BURTON ALBION 5 CHELTENHAM TOWN 6 (Video added below)
This game will be remembered by all Cheltenham Town fans as one of the strangest games ever seen but credit must go to Mark Yates and his Robins squad. Eleven goals and a Michael Pook hat trick tells just half the story. Cheltenham seemed to be dead and buried at half time but a superb attacking display in the second half gave Cheltenham a superb boost in the ongoing relegation battle.
Cheltenham Town strode out in a 4-5-1 formation this afternoon with Andy Gallinagh and David Hutton both returning the the squad at the expense of Ridley and Hayles. Josh Low started the game at left back and Justin Richards was chosen to lead the line alone with the attacking support of Elito, Hutton and Thornhill.
Article continues Advertisement 2 GOAL: The Brewers opened the scoring courtesy of Shaun Harrad who lost his marker and fired a volley in past Brown.
8: Burton made a flying start to the match and it caught Cheltenham by surprise. Burton's Taylor fired a good angled strike over the bar to give Cheltenham another warning.
10: Harrad proved himself a nuisance once again with a low drive into the box from the right wing. Kabba dived in to header the ball but fractionally missed.
16 SUBSTITUTION: Yates made the early change with Lee Ridley replacing the injured Josh Low.
20: Andy Gallinagh came close to a yellow following an outburst at the linesman after a decision didn't go Cheltenham's way.
23: Big mistake from Ashley Eastham who left the ball so Harrad could go one on one with Brown. The Burton striker attempted to strike the ball over Brown but the Cheltenham number one pulled off a magnificent save to deny Albion a second.
32 GOAL: Townsend gave away a penalty although it looked a very soft decision. He was adjudged to have pulled down Harrad. The striker secured his brace by smashing the ball past Brown and putting the Brewers 2-0 up.
33: Harrad almost bagged a hat trick when a Burton counter attack penned Cheltenham back but his 18 yard strike drifted wide.
40 BOOKING: Michael Pook was yellow carded for a clumsy foul.
42: First real chance of the game for Cheltenham. Elito's cross was an excellent one and Thornhill's strike was blocked by a defender. The ball was sent back into the box but Albion cleared their lines well.
Half Time: Burton 2-0 Robins
46: Medy Elito tested Krysiak earlier with a decent low drive following a Hutton cross. Krysiak got down well and denied Cheltenham a way back into the game,
53 GOAL: Some dogged play from Hutton allowed him to steal possession from Parkes on the right wing and the pacy winger dribbled inside the area to deliver an unmissable opportunity for Richards. The former Kidderminster frontman couldn't miss and put the Robins back in with a chance.
56 GOAL: Sensational goal from Medy Elito. Michael Pook delivered a quick cross into some space in midfield and the young winger smashed the shot in first time with his right foot and left Krysiak with no chance.
58 GOAL: Townsend own goal. Cleveland Taylor delivered a wicked cross into Cheltenham's area and it deflected off Townsend and into his own net. Bitter blow for Cheltenham.
60 SUBSTITUTION: Romuald Boco replaced Maghoma.
63: The game became very, very open. Cheltenham had another effort on goal from Gallinagh but the Burton defence closed the shot down well. Much better from the Robins.
64 SUBSTITUTION: Andy Gallinagh made way for Julian Alsop.
66: More fantastic work from Medy Elito whose trickery opened up an attacking opportunity for Cheltenham. Matt Thornhill eventually picked up the ball and fired in a curling shot but Krysiak saved well.
72 GOAL: Kabba fired in from close range to net Burton's fourth goal. Aaron Lescott's weak headed clearance gave the Burton striker the opportunity.
73: Richards almost got his second of the game. Lescott's cross was a brilliant delivery but the finishing header was tipped over by Krysiak.
78: Burton almost grabbed another when Kabba slid in on Scott Brown who had the ball in possession. Kabba took the ball but it dribbled against the edge of the post. At first look it seemed like a foul on Brown.
81: An overhead attempt from Hutton just flew over the bar. It was Ridley's long throw and a flick on from Alsop that provided the opportunity.
84 GOAL: Alsop was fouled by Parke on the edge of the box which gave Cheltenham a chance from the free kick. Michael Pook stepped up and smashed a low drive into the back of the net to set up a nervous final six minutes.
85 GOAL: Burton pegged Cheltenham back once again through Steve Kabba. Shaun Harrad delivered a good low cross and Kabba slid in to make it five for Albion.
87 GOAL: Michael Pook fired in a 20 yard drive which deflected off Boco and looped in over Krysiak. Unbelievable game.
88: Julian Alsop hit a screamer from 25 yards but it flew over Krysiak's goal.
90 GOAL: Scott Brown fired a long freekick into the danger area which was flicked on by Julian Alsop into the path of Richards. Richards calmly slipped the ball past Krysiak to draw Cheltenham level.
90+4 GOAL: Michael Pook scored a hat trick with a superb drive into the back of the net from 25 yards to give the Robins a dramatic win.
Full Time: Burton 5-6 Robins
Burton Albion (4-4-2): Krysiak (GK); Corbett, James, Parkes, Boertien; Taylor, McGrath (C), Penn, Maghoma (Boco 60); Kabba, Harrad
Subs not used: Poole (GK), Webster, Walker, Phillips, Pearson, Grocott
Cheltenham Town (4-5-1): Brown (GK); Lescott, Townsend (C), Eastham, Low (Ridley 16); Hutton, Pook, Thornhill, Gallinagh (Alsop 64), Elito; Richards
Subs not used: Puddy (GK), Duff, Andrew, Watkins, Hayles
Referee: C. Boyeson
Attendance: 2,500
Robins Star Man: Michael Pook - A hat trick for the central midfielder in a game which will go down in history at Cheltenham Town Football Club.
James Brown from the Pirelli Stadium
Acknowledgement to CTFC Official Website
This game will be remembered by all Cheltenham Town fans as one of the strangest games ever seen but credit must go to Mark Yates and his Robins squad. Eleven goals and a Michael Pook hat trick tells just half the story. Cheltenham seemed to be dead and buried at half time but a superb attacking display in the second half gave Cheltenham a superb boost in the ongoing relegation battle.
Cheltenham Town strode out in a 4-5-1 formation this afternoon with Andy Gallinagh and David Hutton both returning the the squad at the expense of Ridley and Hayles. Josh Low started the game at left back and Justin Richards was chosen to lead the line alone with the attacking support of Elito, Hutton and Thornhill.
Article continues Advertisement 2 GOAL: The Brewers opened the scoring courtesy of Shaun Harrad who lost his marker and fired a volley in past Brown.
8: Burton made a flying start to the match and it caught Cheltenham by surprise. Burton's Taylor fired a good angled strike over the bar to give Cheltenham another warning.
10: Harrad proved himself a nuisance once again with a low drive into the box from the right wing. Kabba dived in to header the ball but fractionally missed.
16 SUBSTITUTION: Yates made the early change with Lee Ridley replacing the injured Josh Low.
20: Andy Gallinagh came close to a yellow following an outburst at the linesman after a decision didn't go Cheltenham's way.
23: Big mistake from Ashley Eastham who left the ball so Harrad could go one on one with Brown. The Burton striker attempted to strike the ball over Brown but the Cheltenham number one pulled off a magnificent save to deny Albion a second.
32 GOAL: Townsend gave away a penalty although it looked a very soft decision. He was adjudged to have pulled down Harrad. The striker secured his brace by smashing the ball past Brown and putting the Brewers 2-0 up.
33: Harrad almost bagged a hat trick when a Burton counter attack penned Cheltenham back but his 18 yard strike drifted wide.
40 BOOKING: Michael Pook was yellow carded for a clumsy foul.
42: First real chance of the game for Cheltenham. Elito's cross was an excellent one and Thornhill's strike was blocked by a defender. The ball was sent back into the box but Albion cleared their lines well.
Half Time: Burton 2-0 Robins
46: Medy Elito tested Krysiak earlier with a decent low drive following a Hutton cross. Krysiak got down well and denied Cheltenham a way back into the game,
53 GOAL: Some dogged play from Hutton allowed him to steal possession from Parkes on the right wing and the pacy winger dribbled inside the area to deliver an unmissable opportunity for Richards. The former Kidderminster frontman couldn't miss and put the Robins back in with a chance.
56 GOAL: Sensational goal from Medy Elito. Michael Pook delivered a quick cross into some space in midfield and the young winger smashed the shot in first time with his right foot and left Krysiak with no chance.
58 GOAL: Townsend own goal. Cleveland Taylor delivered a wicked cross into Cheltenham's area and it deflected off Townsend and into his own net. Bitter blow for Cheltenham.
60 SUBSTITUTION: Romuald Boco replaced Maghoma.
63: The game became very, very open. Cheltenham had another effort on goal from Gallinagh but the Burton defence closed the shot down well. Much better from the Robins.
64 SUBSTITUTION: Andy Gallinagh made way for Julian Alsop.
66: More fantastic work from Medy Elito whose trickery opened up an attacking opportunity for Cheltenham. Matt Thornhill eventually picked up the ball and fired in a curling shot but Krysiak saved well.
72 GOAL: Kabba fired in from close range to net Burton's fourth goal. Aaron Lescott's weak headed clearance gave the Burton striker the opportunity.
73: Richards almost got his second of the game. Lescott's cross was a brilliant delivery but the finishing header was tipped over by Krysiak.
78: Burton almost grabbed another when Kabba slid in on Scott Brown who had the ball in possession. Kabba took the ball but it dribbled against the edge of the post. At first look it seemed like a foul on Brown.
81: An overhead attempt from Hutton just flew over the bar. It was Ridley's long throw and a flick on from Alsop that provided the opportunity.
84 GOAL: Alsop was fouled by Parke on the edge of the box which gave Cheltenham a chance from the free kick. Michael Pook stepped up and smashed a low drive into the back of the net to set up a nervous final six minutes.
85 GOAL: Burton pegged Cheltenham back once again through Steve Kabba. Shaun Harrad delivered a good low cross and Kabba slid in to make it five for Albion.
87 GOAL: Michael Pook fired in a 20 yard drive which deflected off Boco and looped in over Krysiak. Unbelievable game.
88: Julian Alsop hit a screamer from 25 yards but it flew over Krysiak's goal.
90 GOAL: Scott Brown fired a long freekick into the danger area which was flicked on by Julian Alsop into the path of Richards. Richards calmly slipped the ball past Krysiak to draw Cheltenham level.
90+4 GOAL: Michael Pook scored a hat trick with a superb drive into the back of the net from 25 yards to give the Robins a dramatic win.
Full Time: Burton 5-6 Robins
Burton Albion (4-4-2): Krysiak (GK); Corbett, James, Parkes, Boertien; Taylor, McGrath (C), Penn, Maghoma (Boco 60); Kabba, Harrad
Subs not used: Poole (GK), Webster, Walker, Phillips, Pearson, Grocott
Cheltenham Town (4-5-1): Brown (GK); Lescott, Townsend (C), Eastham, Low (Ridley 16); Hutton, Pook, Thornhill, Gallinagh (Alsop 64), Elito; Richards
Subs not used: Puddy (GK), Duff, Andrew, Watkins, Hayles
Referee: C. Boyeson
Attendance: 2,500
Robins Star Man: Michael Pook - A hat trick for the central midfielder in a game which will go down in history at Cheltenham Town Football Club.
James Brown from the Pirelli Stadium
Acknowledgement to CTFC Official Website