performed well in games.”
With his spectacular brace, May has taken his league tally to 50 goals for Cheltenham Town, a milestone that is added to him becoming the clubs record goal scorer in the EFL earlier this season.
“He is a special player and the two goals are top draw,” said Elliott on his marksman.
“But if you talk about him being the talisman of the club, -you never take goals like that for granted- but I thought his work rate epitomises the collective effort. I always say he is at his best when he plays with that enthusiasm, and that spark transmits to everybody.”
His first goal after 20 minutes will be remembered by everyone that was at the Western Homes Stadium on the weekend. Having flicked the ball over the head of a defender, before volleying the ball into the net from 50 yards out.
“It was a hell of a finish, even the touch to set it up, not just the finish, the touch to set it up is top draw. I was watching it bounce and I was worried it would bounce (out), but it would have been a travesty if it had bounced any other way. The second one was a great finish. I felt that we derived it, I felt that it was well earned. You know that they are going to chuck everything at you, but we have managed it, dealt with it and when we got our moments, we were clinical.
In the week he was called up for Northern Ireland squad for the upcoming international break, Robins ‘keeper Luke Southwood was able to keep his third consecutive clean sheet, taking his tally to 14 for the season.
Despite facing one of the best attacks in the league, Southwood faced limited opportunities with Elliott proud of his defensive coordination.
“What he had to do he dealt well, a few crosses in the box he dealt with really well. But from 1-11 whoever is on the pitch in front of him. The shape was really good. We obviously had a plan, I thought we were aggressive the way we went after them, we stuck with it really well, and when we had to defend, people put bodies on the line.
It has been a mixed bagged of results in the last month, having lost the previous three matches before picking up seven points from their last three matches. Elliott has been steadfast this season in his team’s approach during the campaign.
“I think that’s how we want to be, I know it’s the case for whatever reason it doesn’t work, I think generally we have set up to be on the front foot and get after teams. We have to be bold and be brave, cause one thing we have got is that we have got good legs, good energy so it suits us to go after teams”
The three points earned move the Robins onto 40 points for the season, but the side is not resting on their laurels, but are thankful to come out of a tough part of the calendar with a seven-point gap to the relegation zone.
In the last seven days has seen Cheltenham pick up seven points, with victories against Fleetwood Town and Peterborough United, and a midweek draw at home to Lincoln City.
“We played some good teams in that run as well, we played some good teams, you know the way we play, we do try and play full tilt, and sometimes when you don’t get it right it can be a big fall. We have been caught going after one or two good teams and we have been punished, but I think people would rather see us having a go wouldn’t they? Every now and again it may be a tough one to take but on the flip side of it, you get days like today.”
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