Cheltenham Cheltenham Cheltenham Town Football Football

Cheltenham Town and Ipswich play out goalless draw in League One fixture

Michael Duff’s Cheltenham came away with a point from play-off hopefuls Ipswich in the Gloucestershire club’s first trip to Portman Road since 1938.

The former Southern League adversaries were of vastly differing opinions at the final whistle with the home side left frustrated by ‘boring boring Cheltenham’ while Duff’s makeshift side were happy to have been competitive. 

Poor finishing was the thorn in the tractor boys side from the off as they fired 17 shots at Owen Evans’ goal, with only four ending up on target and none finding the net. 

The first big chance of the game fell to Wes Burns who found himself free at the back post after a good run and cross from the lively Kosovan international Bersant Celina opened up the Cheltenham defence but Burns couldn’t keep his effort down and saw his effort fly over the goal and into the crowd.

Burns was involved once more, finding Conor Chaplin with a low pass to the edge of the box. Charlie Raglan was on hand to block the shot before Tom Carroll’s cross found Chaplin once again, as his diving header forced a good save from Evans who got down well to push the ball away from the action. 

The second half started with another big chance for the home side, Celina’s cross flying across the face of goal, begging for any touch to put it in but once more Ipswich’s attacks were to no avail.

A rare Robins attack saw Matty Blair run half the length of the pitch, cutting through the home defence and finding Andy Williams with a low ball across the box, Williams’ shot from 18 yards could only find the hands of Christian Walton between the sticks.

Duff’s side saw their best chance of the game fly wide of the post, Callum Wright’s marauding run into the box lashed over by Williams at the far post: The striker’s head buried into his hands knowing the chance he’d just missed. 

After almost eight minutes of added time, the final whistle broke the home silence with a chorus of boos filling the cold Suffolk air. A good result for Duff’s side, taking four points off the promotion contenders and a frustrating night for all in blue.

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