Taylor finds the finish as Robins raise hopes

MATTY Taylor fired Cheltenham to victory and then took the plaudits from his assistant manager Ian Barraclough.

The Robins lifted themselves to five points from safety after a first win on their travels since December, secured by Taylor’s goal 25 minutes from the end.

He has scored in each of his two appearances since signing from Forest Green in the January transfer window.

“Who do you want on the end of it but him?” Barraclough said afterwards, speaking to the media in place of Cheltenham boss Darrell Clarke.

“It’s the only place he can put it, in that corner, and he’s found it. That’s why we wanted to bring him in and that’s why he’s in the building.

“The Derby game and the Bolton game I thought we were excellent and should have come away with something. We were a little bit off it last week, so a perfect response to what could have been a tricky situation and a tricky game, because Cambridge have been quite decent at home.

“The middle of the park, we tightened up, we won most of the second balls, we tried to play a little bit more when we got the ball, and that’s where the goal from Taylor comes in.”

Barraclough also praised goalkeeper Luke Southwood following several vital stops before half time, denying both Lyle Taylor and Jack Lankester.

The Robins had seen a goal disallowed, when Taylor’s shot was diverted in by George Lloyd, only for the offside flag to go up.

Taylor then opened the scoring, but the U’s pressed to get back into the game, missing a great chance ten minutes from the end when Lyle Taylor centred for sub Macauley Bonne to miscue his chance wide from close range.

Neil Harris felt his Cambridge side had plenty of chances to secure a result but bemoaned their failure to take them.

“It was a poor performance that culminates in a really poor result,” said Harris. “It’s my biggest disappointment since I’ve been at the club.

“Today, the first goal was going to be key against Cheltenham. We’ve missed four one-on-ones and two absolute sitters in the six-yard box, had a stonewall penalty turned down and they’ve scored from their only shot on target.

“My glass is definitely half empty. “We gave a poor goal away and we weren’t good enough to score.

“It’s not a good combination in football.”