Cheltenham Town defy the odds to take point at Portman Road despite injury crisis that saw seven first team players unavailable.
Ryan Broom’s ruthless strike and heroic second-half defensive effort earn Cheltenham a hard-earned point at Portman Road
Manager Wade Elliott made four changes to the side that was embarrassingly knocked out of the FA Cup by Alvechurch last Saturday, as club captain Charlie Raglan came in alongside strike-partners Christian Norton and Dan Nlundulu and midfielder Elliot Bonds.
Elliott was unable to call upon many first-team regulars due to injury, defenders Will Ferry, Caleb Taylor and Ryan Jackson all out, with Taylor Perry and goal machine Alfie May (who captained the side in Tuesday’s cup match against Yate Town) also unavailable.
The injury list proved so severe Abdulai Sambu and Reece Hutchinson were recalled early from their loan spells at Cirencester Town and Ilkeston Town respectively. The latter made the matchday squad.
Ipswich opened the scoring from their first attempt on goal as former Cheltenham Town loanee Wes Burns saw his flicked header helped across the line by defender Luke Woolfenden from less than a yard out.
The hosts were inches away from doubling their lead as Marcus Harness smashed the crossbar with the ball bouncing back onto the goal line before being cleared.
Early substitute Kane Vincent-Young tested Luke Southwood at his near post, the Northern Irish keeper making his first save of many in the East-Anglian Autumn.
The Robins number one then pulled out a world-class save to repel George Edmundson’s diving header, denying what seemed to be a clear goal by clawing the ball away from his goal.
Lewis Freestone was next to deny the Tractor Boys what seemed to be a certain second. Southwood’s punch fell loose inside the six-yard box in front of an empty goal net. Stretching out his leg Freestone managed to beat both Conor Chaplin and Harness to clear the ball to safety.
Elation for the 175 fans that made the 354-mile round trip as the Robins found the equalizer in the 35th minute. James Olayinka slid Ryan Broom through on goal in the right channel. The Welshman beat home keeper Christian Walton at his front post from a tight angle.
Broom netted Town’s first away league goal since his first match since resigning from the club in the clubs 2-2 draw at Port Vale on September 3rd.
The fifth away goal of the campaign almost arrived just minutes later. Olayinka and Broom combined again down the right-hand side, the latter setting up Liam Sercombe whose scuffed shot was centimeters away from being turned home by Nlundulu.
Southwood deny Kieran McKenna’s men moments before halftime. First reaching to divert Burns’ cross away before stopping Humphreys follow-up effort.
The second-half bombardment on the Cheltenham goal started early in the second half. Humphries and Burns both saw their efforts blocked by defenders.
Goalscorer Broom was next to save the Robins as he made a crucial last-gasp challenge on Freddie Ladapo as the forward looked set to shoot. Burns again went close moments later heading wide of the far post.
Ipswich’s next chance was identical to their goal as another corner was flicked on from the front to back post. Woolfenden was unable to double his afternoon’s tally as his unguided header missed the target.
Kyle Edwards’ dangerous in-swinging delivery caused havoc in the six-yard box, as between them Southwood, Freestone, and Raglan kept out several consecutive efforts through sheer determination, most notably Southwood’s initial reaction save from Ladapo’s header.
The fine form of Southwood would be highlighted with four minutes of the match remaining when he produced his best save of the match. Somehow saving from Kaden Jackson at the near post as he looked to finish Vincent-Youngs pullback.
Hearts were in mouths as seven minutes were added at the end of the second half. With every Robins clearance came another wave of blue shirts upon their goal. Panutche Camara looked certain to break the hearts of Elliott’s men and those who traveled with an excellent shot through an overcrowded penalty box, his effort smashing off the inside of the post and bouncing away from the goal.
Elliot said after the match that the result was not luck, and that the draw was an ode to hard work throughout the week; the manager said: “You come here, they are a really good side so you know you are going to be under the cosh. You have to show a completely different side of you and from one to 11, we defended brilliantly. It’s not luck.
We worked in the week on when they get into positions in the final third, how we populate the box, the positions we take up for crosses and people were throwing themselves in the way of shots and blocks, putting their heads on things, and the goalie making saves, it isn’t luck, it’s hard work, committed people and a good performance”.
The injury list had a new name added to the list as Ben Williams was taken off injured after an hour. Williams who was taken off with a concussion last Saturday aggravated a previous knee injury.
