Two Spa

By: Andrew Doherty
Date: 05/09/2026

TUESDAY'S visit to Accrington showed that Town are capable of very good football, but need to learn how to control games against physical sides who may not have the same level of skill but do know how to sway games in their favour, if necessary by kicking players off the pitch.

Morgan was a victim of this, having shone until he had to be substituted due to injury. However he, Turi and Finch, while noticeably eager, displayed at times naivety and a lack of composure. This is to be expected from younger players in development. The arrival of the more experienced Vernam and Walker to support Green failed to wrestle the initiative back. Today's opponents Cheltenham have had a decent start to the season, with 7 points and 8 goals scored in their four league starts. Their manager is the wily old Steve Cotterill, who would undoubtedly have done his homework and identified Town's weaknesses with a view to exploiting them.

After a 45-minute walk via the regency splendour of Cheltenham Spa, I arrived at the less-than-regency neighbourhood of Whaddon Road. I can't think of anywhere with less of a footballing feel than Cheltenham. Yuppies, simple Gloucestershire folk, the elderly at leisure and people wearing rugby shirts are the norm. My purchase of a cup of coffee was greeted by service with a scowl. These are people without meaning to their lives, without football to obsess them. By comparison the town of Cheltenham is as if Cambridge became Crewe, and Milton Keynes was a hotbed of footballing passion and humanity. But leaving aside social demographics three points is three points, wherever you are, and that was the objective. Town's starting line-up tasked with obtaining them was: Harrington – Rodgers, Kacurri, McJannet, Sweeney – Turi – Finch, Green, Doyle, Vernam – Morgan.

Town, in blue, faced away from the away end for the first half. The first action came on 3 minutes when Sweeney slipped, but Kacurri was on hand to make a customary no-nonsense tackle. Five minutes later the ball fell to Vernam after a good build-up. Vernam cut inside, but fired his shot towards the corner flag. Rodgers did better on 10 minutes with a shot which went over following a pass from Vernam. Town were showing signs of getting going when on 12 minutes Vernam tried some trickery in Town's half and lost the ball, flocking it to Evans who ran into the box. Evans supplied McCann who took his time and struck his curling shot low to Harrington's right. Cheltenham 1, Town 0. Vernam's passion for circus tricks at the expense of concentration and game awareness or “pitch geography” as Head Coach Artell would call it, cost us. Town now started to struggle, being intent on using Morgan's long throws in the face of Cheltenham's giant number 5 Cundy. On 23 minutes Green fought to win the ball and played it back to Doyle who dithered, resulting in Cheltenham gaining possession and almost adding a second goal. Town had a good move on 26 minutes. A headed back flick by Finch found Green. The defender covered well but Green squeezed the ball to Vernam who kept the play going. The ball was placed in Turi's path but Turi was off balance and missed. Vernam was then fouled on the left. The free kick was cut out. Cheltenham broke clear. Rodgers did well to cut out Weimann, A nice move from Cheltenham led to a cross from Shipley. This time McJannet was there to deal with the threat. On 41 minutes Harrington was guilty of a poor clearance.The ball came through to Evans who wriggled his way into the box where he was tripped by McJannet - penalty. Weimann struck his shot right centre after seeing Harrington commit himself. Cheltenham 2, Town 0. Cheltenham were now full of confidence as half time approached. Evans shit wide. Town raised an attack. Sweeney won a corner. Vernam's corner caused Cheltenham keeper Stanway to reach and tip the ball clear but Town were unable to finish. At half time it remained at 2 - 0 to Cheltenham. The home side showed alertness and good understanding. The understanding between Town's players was poor. Our performance was laboured, and it showed in the score line.

Shelton and Cook replaced Doyle and Vernam for the second half. On 47 minutes Tiwn started a move up the left. Seeeney ran on. The ball was moved out to the right where Rodgers strained to keep the ball in play and crossed. Shelton received the pass outside he box and expertly slammed an unstoppable low shot to the keeper's right. Cheltenham 2, Town 1. Town had shown more intensity in two minutes than in the whole of the first half. Another nice move 5 minutes later involving Turi and Rodgers resulted in Finch striking the side netting. On 57 minutes Town won a corner after good work by Shelton. Morgan's corner struck the crossbar. Three minutes later Seeeney was bowled over as he threatened to weave into the box. Shelton's free kick was blocked but Town did win a corner. Cook headed over from close range. A great move involving Morgan resulted in Cook receiving and making a good strike from close range but the shot was cleared off the line. Town dominated play but Cheltenham did have a chance on 63 minutes when Evans found McCann in the centre of the area. McCann's control let him down, otherwise it was a clear chance. On 70 minutes Cartwright and Reynolds came on for Finch and Morgan. Another good move from Town saw Green hit the side netting after more good work by the influential Shelton. On 74 minutes the alert Cook dispossessed Stanway as Cheltenham's keeper was dribbling the ball out of the area, but the referee decided there was a foul. A Cheltenham free kick on 75 minutes had to be booted clear for a corner by Sweeney, before Town broke. Cartwright's flick on was cleared but Town came forward. Shelton supplied Cartwright from the left. Stanway made an excellent save. Green was booked on 80 minutes for arguing about a decision to penalise Rodgers as the game was getting more feisty. With 81 minutes gone Reynolds earned Town a corner on the right. Sweeney sent in a great cross, which Green launched himself at. His efforts were worth it as his header sailed powerfully into the left hand corner of the net. Cheltenham 2, Town 2. On 87 minutes a Shelton interception found Green as Town continued to pile on the pressure. Willcox shot over for Cheltenham as an extra three minutes were added. But it was Town who looked the most likely to score. Tight work by Sweeney led to Cartwright receiving a pass. Cartwright's trapped the ball skilfully, turned and was only denied by another good save by Stanway. In another subplot, tempers flared as Cheltenham's Sweeney delayed the game with apparent cramp before going off injured, leaving Cheltenham with 10 men after having used all their substitutes. Town were on top but couldn't finish the job with a winner. So it ended: Cheltenham Town 2, Grimsby Town 2. All that remained was a fight on the pitch as Cheltenham's manager Steve Cotterill ran into the middle to start it all off and the bad blood between the two sides spilled over.

Today Town found a different way of not winning. But this one was more pleasing. After a flat first half, Town fought back well and played with great intensity, having enough opportunities to win the game. We can only imagine what went into the half time team talk, but together with the substitutions and introduction of each of Shelton, Cartwright and Cook Town were revitalised for the second half. So it was an inconsistent performance overall but there was plenty here to suggest that with the right mentality and understanding, this season could be a good one for Town.

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