League Two side Cheltenham Town travelled up north to face League One outfit Rotherham in the first round of the FA Cup on Saturday, November 2. Cheltenham headed into the game unbeaten in four matches prior to the match-up which was a stark contrast to the home side, who had only managed one win in their previous four fixtures.
The Robins kept up their excellent run with a convincing 3-1 win away from home against a side in the league above them. Joel Colwill opened the scoring as he finished off a clever corner taken by Luke Young but it only took Rotherham one minute to respond through Mallik Wilks who glided past two Cheltenham defenders before slotting it through the legs of an oncoming Joe Day.
Cheltenham managed to nick a goal on the stroke of half time and it was the Cardiff City loanee Colwill once again. The Welshman powered a header past Rotherham keeper Cameron Dawson after a peach of a cross from Lewis Payne. The Robins added a third in the 58th minute through Ethon Archer who picked the ball up about 45 yards out before dancing through the Rotherham defence and producing an excellent left-footed finish into the bottom corner.
Credit: Nizaam Jones
Man of the match Colwill highlighted the importance of his sides win.
“It was a good day, to get through in the FA Cup – it’s such a big tournament so yeah, it’s [the win] massive”
The Welshman got a touch on a well-worked set piece that led to his first goal.
“We were working on them this week, Luke [Young] put a great ball in and I just tried to hit the target.”
The Cardiff City loanee was surprised by his headed goal.
“No, I don’t score many headers but it was a great ball from Payne – he put it on a plate really so I just got down and got a head to it.
I looked up and thought ‘this has got a chance’ and it ended up right in the corner, so yeah happy with that.”
Colwill was full of praise for his teammates.
“Everyone put a shift in, even the subs that came on. I think we’ve got a really good togetherness at the minute, we’re playing really well as a team and we’ve got to keep that going.”
The 20-year-old spoke about adapting to senior football.
“It’s my first loan, it is a much more intense game than academy football but I am really enjoying it.”
“All the boys are great, I’m enjoying playing football and I’m glad we’re winning games.”
Colwill has set himself targets for the season.
“I set a target for myself to get a certain amount of goals and assists and I think I’m on track for it so yeah I’m happy. Still got a bit to go though, it’s a long old season.”
