LATE DOUBLE CAPS A BIG WEEK IN ROVERS’ PROMOTION PUSH

By Fraser McWilliams

CHELTENHAM T 0

CHELTENHAM: Day 7, Jude-Boyd 6 (King 90+3), Stubbs 7, Bennett 7, Bradbury 7 (Haynes 90+2), Kinsella 7, Dieng 5, Thomas 7, Backwell 7 (Dulson 67, 6), Archer 6, Miller 6 (Hay 67, 6). Subs not used: Diallo, Bakare, Adedokun.

Sterry 89, Street 90+5

DONCASTER R 2

DONCASTER: Sharman-Lowe 7, Sterry 8, Anderson 8 (Ironside 78, 6), Wood 6 (McGrath 59, 7), Senior 8, Bailey 7, Broadbent 7, Molyneux 9, Kelly 7 (Clifton 59, 6), Gibson 8 (Sbarra 77, 6), Sharp 7 (Street 60, 7). Subs not used: Lawlor, Ennis.

Att: 3,897 Rating: ★★★★★ Ref: Carl Brook 6/10

GRANT McCann described Doncaster Rovers’ result at ten-man Cheltenham as a “big win” as they kept their title hopes alive with late goals from Jamie Sterry and Rob Street.

Cheltenham had Tim Dieng sent off 11 minutes into the second half for a second yellow card.

“It’s a big win given the context of the week,” McCann said. “It’s been really tough given we played Carlisle (3-0win) who are fighting to stay in the league and then Walsall (2-2draw) who are fighting to win the league.

“And I’m not being disrespectful to Cheltenham, but they could play with freedom because they’re not going up or down, so I was a bit worried about this game and we had to be strong.”

Cheltenham had the first clear chance with Dieng flicking Tom Bradbury’s cross from the left wide in the fifth minute. Doncaster then threatened through Owen Bailey, who saw his header cleared off the line by Liam Kinsella before Jordan Gibson lashed wide.

Jordan Thomas fired a low effort just past the right post for Cheltenham before half-time.

Luke Molyneux saw one shot fly over the bar and another saved by Joe Day early in the second half.

Cheltenham had Dieng sent off for a second yellow in the 56th minute after a foul on Jack Senior.

Gibson crashed a shot against the bar with Joe Day beaten a minute later, but Cheltenham were close when Arkell Jude-Boyd’s cross nearly deflected in off a defender.

Molyneux fed Joe Ironside, who could not finish from close range in the 78th minute and Jude-Boyd forced Teddy Sharman-Lowe into a diving save at the other end in the 82nd minute.

But the late Doncaster double sent the travelling fans home happy. Right-back Sterry Doncaster applied the perfect touch and strike past Day in the 89th minute after good work from Molyneux on the left.

And substitute Street finished neatly in the fifth minute of time after a parry from Day, sealing the points against his old club.

Cheltenham boss Michael Flynn felt the game hinged on Dieng’s dismissal.

He said: “The first yellow card is very, very stupid from us and Tim has apologised in the dressing room afterwards.

“But the referee seemed to wave away the second and I don’t think it was a yellow, it was an honest challenge from both players.”