Big Match Review - Torquay 2 Cheltenham 1

Torquay United 2-1 Cheltenham Town

Tuesday March 22, Plainmoor, (Att: 2,186)

Promotion-chasing Torquay moved up to fourth in League Two as their fine recent form continued with victory over Cheltenham in this game postponed from Boxing Day.

The Gulls had already had a goal disallowed before they took the lead just before the half hour mark. Defender Guy Branston powering in a header from a Craig Stanley corner to put the Devonians ahead.

Town tried to respond, but chances for Matt Green and Wes Thomas were both spurned as they went into the break behind.

Paul Buckle's men went in search of a second after the interval, eventually doubling their advantage with less than 20 minutes remaining.

Ronan Murray took advantage after Cheltenham failed to deal with a cross in the box to finish put the ball in the net and put Torquay out of sight.

With injury time looming, the Robins did reduce the deficit courtesy of keeper Scott Bevan's error in allowing Danny Andrew's long range free kick to beat him.

However, they couldn't find a leveller and returned to Gloucestershire empty handed. In-form United appear to be peaking at just the right time though.

Moving On Up

With Dean Holdsworth swapping Conference side Newport County for League Two Aldershot Town, Nobes looks back at other managers who have made the leap from Non League to Football League.

Dean Holdsworth managed Newport to Conference South glory last season

Good things come to those who wait, so say a famous Irish stout company, anyway. However, it's even better when you don't have to wait. Instead, you can simply grab the first opportunity that comes your way.

That's the scenario Dean Holdsworth faced, when the 42-year-old boss of Conference high-flyers Newport County was approached to fill the vacant post at League Two Aldershot Town after Kevin Dillon's dismissal.

As soon as the Hampshire club came calling, Holdsworth was, appropriately enough, off like a shot. Swapping one phoenix club for another as he looks to establish himself in the 92 club.

He's not the first Non League boss to be in charge of a Football League club without having earned it via promotion though. Here's a look back at some of the others and how they fared or are faring.


Mark Yates

Yates served his apprenticeship in the Conference with Kidderminster Harriers - making steady progress towards the top five over two and a half seasons.

He was given his opportunity in the Football League with former club Cheltenham last term with the Robins struggling towards the foot of League Two.

Steered them to safety and, this term, has the Gloucestershire outfit competing for a place in the play offs.

Verdict: So far, so good.


Mark Cooper

His first job came at Tamworth where, although overseeing their relegation from the Conference, he took the Lambs on a memorable FA Cup run.

Achieved success at Kettering, winning the Conference North title and established them back in the Conference.

The Kettles also enjoyed two fine runs in the FA Cup.

After being linked with various League Two jobs, he was a surprise choice to fill the job at Championship Peterborough.

However, poor results and an ugly style of football saw him last just three months.

Now back in the Conference rebuilding his career with Darlington.

Verdict: Posh were the wrong club for Cooper to take the plunge with. He could still do a job in the lower reaches of the Football League some time.


Martin Allen

With Barnet challenging in the Conference's top five in 2004, Allen got the call from League One strugglers Brentford to help them avoid the drop.

He did just that, and then took them to successive play off finishes, albeit both times the Bees fell short and failed to gain promotion.

His next job came at League Two Milton Keynes, when he again came up short in the play offs.

A short spell at Leicester followed before returning to League One for Cheltenham's battle against the drop in 2008.

This time he failed to win it though and a poor start to last season cost him his job. He's still searching for employment.

Verdict: Downhill since leaving Brentford. His route one style of football aside, at the right club he could do well in the Football League.


Lee Sinnott

Farsley Celtic were in Non League obscurity before Sinnott took them to three promotions in four seasons to help them into the Conference Premier.

In 2007, he was offered a break in the Football League with Port Vale, who were struggling against relegation in League One.

He couldn't prevent Vale from slipping into League Two and he had departed after a few weeks of the next season - less than a year after taking the helm.

Returned to management in the Non Leagues at Northern Premier League side Bradford Park Avenue but was dismissed after failing to challenge for promotion despite a heavy spending spree.

Verdict: Lee Who? Short Football League tenure never likely to be repeated.


Mark Stimson

Stimson was hot property in 2007 after a spectacular start to management.

He had taken Grays Athletic to promotion to the Conference before successive FA Trophy wins and a place in the end of season play offs.

Failing to win promotion with the Essex outfit, he moved to Stevenage where he made it three FA Trophy successes on the bounce.

His penchant for an attractive, attacking based game also won him admirers.

However, when he made the leap up to League One Gillingham he found the going tough. The Gills were relegated - although he led them straight back up again via the play offs 12 months later.

A failure to win a single away win last season saw Gillingham relegated back down again though, and Stimson sacked.

He moved to Barnet over the summer, but left them at the start of the year with the London side rooted in League Two's drop zone.

Verdict: Once a rising star, but two relegations and a torrid time at Barnet have ensured the star has faded. A Non League return surely beckons.


Russell Slade

Gained fame by guiding cash-strapped Scarborough to the FA Cup fourth round where they faced Chelsea.

It earned him a crack in the Football League with Grimsby.

He took the Lincolnshire club to the League Two play off final in 2006, but they ended up on the losing side.

He then moved to League One Yeovil, who he also took to the play off final, only to lose once again.

Departed Huish Park in 2009 and joined Brighton - engineering a miraculous escape from the League One drop.

Was fired last season only to turn up at Leyton Orient, where he remains today after orchestrating another great escape from relegation to League Two last term.

Verdict: Made a niche for himself in the League as a fine fire fighter with an ability to work on a small budget.


Nigel Clough

The son of the legendary Brian spent a decade at the helm of Staffordshire side Burton Albion.

He guided them into the Conference Premier, establishing them as a top five side.

He left them in 2009 top of the table and in pole position to win promotion to the Football League - which they did.

However, he couldn't turn down the advances of Championship side Derby County, where he helped keep the Rams in the division before achieving a mid table finish last term.

With Derby occupying a top half place for the majority of this season, he is making slow progress towards their goal of promotion.

Verdict: Needs to keep progressing or the patience he has been afforded by Derby will begin to run out.

Big Match Preview

Torquay United vs. Cheltenham Town

Sunday December 26, 15:00, Plainmoor

It's a localish affair down on the English Riviera this Boxing Day as Torquay United host Cheltenham Town with both sides gunning for a place in the League Two play offs.

The two teams are separated by just a single point and place as they lie either side of the cut off point for the end of season play offs in 7th and 8th place respectively.

For the visitors from Gloucestershire, manager Mark Yates celebrated a year in charge at Whaddon Road this week and things couldn't be more different from when he first took over.

Twelve months ago, Cheltenham sat in 21st, and were fighting relegation. Now they travel to the South West challenging to reclaim the place in League One they lost in 2009.

It's been a dramatic turn around in fortunes in the Cotswolds - and they have impressed on their travels this season, too.

Indeed, only Bury have scored more goals on the road than Town this season, with 17 notched up in their 10 away games. Wins have been attained at Aldershot, Accrington, and Macclesfield.

They also come into the game four games unbeaten away from home. However, they have tasted defeat on the road at Barnet, Chesterfield, Bradford, and in an extraordinary 6-4 loss at Rotherham.

Key for the Robins has been striker Wes Thomas. The bargain buy from Dagenham during the summer is the club's top scorer having found the back of the net on nine occasions.

Mark Yates has turned Cheltenham from strugglers into play off candidates

Hosts Torquay have enjoyed a strange season to date, but the Devon side find themselves in the top seven in their second season back in the Football League.

Paul Buckle's men topped the table in the early weeks of the campaign, however a nine match winless streak saw them slide down the standings.

Just one defeat in their last six has seen them recover though, and the Gulls will be hoping to maintain their fine form to ensure they remain in the race for a place in the end of season play offs.

For that to happen, they'll need to improve upon a record at Plainmoor which has been patchy at best. Wins have been achieved over Northampton, Bradford, and Morecambe.

However, Macclesfield, Aldershot, and Bury have all returned home from a trip to United with maximum spoils.

Outstanding performers for Torquay this term include striker Elliot Benyon, whose ten goals has seen him attract interest from clubs higher up the pyramid. Chris Zebroski also has six to his name and is another goal threat for Buckle's side.

With Cheltenham's decent away form and Torquay's erratic record at Plainmoor, this is a difficult game to call. Throw in a big Boxing Day crowd and the recent postponements both sides have suffered, who knows what to expect?

Will one side come out fresh and the other rusty? Will the game even go ahead and beat the snow? If it does, then I think this one has 'draw' written all over it.

Nobes' Prediction: Torquay United 1 Cheltenham Town 1

Big Match Review - Cheltenham 0 Hereford 1

League Two

Cheltenham Town 0-1 Hereford United

Tuesday March 2, 19:45, Whaddon Road

A first half goal from Ryan Green was enough for 10-man Hereford to end a run of three straight defeats and see off fellow strugglers Cheltenham.

The Bulls began the brighter of the two sides but both teams struggled to fashion any openings. However, the visitors did find the breakthrough after 25 minutes.

Full back Green played a neat one two with Kenny Lunt before slotting the ball past Scott Brown in the Town goal.

However, John Trewick's men soon found themselves with a numerical disadvantage after James McQuilkin was sent off for two bookable offences before the break.

The Robins pressed for a leveller in the second half and were unfortunate to be denied when Julian Alsop saw his powerful header brilliantly saved by Adam Bartlett.

The United keeper was called into action again when he was at full-stretch to tip Michael Pook's long range curler wide of the post.

The home team were unable to find a way through though and, whilst Hereford move away from the drop zone, Mark Yates's men remain deep in trouble.

Big Match Preview

League Two

Cheltenham Town vs. Hereford United
Saturday January 9, 15:00, Whaddon Road

Two basement division strugglers clash in the Cotswolds this weekend as Cheltenham and Hereford face one another with three precious points up for grabs.

Both sides were relegated from League One last season but a second successive fight against the drop wasn't expected this term. However, with the two sides in 21st and 20th respectively in the League Two table, another demotion is not impossible.

For Town, this match offers the chance for a first home win for new boss Mark Yates. The former Cheltenham player left Kidderminster to re-join his old club last month.

It brought an end to the disrupting saga involving former boss Martin Allen, who was suspended and subsequently cleared over making alleged racist remarks to a member of the public.

Caretaker Jon Schofield oversaw a slide down the table for the Robins, who have won just two of their 11 games at Whaddon Road this season.

However, impressive away results with a 2-0 win at Dagenham and 1-1 draw at Bradford suggest Yates is beginning to turn things around.

Much of the Gloucestershire outfit's hopes are pinned on top scorer Justin Richards, who has bagged eight goals so far this term. Veteran forward Barry Hayles has also chipped in with five goals to his name this season too.

New Cheltenham boss Mark Yates is looking for his second win in four games

They face a Hereford side who, under John Trewick, have struggled badly for any kind of form on the road. The Bulls have recorded just a single away win, at mid-table Northampton, and have been beaten seven times.

It's been a baptism of fire therefore for Trewick, formerly the assistant to long-serving boss and now club chairman, Graham Turner.

Their predicament has not been helped either by the postponement of recent home games against Lincoln and Crewe. This, along with other sides around them picking up results, has seen them drop to within seven points of the relegation zone.

Star performers this season include ex-Southend striker Leon Constantine and midfield man Marc Pugh, both notching six goals this season.

Other notable names include former Derby striker Lee Morris and Kenny Lunt, who has experience in the Championship with Crewe and Sheffield Wednesday.

Saturday's match is one neither side can really afford to lose, and much will depend on whether Hereford's enforced break leaves them rusty or fresh for this six-pointer.

If it's the former then, coupled with Cheltenham's recent good form under their new manager, a third home win of the season could well be heading Town's way in a tight contest.

Nobes' Prediction: Cheltenham Town 1 Hereford United 0