Cheltenham 2, Oldham Athletic 2: Jekyll and Hyde
Reporter: MICHAEL YARWOOD at Whaddon Road
Date published: 10 November 2008
WHEN Athletic skulked back to the dressing room at half-time on Saturday, two things awaited them — the mother of all rollickings from boss John Sheridan and the keys to get out of jail.
They had been abysmal for 45 minutes, yet a stirring fightback ensured this season’s FA Cup didn’t send them sprawling to defeat in the first round.
You don’t expect a vicar’s tea party in any meeting with Cheltenham, who are scrapping near the foot of League One and are renowned (or notorious, depending on your ideals) for the way they approach the game.
Fair enough, if you ask me, because football matches are there to be won. No it wasn’t the prettiest little cup tie you ever did see, but it certainly wasn’t short of incident.
Athletic managed to show both their personas in the space of 90 minutes, which was pretty good going, even by their own recent standards.
The previous two displays — superb against Scunthorpe, dire against Yeovil — were blended together in a bewildering hotch-potch of kamikaze defence and courage under fire . . . well, it’s never dull.
In a way, Athletic earned their replay in tough circumstances as seven subs are allowed in the FA Cup this season and they didn’t have enough fit bodies to make up the squad.
Sheridan was one man short (and had no striker in reserve), but he reshuffled his starting XI by bringing in Stefan Stam at centre-half, Kelvin Lomax at left-back and moving Reuben Hazell, Chris Taylor and Danny Jones into different roles within the framework.
With Deane Smalley another change up front, this was a much-altered Athletic from last week against Yeovil — sadly, in the beginning, not in terms of performance.
Cheltenham were given a very obvious helping hand as they went 2-0 up by the break. They played with organisation and vigour, but the opposition was weak.
Athletic had re-reshuffled after just 25 minutes, with Lomax making a surprise appearance in midfield. But no system can handle such careless, error-prone uncertainty at the back.
Captain Sean Gregan was removed after a torrid first half, Athletic re-re-reshuffled, struck upon a formula and then turned the match on its head.
Chris Taylor’s seventh goal of the season was a lifeline gratefully snatched before midfield man Danny Whitaker kept his team in the cup.
Cheltenham have the leakiest defence in the Football League, and it showed when they were under pressure, but there could have been even more drama in injury time as visiting ’keeper Mark Crossley had to make a crucial save.
physical
So Athletic survived, proving they could, after all, stand up to the physical challenge. They also ended a run of three straight away defeats.
They needed this result after criticism from certain quarters — more of that elsewhere, I’ll just point you towards Tommy Wright’s post-match comments — and their show of defiance was a welcome response.
Sheridan had pleaded that no more sloppy goals be conceded, but his words fell on stony ground after just five minutes when Athletic went behind from a throw-in.
Life was much too easy for Ian Westlake when he received the ball near the by-line, and he turned inside before setting up the unmarked Scott Murray for a crisp 12-yard finish.
The manager went ballistic, but Cheltenham had other openings as Josh Payne scooped off target and Paul Connor needlessly used his arm when well placed.
At the other end Lewis Alessandra was denied by Shane Higgs and again came out second-best with the ’keeper after being forced wide in a one-against-one.
Athletic were still shaky at the back, and Lloyd Owusu blazed over before Crossley showed a rapid change of direction to stop Murray’s deflected header.
Whitaker tested Higgs with a free-kick, but Athletic seemed to be heading out of the competition by the stroke of half-time.
Cheltenham’s second goal was another bad one to concede as it stemmed from a long, straight setpiece into the middle of the box.
Gregan hauled Owusu to the ground with inevitable consequences, and the big striker picked himself up to drill his penalty into the bottom corner.
Gregan was taken out of the firing line as Sheridan made another tactical change, going 4-3-3 with sub Kevin Maher in the holding role.
And Athletic got straight back into the game after Smalley’s near-post run was impeded as he tried to meet a corner.
Cue the game’s second penalty, not to mention a debate among players over who should take on the job.
It was Taylor’s responsibility and, after Higgs dived to the right and blocked the initial kick, he followed up for an easy finish.
Higgs then saved from Alessandra, Smalley wasted a chance and now it was home manager Martin ‘Mad Dog’ Allen who was barking like a bad-tempered rottweiler.
Athletic duly levelled from patient build-up play as Whitaker took possession 22 yards out and hit a shot which deflected past the stranded Higgs.
There was more to come as Cheltenham sent on Lee Ridley, whose immense long throw led to Owusu striking the woodwork.
Owusu was also denied by Crossley at point-blank range as Athletic hung on and, albeit with a stutter, set up the chance of an away tie against Morecambe.
Wright salutes ’keeper’s display
TOMMY WRIGHT paid tribute to goalkeeper Mark Crossley after Athletic rescued their chances of an FA Cup run.
Manager John Sheridan was in the dug-out at Cheltenham but suffering from a virus, so it was left to his assistant to sum up the draw.
Wright said: “Mark Crossley has had his critics among the fans, but his save right at the end was magnificent.
“He’s coming to the end of his career, but he’s a good, good goalkeeper and we need him. He’ll have a major part to play.
“Unfortunately we shot ourselves in the foot again by conceding poor goals, which is something we can’t afford to keep doing.
“We have a terrible habit of giving away one and then giving away another, but I’m just pleased we are still in the cup.
“To be fair to the lads, they have come back from difficult situations quite a few times this season, but it isn’t good for the nerves and John and I were very disappointed with the first half.
“At half-time we told a few home truths to certain players. You could say we gave them a good old kick up the backside.
“The formation we started with didn’t work out. We had Chris Taylor on the right and people keep telling me he’s better there, but I have my doubts.
“You could see he was more effective back on the left, and we needed to change things round a bit because Cheltenham are difficult to play against.
“You don’t need to be Einstein to see we are giving away bad goals, but credit to the players for showing character in the second half.
“We had looked timid and weak, but for half an hour in the second half we passed the ball well.
“To tell you the truth, I didn’t fancy Chris Taylor to score with the penalty, but he was brave to take it and scored from the rebound.
“For the second goal Danny Whitaker got a bit of luck with the deflection, but fair play to him because we always tell them to hit the target.
“Cheltenham tried to flood the midfield after we got on top, but it didn’t work for them and the game changed again after they went to three up front.
“They are hard to play against — they are in your box and in your face — but credit to Martin Allen for getting them going.”
It was a testing afternoon for Athletic captain Sean Gregan, who gave an off-colour performance, conceded a penalty and was taken off at half-time.
Wright added: “Anyone can be substituted, but Sean is a good player who is going through a difficult time at the moment.
“He has been costing us goals, but we’ll stick by him because he’s going to be vital for the rest of the season.”
