Wednesday 14^th July 2004 – Pre-Season Friendly

Bishop’s Cleeve 2 Cheltenham Town 6

Damian Spencer has bagged goals for fun

Goals: Spencer 3, Caines, Ward, Melligan

Damian Spencer opened the Robins’ pre-season account when he latched onto Graham Fyfe’s through-ball just twelve minutes into the encounter against the local non-League oufit, clotting past ex-Town shotstopper Jon Skeen. However, another one-time Whaddon Road player, Billy Davis, then equalised, before Gavin Caines, a trialist from Wolverhampton Wanderers at the time, headed home Fyfe’s corner.

Spencer was again on the scoresheet five minutes later as he converted Ashley Vincent’s cross, but Caines handled in the box and Kevin Slack’s penalty kick made the scoreline more interesting. However, the one-goal deficit was short-lived, and Spencer completed his hat-trick after a swivel in the box on 39 minutes.

Still before the break, Fyfe again got around his man to set up his third goal of the evening, crossing for another trialist, Graham Ward, to smash into the roof of the net. At half-time new boss John Ward made a series of changes – nine in total – but there was still time for JJ Melligan to add a sixth. Slack had one disallowed before the end, but the run-out was largely convincing, and Town looked set for a good pre-season

Saturday 17^th July 2004 – Pre-Season Friendly

Cheltenham Town 1 Birmingham City 1

Cheltenham Town: Shane Higgs; Jeremy Gill (Andy Gallinagh 82), John Brough (Shane Duff 46), Michael Taylor (Gavin Caines 77), Jamie Victory (Dan Thompson 86); Ashley Vincent (Damian Spencer 62), Graham Ward (Graham Fyfe 46), Dave Bird, John Finnigan, Grant McCann; Steve Guinan (Kayode Odejayi 53). Sub not used: Scott Brown.

Goal: Odejayi

Substitute Kayode Odejayi earned the Robins a share of the spoils against the more illustrious Midlands neighbours, whose manager sent a strong squad for the first friendly at Whaddon Road, exemplified by the Blues goalscorer, Muzzy Izzet. 4,255 piled in through the gate – a fine crowd for pre-season – and they were treated to a good game of football.

Ashley Vincent smashed an early effort against the foot of the right-hand upright after Steve Guinan had won an important header up front early on, but it was the visitors who took the lead midway through the opening period. New signings Julian Gray and Izzet combined, the former crossing for the ex-Leicester City midfielder to tap home from six yards.

Shane Higgs had to make a fine one-handed palmed save from Jamie Clapham’s rip-roaring effort just before the break, but half-time afforded John Ward a chance to revitalise his troops. New custodian Nico Vaesen had trouble keeping Guinan’s early header out, but the front man soon had to be stretchered off of the pitch. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise as his replacement, Odejayi, netted the equaliser eighteen minutes from time. Fyfe’s industrious run ended in a throw-in, with Damian Spencer flicking on Dave Bird’s throw. Odejayi was then on hand to guide a stooping header past Vaesen, and that was how it ended.

Tuesday 20^th April 2004 – Pre-Season Friendly

Forest Green Rovers 2 Cheltenham Town 2

Cheltenham Town: Scott Brown; Andy Gallinagh (Jeremy Gill 46), Shane Duff (John Brough 60), Michael Taylor (Gavin Caines 60), Jamie Victory (Dan Thompson 46); Adam Connolly (Dave Bird 46), Graham Ward (John Finnigan 75), Grant McCann, Graham Fyfe (Damian Spencer 46); Kayode Odejayi, Ashley Vincent (L Davis 68). Subs not used: Shane Higgs, Rob Williams

Goals: Vincent, McCann

Nationwide Conference side Forest Green managed to hold an experimental Robins side to a 2-2 draw at The Lawn. Jamie Victory and Ashley Vincent went close for the away team in the early stages, but on 13 minutes it was Rovers that were in front. Adie Adams set up ex-Bristol City youngster Matt Aubrey, unmarked, and he stabbed past Scott Brown from eight yards. A truly spectacular strike was required to draw the sides level, and it came courtesy of Vincent. Victory’s raking crossfield pass reached the forward twenty yards out, and he duly slammed the ball inside the far post past goalkeeper Steve Perrin.

Seconds later Perrin was scrambling back to effect a fine save from Vincent again, but it was the hosts who regained the lead, though not when ex-Bristol Rovers midfielder Simon Bryant missed an open goal just before half-time. Grant McCann also struck the crossbar before the interval, but soon after the hour mark Charlie Griffin restored FGR’s advantage.

He raced onto a through ball that Brown had needlessly, and helplessly, attempted to claim, and sent a measured lob over the head of the hapless custodian to make it 2-1. Perrin saved again from McCann, but the former West Ham United and current Northern Ireland international had the last say with the final meaningful action of the match, curling a fine free-kick over the wall and just inside the near post.

Saturday 24^th July 2004 – Pre-Season Friendly

Cheltenham Town 3 AFC Bournemouth 1

Cheltenham Town: Shane Higgs; Jeremy Gill, John Brough (Shane Duff 60), Michael Taylor, Jamie Victory; Graham Ward (Martin Devaney 60), Dave Bird (Graham Fyfe 74), John Finnigan, Grant McCann; Damian Spencer (Ashley Vincent 81), Kayode Odejayi (Luke Corbett 46). Subs not used: Scott Brown, Dan Thompson, Andy Gallinagh, Chris Murphy, Adam Connolly, Gavin Caines

Goals: Spencer 2, McCann

League One side AFC Bournemouth left Whaddon Road with their tails between their legs after another professional performance from the Robins, who emerged 3-1 victors. The Cherries, though, were the side that took the lead, playing their familiar 3-5-2 formation. Warren Cummings left-wing run and cross picked out Alan Connell, whose right-footed attempt from the edge of the penalty area left Shane Higgs flat-footed.

Cheltenham were not to be outdone, and Spencer was the man to restore parity on 17 minutes with a fine strike of his own. Neil Moss’ poor goal-kick fell straight to Spencer, who powered his way to 25 yards before smashed an outstanding left-footed shot into the top left-hand corner of the net. He added a second on the half-hour, no less superb.

Jeremy Gill’s free-kick was initially headed out by Jason Tindall, but the ball fell straight to Spencer, who had no hesitation in larruping a venomous left-footed volley into the opposite top right-hand corner of Moss’ net. After that, he failed to convert a couple of simpler attempts, but late into the second half Town made sure of the spoils. It was another fantastic strike, this time from McCann, who smashed a left-footed 25-yarder past Moss as it dipped and swerved in front of the goalkeeper.

Thursday 29^th July 2004 – Pre-Season Friendly

Cheltenham Town 1 Cardiff City 1

Cheltenham Town: Shane Higgs; Brian Wilson, John Brough (Michael Taylor 64), Shane Duff, Jamie Victory; Martin Devaney (Jeremy Gill 80), Dave Bird, John Finnigan (Chris Murphy 70), Grant McCann; Ashley Vincent (Luke Corbett 75), Kayode Odejayi (Damian Spencer 75). Subs not used: Scott Brown, Dan Thompson, Graham Fyfe, Andy Gallinagh, Adam Connolly, Gavin Caines.

Goal: Victory

Cheltenham’s pre-season campaign ended with a 1-1 draw against ‘Championship’ outfit Cardiff City. It took 56 minutes for the first goal to arrive, some decent build-up play earlier in the encounter nullified by a lack of composure in front of goal. Grant McCann’s corner was met by the head of Jamie Victory, who gave the Englishmen a one-nil lead with a downward nod past Tony Warner.

However, the lead was short-lived as the Welshmen fought back. John Robinson’s cross was tough to defend, and Alan Lee’s presence meant that Shane Higgs could only just get a fist to the ball. It was not good enough, and Paul Parry hit home the rebound. Lee Bullock tested Higgs with a quarter-of-an-hour left, but the score was to remain 1-1.

Summary – Shrimpers vs. Robins last five matches

Southend United

D0-0 (away; Grays Athletic; Friendly)

D0-0 (home; Brighton & Hove Albion; Friendly)

D1-1 (away; Billericay Town; Friendly; Drewe Broughton)

D3-3 (away; Dagenham & Redbridge; Friendly; Drewe Broughton, Wayne Gray 2)

L0-2 (home; Millwall; Friendly)

(Won 0, Drawn 4, Lost 1, Scored 4, Conceded 6)

Cheltenham Town

D1-1 (home; Cardiff City; Friendly; Jamie Victory)

W3-1 (home; AFC Bournemouth; Friendly; Damian Spencer 2, Grant McCann)

D2-2 (away; Forest Green Rovers; Friendly; Ashley Vincent, Grant McCann)

D1-1 (home; Birmingham City; Friendly; Kayode Odejayi)

W6-2 (away; Bishop’s Cleeve; Friendly; Damian Spencer 3, Gavin Caines, Graham Ward, JJ Melligan)

(Won 2, Drawn 3, Lost 0, Scored 13, Conceded 7)