On a bitterly cold January evening I make my way across the Completely-Suzuki Stadium car park, which always resembles a trench filled World War 1 battlefield, to a stadium built not long afterwards that very epoch.
I can hear a few Northern accents behind me as I get to the gate and think they maybe would feel right at home in this Southern “dirty old town”. The crowd is sparse, probably less than a quarter of the capacity 7066 and most are well wrapped up from the biting cold wind.
It’s the third minute of the game and Will Goodwin has the first chance of the match as Sean Long crosses the ball to him, but the header is too high.
Just minutes later, and Goodwin has another chance, but this right footer shoots wide.
In the 13th minute now and Callum Hendry puts the ball past Luke Southwood at close range to get it into the high centre of the goal following a corner.
At 31 minutes into the first half and Elliot Bonds attempts a right footer from the centre of the box but it is saved by Alex Cairns in the Salford goal.
The equaliser eventually looks like coming in the 44th minutes for the Robins as Broom puts the ball in the top right hand corner aided in part by Williams.
It’s half time and fans scurry off for some relief from the biting cold by queuing for a warm drink or fast food; the smell of which is carried across the stand by the strong winter breeze.
Now in the 60th minute and the Robins are suddenly making efforts to take the lead as the ball falls to Sercombe in the centre of the box from a long throw, but the shot is high again.
Just five minutes after that last attempt by Sercombe and as Ryan Jackson comes down the right-hand side, he pulls back the ball to Goodwin and it falls to Sercombe to turn the ball in. The crowd may be sparse but there is an almighty roar as Cheltenham have their second goal.
Just one minute further on and Goodwin gets his debut goal as he shoots the ball past Cairns after a through ball by Sercombe.
We eventually reach the 95th minute now and the referee blows his whistle with Cheltenham 3, Salford 1. As I pull up the collar of my coat and face the chilly walk across the car park once more, I feel for any of those Northern accents having to pick over that match as they make their long drive home to their “dirty old town”.
