[ 18 Apr 25 ] Cheltenham Town v GILLS Match Thread

[Garawa]

- The Gills edge the wins 5 to 4 with 9 meetings in all competitions ending level. Away at Cheltenham in the league, the Gills have won 2 of their last 4 visits and lost 1.
- Since 2013, the Gills have only met Cheltenham 6 times in all competitions with 5 coming in the 2021/2 season and the other being a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture this season. 5 draws (including the last 2 meetings) and 3 defeats in the last 8 ties followed the Gills last win - a 3-0 away win in March 2012.
- After losing 4 out of their 5 league and cup games in August, Cheltenham won 17 of the 35 that followed in all competitions. However, the last 11 games since them have produced just 2 wins and 6 defeats with their 3-2 win at Crewe in their last match ending 4 straight defeats without scoring.
- The Gills are winless in 12 away league games (8 of them draws) and, although failing to score in 4 of those games, they have scored in each of the last last 5. After 3 consecutive home league wins, Cheltenham are winless in 5, losing the last 3 without scoring.
- Cheltenham's 289 minutes leading in home league games is the shortest cumulative time ahead in League 2. They have only been ahead for 42 minutes across 3 separate leads in their last 7 home league games but have been behind for 231 minutes in those games.
- When Cheltenham take a League 2 lead, they are ahead for the shortest period of time on average in the division - ahead for 26.0 minutes per lead. This league-low is assisted by Cheltenham having the worst home lead average at 20.6 minutes for each of their 14 home leads.

[Fri 18th April 2025] EFL Sky Bet League 2: Cheltenham Town v Gillingham FC
Opposition Manager: Michael Flynn Matchday Team: Joe Day, Arkell Jude-Boyd, Sam Stubbs, [c] Scot Bennett (Tom Bradbury), Ryan Haynes (Ibrahim Bakare), Liam Kinsella, Tommy Backwell, Jordan Thomas, Ethon Archer (Ethan Williams), Liam Dulson (Ashley Hay), George Miller (Matty Taylor)
Opposition League Position: Sky Bet League 2 (16th)
Referee: Graham Scott
Attendance: 4,702 (732)

(15:00) Kick Off [ 3 - 4 - 2 - 1 ]
The Gills start with no substitute goalkeeper and SEVEN attacking subs.
(15.02) GOAL! Cheltenham Town 0-1 Gillingham: Morgan
(15.07) Khumbeni receives the ball on the half turn, he spots Nevitt in space who shoots from 20 yards but it is a good stop from Joe Day.
(15.18) A Haynes corner finds its way to Backwell who, after a bit of head tennis, fires over the bar from close range.
(15.22) GOAL! Cheltenham Town 1-1 Gillingham: Stubbs Another Haynes free kick is perfectly placed for Stubbs to head home.
(15.31) Thomas shoots from just outside the box but the shot is just wide.
(15.43) Haynes tries to catch Holtam out by going direct with his free kick which is narrowly wide.
(15.44) From a Gills free-kick, Cheltenham fumble their lines and Gale bundles the ball over the line but the referee sees an infringement and pulls play back for a free kick for the hosts.
(15.45) 5 minutes will be added the to the half.
(15.48) A Haynes corner is missed by Holtam. It falls to the far post where a Cheltenham player was waiting to bundle home but the ref stops play for a mild foul on Gale.
(15.50) Holtam pulls off a great save, clawing the ball from off his line just as the half time whistle blows.
(15.50) Half time 1-1

(16.06) The second half kicks off.
(16.16) Holtam has to scramble clear after Cheltenham get into a goalmouth scramble inside the 6 yard box.
(16.18) Cheltenham earn their 15th free kick already after a big hack from Hutton sees him earn the first yellow of the match. This time, Haynes' free kick can't find the required player to convert.
(16.27) Nolan's clever free kick finds a team mate quickly closed down. Gale takes over and drives a cross through the middle of the 6 yard box and across the face of the goal but their is no leg (in yellow or red/white stripes) to deflect it into the net.
(16.32) A dipping shot from 20 yards out catches Holtam out. He needs to get strong fingertips to it to ensure it travels far enough to clear the bar.
(16.36) Fantastic save from point blank range by Day to deny Gale a headed goal from a Max Clark corner.
(16.51) The fourth officials signals 3 additional minutes.
(16.54) FULL TIME 1-1

Gills' League Position After Game: 17th
Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/ce82z7z0e86t
Match highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXwE-21YKGs