Robins fight back twice for a point against strugglers
KION Etete’s late header earned Cheltenham Town a 2-2 draw against relegation battlers Gillingham.
The Robins had to come from behind twice to pick up the result that takes them to their highest ever points tally at League One level (55).
Vadaine Oliver had scored one and set up the other for the Gills, who started the day in the bottom four.
They opened the scoring in the 14th minute after Olly Lee’s corner was cleared to Ben Reeves, who nodded it to Robbie Mckenzie and he found Oliver, who had stayed onside and beat Owen Evans.
Evans reacted well to parry an effort from Reeves on the turn, but at the other end Aaron Chapman was forced into action by Liam Sercombe’s low effort.
Cheltenham levelled five minutes before half-time after Etete raced from near the halfway line and fed Alfie May.
The Robins’ leading scorer’s shot was blocked by the feet of Chapman, but Callum Wright followed up to net his ninth of the campaign.
The Gills regained the lead in the 59th minute when Oliver turned provider with a neat backheel to Reeves, and he found the bottom left corner with a fine curling finish beyond the reach of Evans.
A vicious free-kick from Lee grazed the woodwork as Gillingham nearly made it 3-1. Then Cheltenham substitute Aaron Ramsey almost scored with his first kick, but he had an extra touch and Max Ehmer made an excellent block in the box.
Cheltenham equalised for a second time when Sercombe’s corner was nodded back into the middle by Sean Long and Etete nodded it over the line from close range in the 78th minute.
Conor Masterson hit the post deep into time added on, but the third goal of Etete’s loan spell from Tottenham Hotspur keeps Cheltenham in the top half of the table.
“They made it tough, hard and they were organised,” said manager Michael Duff.
“They put it in from everywhere and with Vadaine Oliver they have a constant threat in the air.
“For the first half of the first half, we were poor. We didn’t use the ball well enough, or do the patterns we want them to do.
“The second half of the first half I thought we were much better. We managed to play through and get into the centre forwards, and we had some really good chances.
“The goal we gave away was really poor and they have scored from a throw-in and a set play, so that’s a frustration.
“We’ve had to play some good football, their keeper has made some good saves and it didn’t quite drop for us a few times.
“AJ (Aaron Ramsey) has had one where he’s had to take another touch, and there was another one that wouldn’t drop, but that’s credit to them.
“The blocks and saves that they made and the fighting spirit they have, because they were 10 points adrift when Neil (Harris) took over… I don’t know where they are in the form guide since then, but it wouldn’t be in the bottom four. It’s tough.
“You can’t question the application and the determination of the players. There were pockets of some really good football and then some poor decision making. They are still showing they want to push and that’s the way they work.”
On the record points tally, Duff added: “It is a brilliant achievement and, again, the players deserve the credit. Somehow we are still 12th. I am not quite sure how we are managing to hang on.
“The club is 135 years old, so there is a lot of history. Look at the size of the some of the clubs in this league. I know there have always been big clubs in League One, but I don’t think there’s been as many as there are at the minute.
“The players deserve all the credit, along with the staff, the board and the supporters, who have been great.
“They’ve had their ups and downs and that’s what a season of football looks like, but from start to end it’s been another upward journey.
Cheltenham Town: Evans; Long, Pollock, Boyle; Thomas (Ramsey 62), Wright, Bonds, Sercombe, Hutchinson (Freestone 83); Etete, May. Subs not used: Flinders, Raglan, Chapman, Lloyd, Brown.
Gillingham: Chapman; Tucker, Ehmer, Masterson; Jackson, Thompson, Reeves (Tutonda 81), Lee (Phillips 73), Mckenzie; Oliver, Kelman. Subs not used: Dahlberg, Dicksonpeters, Sithole, Maghoma, Akehurst.
Attendance: 4,415 (705 away).