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  • Kick-off: 15:00
  • Venue: Whaddon Road Ground
  • Attendance: 4008
  • Referee: Melin, P

Live Commentary

90 mins

That's it, it's all over, the referee has blown the final whistle.

90 mins

Andy Lindegaard is being taken off, Sosthene Yao has come on in his place.

87 mins

Cheltenham are replacing Paul Connor with Craig Reid.

81 mins

Gillingham are replacing David Graham with Craig Stone.

79 mins

It's red. He's off. Steven Gillespie has been sent off.

78 mins

The referee has booked David Graham.

76 mins

It's red. He's off. Steve Lomas has been sent off.

76 mins

It's red. He's off. Steve Lomas has been sent off.

73 mins

Delroy Facey is being taken off, Gary Mulligan has come on in his place.

72 mins

Steven Gillespie goes into the referees book for unsporting behaviour.

68 mins

Ashley Vincent is being taken off, Jennison Myrie-Williams has come on in his place.

68 mins

Simon King goes into the referees book for unsporting behaviour.

66 mins

The referee has booked Craig Armstrong.

62 mins

Aaron Brown is replaced by Simon King.

60 mins

Steve Lomas goes into the referees book for dissent.

57 mins

It's red. He's off. Ian Cox has been sent off.

46 mins

The second half is under way with the score currently at 1 v 0.

45 mins

The ref has blown his whistle for half time.

24 mins

Goal!! Cheltenham have scored with Steven Gillespie putting it in the back of the net.

0 mins

The ref has blown his whistle and the match has started.

Match Report

Referee Paul Melin took centre stage in a chaotic match at Whaddon Road. Three players were sent off and the only goal of the game was scored in controversial circumstances as the season got off to a lively start in the Cotswolds sunshine.

Cheltenham striker Steven Gillespie got the only goal of a game that promised more during a bright opening.

With 24 minutes played the former Bristol City striker raced onto a pass from Jerry Gill with the Gillingham defence appealing frantically for offside.

No flag was forthcoming and Gillespie rolled a shot beyond goalkeeper Simon Royce to make it 1-0.

Gillespie had earlier missed a similar chance and David Bird saw a header cleared off the line by former Cheltenham player Craig Armstrong as the Robins began brightly.

Gillingham had offered little as an attacking force in the first period but they started the second much better and Cheltenham goalkeeper Shane Higgs got down to save well from Delroy Facey.

However, things went even further wrong for them with 57 minutes played when defender Ian Cox, who was sent off in the corresponding fixture last season, hauled back Paul Connor a good 40 yards from goal and was sent off for denying a goal-scoring opportunity.

Former West Ham and Manchester City midfielder Steve Lomas followed him in the 75th minute for a second bookable offence but the most bizarre red card arrived 11 minutes from the end.

Gillespie, already booked for diving, turned his back as defender Nicky Southall placed a free-kick and began walking away. Southall struck the free-kick against his back and the referee produced a second yellow card then a red one.

Cheltenham missed two chances late in the game to make the game completely safe but overall it was a successful afternoon for John Ward's young side.

But Gillingham boss Ronnie Jepson was left seething at the match officials.

Cheltenham Town Team

Gillingham Team

Cheltenham Town

Gillingham

Corners

8 5

Fouls

15 17

Goal attempts

12 8

Shots off target

6 4

Offsides

6 4

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