The sun was shining but the birds weren't singing after this display by the Iron, a first half header from Cheltenham's leading scorer Julian Alsop and a second half smash and grab goal by ex Port Vale striker Tony Naylor condemned the Iron to only their fourth home defeat this season.
Much had been said about this fixture being both clubs game of the season and the Iron definitely needed to win to ensure they kept the pressure on the teams directly above them whilst also cementing thereselves firmly in the play-off positions, Cheltenham though are currently on a magnificent run which has seen them beaten only twice in an amazing 24 games, and with games in hand they in excellent shape to clinch the third automatic promotion spot.
A crowd of just over 5,000 witnessed a pretty poor first half as both teams apprached the
game with caution, former Port Vale striker Tony Naylor trying his luck early on with an ambitious 30 yard drive that led to some pressure by scunthorpe a succession of crosses into the box led to nothing before the first real action saw Iron defender Mark Jackson showing neat footwork on the edge of the box turning smartly to fire in a shot that was comfortably saved by Carl Muggleton standing in for the injured Steve Book, Beagrie then shot high and wide before United's loan striker Mike Jeffrey was lucky the referee did'nt spot him kick out at the Robins John Brough while on the ground.
Beagrie again tried his luck from distance a 30 yard shot that flew just wide of the the left hand post after 20 minutes then on loan (from Wycombe) youngster Martyn Lee curled a free-kick just wide of Evans right hand post,another Beagrie left footer was comfortably saved before Alsop tested Evans from the edge of the box with a rasping drive that was well held by the Iron keeper.Two cracking 30 yard shots within the space of five minutes the first from skipper Beagrie then Cheltenham's Howarth both resulted in clearing the cross-bar by inches.
Then tragedy struck for United on-loan centre-back Tony Vaughan making his debut failed to clear a ball in the box smashing the ball against the on rushing Chelts skipper Mark Yates who found himself with time to chip back across goal for Julian Alsop to nod in his 25th goal of the season after(38min) to send the travelling 300 (a very poor turn out) Cheltenham fans delirious, and it nearly got worse as minutes later John Brough met Lee's corner unchallenged to send a header just over the bar, which saw the half come to a close.
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Scunthorpe though were deeply unlucky when a searching ball from the back caused confusion in the town defence saw Mike Jeffrey with the ball coming over his right shoulder on the edge of the area crack a terrific right foot volley that smashed the left hand post and rebound to safety, then Torpey followed it up with another chance but he shot tamely at Muggleton when well placed after 60 minutes.
Lee Ridley, filling in for the suspended Andy Dawson at left-back, then had a super run down the left flank before crossing for Jeffrey who miss cued from just five yards out as the Iron laid siege to the Robins goal.
Lee Ridley, filling in for the suspended Andy Dawson at left-back, then had a super run down the left flank before crossing for Jeffrey who miss cued from just five yards out as the Iron laid siege to the Robins goal.
Beagrie again getting in a 25 yard shot which failed to hit the target drifting wide of the left post, then Stanton flicking one from 20 yards out just wide as the Iron faithful were thinking it's not going to happen that seemed even more so when Martin Carruthrers on for Jeffrey (67) found himself with time on the edge of the area to rifle a shot straight at the keeper who spilled it straight back to the iron hitman to get in another shot which was blocked by the on rushing Muggleton,heavy pressure followed but the Iron were hit by the old sucker punch breaking down the left wing with Finnegan finding time to cross for Naylor who had an age to pick his spot which he did with precision sidefooting round Evans and straight into the bottom left hand corner to put the game out of reach.
Laws then threw his last dice Graves coming on for Hodges who had a miserable game adding some energy for the last 10 minutes. Carruthers eight yards out failed to connect properly with a shot enabling the keeper to block for a corner from which Alex Calvo-Garcia headed home Beagries far post cross to give United hope on 90 minutes, Garcia then thought he had earned Scunthorpe a point when he turned on the edge of the six yard box to shoot in but it was short-lived as the linesman flagged for off-side.
The game then ended very strangely as Alsop and Stanton were left in the centre circle wrestling the referee went to sort it out then just blew up a very strange decision that now needs a huge effort by the Iron as they set off down to London for the crunch fixture against Leyton Orient a must win match now, full credit must go to Cheltenham though the Alsop/Naylor combination definitely woks and my moneys on them grabbing the third promotion spot.
Iron-Bru.net's Man Of The Match: Matt Sparrow - Showed why Brian Laws kept faith in the youngster with a super energetic performance.