May’s strike proves decisive on his return

ALFIE May marked his return from injury with the only goal as Cheltenham secured a 1-0 home win over Wycombe.

Making his first League One start since October 1 due to an ankle injury, May cut inside after Dan Nlundulu’s pass and scored with the aid of a deflection off Nick Freeman in the 26th minute.

It was May’s fourth league strike of the season as he piled more misery on Wycombe, against whom he netted four times in a 5-5 draw last season.

There was little between the sides in the first half, with Josh Scowen seeing a shot blocked for Wycombe after Anis Mehmeti’s early run.

May sparked Cheltenham into life with a shot in the 13th minute that was blocked, with Liam Sercombe’s follow-up also charged down.

Wycombe’s David Wheeler sent a shot just past the left post five minutes later before May broke the deadlock.

Alfie Mawson saw a shot deflected inches wide for Wycombe in the 58th minute and only a last-ditch challenge from Charlie Raglan stopped Lewis Wing from levelling, after Brandon Hanlan’s cross from the right, as Cheltenham held out for their first win over Wanderers since 2013.

Afterwards, Cheltenham manager Wade Elliott was asked if 1-0 wins like that were some of the best

CHELTENHAM TOWN ....... 1 WYCOMBE WDR ............... 0

you can have as a head coach. He replied: “I don’t care how we win. When I did the press on Friday, I spoke about Wycombe’s stats and that they are a really good side and I think they’ll be in the play-offs. It’s a massive win, brilliant performance.

Asked what had made it a brilliant performance, he answered: “First half we made decent chances and openings. We get a little bit of quality from Alfie and I know it’s deflected, but he’s worked the opportunity really well. We prepped really well and knew what their threats were going to be.

“In the second half when we needed to be tough and resilient and dogged, we stood up and they stood up to the challenge really well.”

The result leaves Cheltenham eight points off the relegation zone and eight points off the play-offs now.

Cheltenham (1) 1 Wycombe (0) 0

Cheltenham: Southwood,Raglan,Caleb Taylor,Long,Broom,Bonds Sercombe,Williams (Hutchinson 79),Olayinka (Jackson 68) N’Lundulu (Norton 67),May (Brown 84).

Subs Not Used: Bradbury,Adshead,MacDonald. Goals: May 26.

Wycombe: Stryjek,Grimmer (McCarthy 77),Mawson,Tafazolli,Obita Scowen,Freeman (Horgan 77),McCleary (Hanlan 64) Wheeler (Wing 64),Mehmeti (Mellor 86),Vokes.

Subs Not Used: Dickinson,Wakely.

Booked: Scowen.

Att: 4,078

Ref: Marc Edwards (Durham).