The 26th minute of Cheltenham Town’s home game against Wycombe Wanderers saw Alfie May make another piece of history having scored his 40th EFL goal against Cambridge United in September.
May overtook Julian Alsop’s EFL goal scoring record of 39 with a comeback win against Cambridge, which he dedicated to retiring teammate Matty Blair. The two had formerly played for Doncatser Rovers together, being denied the League Two title after Cheltenham capitulated at Portsmouth to hand Pompey a 6-1 win.
A spell on the sidelines meant that May’s goals dried up, taking the club’s form with it as the lack of a proven goalscorer left the side struggling to find the net. His first start back saw him pick up the ball on the left hand side of the Chairboys’ penalty area before cutting in and seeing his shot deflect off Nick Freeman and loop over a hapless Max Stryjek in the Wycombe goal. The single goal was enough for Cheltenham to seal a first win since late October and move to within eight points of the playoffs.
His maiden strike came in January 2020 on his Cheltenham debut after being brought in by Michael Duff to push the club towards. Hull loanee Max Sheaf opened the scoring, side footing home in front of the visiting support before May looked to have a dream start, slotting home from 30 yards but seeing it ruled out for an alleged handball.
May got his goal in far less spectacular fashion after receiving the ball in the box and seeing his miscontrol root the keeper to the spot and dribble in to make it 2-0. He’d score again in his second game, firing past the ‘keeper against Walsall before scoring again against Bradford and Morecambe, finishing the season on six before COVID-19 ended the campaign early.
Duff had this to say on what would go on to be one of the club’s greatest ever transfers:
“That’s what he is. It’s not an accident. He does have an eye for goal, he has had one disallowed as well which was unlucky. He works his socks off and we want legs in the team”.
13 goals came in the following season, including a notable one against Manchester City, and one in the title sealing win over Harrogate Town. Notable strikes against Sunderland, Oxford United and four against Wycombe meant he ended 2021/22 on 26 goals, a record equalling tally and over half of his EFL goals coming in one game.
May was a key player in the side’s League Two title win and had a decent start to life in the third tier but saw a rebirth upon signing a contract extension, firing his way up the scoring charts and ending the campaign on 26 courtesy of a last minute strike in the last game of the season.
Cheltenham fended off summer interest from Birmingham City with his lack of goal scoring longevity holding off the bigger clubs.
