Cheltenham Town’s newest recruit Will Goodwin opened his account on his debut in a 3-1 win over Salford City to secure his sides spot in the semi-final of the Papa John’s Trophy.
The Robins had never reached this far in the competition before but goals from Ryan Broom, Liam Sercombe, and Goodwin ensured Cheltenham are only one game away from Wembley.
After going a goal behind to a Callum Hendry strike, Cheltenham turned the game around with three unanswered goals with Goodwin sealing the win with a well-taken third.
“At half time I just needed to reset, I didn’t end the half great myself but I’ve let that go behind me and the next chance I got, I put it away.
After Dan N’Lundulu’s move to Bolton Wanderers was confirmed earlier this week, Town moved quickly to secure the services of 20-year-old Goodwin who has penned a two-and-a-half-year deal.
“I heard that he was leaving and they wanted me to come and replace him so I knew from then I’d be coming in and being part of the team, not just the sidelines.
“I’ve still got to perform and play well but I’ve been given my chance tonight and with a goal, I’ve taken, I’ve got to keep doing that, it’s the way I’m going to get my name on the sheet every week.
“Knowing my loan was going to be up at Torquay and going back to Stoke, I didn’t know if I was going to be playing under the manager (Alex Neil), I’ve not met him yet.
“I think we were looking elsewhere and this came about and it became a great opportunity for me. There was no doubt in my mind that I was going to come here. Everyone I spoke to said this was the place to go.”
Goodwin snatched at a couple of early chances but following Sercombe’s fine through ball, Goodwin raced onto the pass and buried a fine right-footed effort past Salford ‘keeper Alex Cairns in the second half.
“Sercs has knocked it into the space for me, I’ve gone off instinct and read the ball was going to land in there and the rest was history. The celebration was great, many more of those hopefully.”
“I knew I was going to score. I knew it was going in and I had to think about how to celebrate!”
On PJT final prospect: “We’re one win away from the final at Wembley, that’s what we’re striving for, that’s what we want to do and we look forward to the draw on Saturday.”
