Cherries: Honours even as Robins rock the boat (From Thisisdorset)

Cherries: Honours even as Robins rock the boat

5:02pm Saturday 6th February 2010 in

By Neil Perrett »

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POLITE applause rather than a rapturous ovation greeted Eddie Howe’s half-century as his 50th league game in charge of Cherries ended in stalemate.

A lacklustre opening period was followed by a lively second half as Howe’s promotion chasers took the game to their struggling opponents.

But despite laying siege to the Robins goal during a frantic finale, Cherries failed to find a way through as the visitors dug deep for a share of the spoils.

Chances were at a premium and entertainment in short supply during a turgid opening period as defences dominated.

Cheltenham will lay claim to having carved out the clearest opportunity of the first half when Cherries goalkeeper Shawn Jalal saved with his legs from Justin Richards.

And although the visitors edged possession during the early stages, Ryan Garry and Cherries skipper Jason Pearce both marshalled the troops superbly to ensure Jalal was well protected.

Referee Darren Sheldrake certainly played his part as proceedings failed to come to life, the official’s ambivalent display doing little for continuity.

Cherries began to gain a foothold as the half wore on, with Josh McQuoid’s rasping effort taking a deflection off a defender as it whistled past the upright.

A venomous free kick from Brett Pitman went straight down the throat of Cheltenham goalkeeper Scott Brown, while Liam Feeney’s 25-yard ripsnorter flashed well wide.

Fourth official Eric Mackrell did everyone a favour by signalling a solitary minute of added time before the half-time whistle came as a welcome relief.

The North Stand made their feelings perfectly clear as referee Sheldrake awarded another contentious free kick at the start of the second half.

But as chants of “you don’t know what you’re doing” reverberated around the stand, Jalal claimed with ease as David Bird’s delivery was wasted.

Danny Hollands, the two-goal hero of Cherries’ midweek win at Rotherham, took aim after 51 minutes, his left-foot volley soaring over the crossbar.

McQuoid, the provider of the cross for Hollands’s effort, then made way as Marvin Bartley came off the bench having recovered from injury.

Cherries’ vociferous appeal for a penalty fell on deaf ears after Rhoys Wiggins’s teasing centre had appeared to strike the arm of Robins defender Danny Andrew.

Fletcher, having belied his advancing years to make three starts in eight days, was replaced by Alan Connell with 20 minutes remaining.

And Bartley, having come off worse following a fully committed challenge on Joss Labadie, perished with 10 minutes left.

Try as they might, Cherries failed to break down a stubborn Cheltenham rearguard with Pitman side-footing wide when well placed in the closing stages and Goulding seeing his back-heel fly the wrong side of the post.

And there was still time for Brown to thwart Pitman, the Robins goalkeeper diving full length to his left to parry the striker’s sweetly-struck free kick from 20 yards deep into stoppage time.

Cherries (4-4-2): Jalal; Bradbury, Pearce, Garry, Wiggins; Feeney, Robinson, Hollands, McQuoid (Bartley, 52, Goulding, 80); Pitman, Fletcher (Connell, 70).

Unused sub: Thomas (g/k).

Robins (4-4-2): Brown; Bird, Townsend, Gallinagh, Andrew; Watkins (Lewis, 72), Pook, Labadie, Low; Hammond (Lee, 90), Richards.

Unused subs: Hayles, Hutton, Haynes, Ridley, Puddy (g/k).

Booked: Pook, Hammond.

Referee: Darren Sheldrake (Surrey).

Attendance: 5,259.

Comments(27)

djd says...
5:18pm Sat 6 Feb 10

A well fought battle by the Cherries. Cheltenham tried for a goal the first half and then fought for the draw in the second.
Lot of fouls from Cheltenham. They didn't deserve to win.
It was good to see Cherries fight from the beginning.
A good game for the Cherries