TOWN boss Lee Clark asked some questions of his squad last week – what he received were some right answers and some wrong ones!
Challenging his players to earn the right to wear the shirt next season, the Town manager was treated to yet another inconsistent performance from his team.
Credit where credit is due and Town did show character in fighting back to earn a draw after gifting the visitors two early goals.
But equally a realistic view of this display was that Town were facing a side rooted to the bottom of the table; who have had their squad decimated by injuries; who were forced to make running repairs from the first 10 minutes; who lost a man sent off on the hour and who essentially ended up playing with nine men as having used all their substitutes David Bird stayed on the field to make up the numbers despite being virtually immobile.
And if it is a question of maths then, since Town’s famous victory over Leeds United, the last seven games have seen four points taken from a possible 21. The report card has to read ‘must do better’.
It took a mere five minutes for Town’s concentration to crack as a hopeful ball forward was met by Tom Clarke, standing in for Andy Holdsworth who was counted out with an ankle injury, and he succeeded only in guiding the ball into the path of Leon Constantine and the striker raced in on goal and left Alex Smithies with no chance with a neatly lifted finish.
Three minutes later Cheltenham had to reshuffle as they lost defender Lee Ridley through injury – his replacement Shane Duff would only last 19 minutes as he too was hurt.
But in between the Robins managed to bag a second goal when on 18 minutes a wayward Michael Collins pass allowed Cheltenham to break quickly and free Elvis Hammond, who picked his way round Andy Butler’s attempted challenge before finishing smartly.
Less than 20 minutes on the clock and Town could see the game running away from them.
At least Clark acted quickly to change the pattern as he threw on Danny Cadamarteri for Lukas Jutkiewicz – the Everton youngster being left in no doubt as to the merits of his performance as the catcalls rang from the terraces.
Just to add to the teenager’s embarrassment his replacement almost instantly changed the pattern of the game.
With the pace to push the Robins’ rearguard back Cadamarteri began to create space and he exploited one of those openings on 40 minutes as Jim Goodwin’s pass allowed Gary Roberts to get the ball across goal and the substitute volleyed in.
The tide was already turning in the second half before Cheltenham midfielder Josh Low saw red on 59 minutes.
Just why Low felt the need to dive in on Tom Clarke so deep into Town territory was questionable, but to then react was even more inexplicable. Referee Kevin Wright was on the spot and the verdict was a straight red.
That left the onus on Town to take the game to the visitors who held on bitterly as their ability to compete was severely tested by further injuries.
Stretched to breaking point the Robins cracked on 84 minutes when Cadamarteri and Booth had combined to split the defence and as the ball fell to substitute Michael Flynn he was hauled down in the penalty area.
Regular spot specialist Roberts was already in the dug-out so Robbie Williams stepped up for the penalty. His shot was low but not firm enough to beat the left hand of Robins’ keeper Scott Brown.
Town refused to give up the fight and into the third minute of stoppage time they got their reward with Cadamarteri playing a telling role as his cross was headed back across goal by Anthony Pilkington and Andy Butler’s header rescued a point.
