Cheltenham Town finished their pre-season campaign with a 2-0 victory, defeating League One opposition in Jon Brady’s Northampton Town.
The Robins, back at home against opposition from a league above, gave 10 new signings and one trialist, believed to be Ibrahim Bakare, a start from the off. Bristol City trialist duo Kai Churchley and Callum Wood were also listed among the substitutes, hoping to earn a temporary move to Whaddon Road.
The Cobblers started with a strong eleven, which included first-team regulars such as Sam Hoskins, Jon Guthrie and new signing Tom Eaves, who recently joined the club from Rotherham United.
Northampton had the first chance, with striker Eaves firing the ball towards goal. However, the shot was well saved by the hosts’ goalkeeper, Owen Evans.
New signing and Cardiff City loanee Joel Colwill had the first chance for the hosts but his effort was saved by his Northampton counterpart Lee Burge. Colwill then had his second chance, but his low-driven effort at the near post only ended up in Burge’s arms once more.
Colwill again proved to be pulling the strings in midfield, with his cross-headed goalwards by Harry Pell. However, Pell mistimed the header with Burge called into action again.
It wasn’t long before Cheltenham Town got their deserved lead as Ryan Bowman got on the end of Liam Dulson’s cross and turned his effort home for his first goal in red and white. It was soon two, with Bowman being in the right place at the right time again to turn Pell’s deflected effort home for his second of the afternoon.
Unfortunately, head coach Michael Flynn was forced into an early substitution with merely 25 minutes on the clock as Southampton loanee Lewis Payne came on to replace Arkell Jude-Boyd, who went off with a potential injury.
Eaves was close to halving the deficit midway through the first half, but his deflected effort bobbled into Evans’ arms.
Bowman almost had his hattrick around the half an hour mark, but he couldn’t meet Ryan Hayne’s cross sweetly enough. A goalline scramble between Northampton’s defence and Cheltenham’s attack looked as if it was going to be three, but the Cobblers did just enough to divert the ball wide of the post.
The visitors themselves made an earlier-than-expected substitution before halftime, with Will Hondermack coming on to replace Tyler Maglorie before the referee blew for half-time.
Half-Time: Cheltenham Town 2-0 Northampton Town
The hosts made a double change at the break with Matty Taylor and Tom Bradbury entering the fray, replacing new signings Bowman and Levi Laing. Northampton started the half with more attacking intent, enjoying some possession. They made their second substitution with Jack Baldwin coming on for Jordan Willis just before the hour mark.
Soon after, Cameron McGeehan’s shot saw Evans equal to it yet again, but the visitors did look much better than in the first half.
The Robins made a further five substitutions. Liam Kinsella, Tom Pett and Ethon Archer, Jordan Thomas and Bristol City trialist Callum Wood came on on for Pell, Haynes, Colwill, Harrison Sohna and Scot Bennett.
Northampton followed suit with three of their own, with Matt Dibley-Dias, James Wilson and Callum Morton replacing Eaves, Ben Fox and Mitch Pinnock. A few minutes later, the Cobblers brought on Josh Tomlinson for Aaron McGowan.
The other Bristol City trialist, Kai Churchley, also joined by academy graduate Freddy Willcox, then entered the fray for Cheltenham Town, replacing Dulson and Trialist A, Bakare.
With about 10 minutes left on the clock, Taylor flashed a volley just wide of the far post for the hosts, before the visitors made another change, with Ali Koiki being replaced by Liam McCarron.
Flynn’s side won a penalty with less than three minutes left after Kinsella was deemed to have been tripped in the area by Baldwin. However, Taylor missed the subsequent spot-kick as Burge saved it with his feet to keep the scoreline at 2-0 before the referee ended the match as the Robins came away victorious in their final match before the 2024/25 campaign commences.
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