Match ends, Cheltenham Town 0, Stevenage 1.
CheltenhamCheltenham Town0StevenageStevenage1
Substitute Ben Kennedy kept Stevenage in the hunt for a play-off place as they saw off bottom side Cheltenham.
Stevenage wasted a clear chance early on when Charlie Lee tapped gently into the arms of Trevor Carson.
Craig Braham-Barrett hit the post for Cheltenham in the opening minute of the second half before Will Packwood went close with a header.
Kennedy was then tripped by Jack Deaman in the 78th minute and he stepped up to send goalkeeper Carson the wrong way.
Graham Westley's side earned their first win in six and sit sixth in the League Two table, just one point inside the play-off places, while Cheltenham are three points from safety.
Cheltenham Town manager Gary Johnson told BBC Radio Gloucestershire:
"We had 20 shots compared to their 7, but we needed a bit of quality in our shooting and that's down to mental toughness.
"We've got to be more professional than we were today. We flashed at the ball and didn't hit the target from good positions.
"I felt that some could have done more, some have not quite got that fitness, and for the next few games it's going to be about picking the right team.
"Hopefully we're not leaving it too late. Every game that goes by is getting even tighter"
Stevenage manager Graham Westley told BBC Three Counties Radio:
"It's never easy on a very difficult pitch. You've got to be resilient, you've got to be hardworking and you've got to be brave.
"If you don't put fresh legs in you tend to suffer. In fairness as the game wore on I thought we did run on and that led to the goals and the chances later on.
"I knew that others were likely to drop points today and I knew it was a great opportunity to build our position.
"Our destiny is in our hands and it's up to us to go on winning games."
Line-ups
Cheltenham
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Carson
- 2VaughanBooked at 82mins
- 26PackwoodSubstituted forDeamanat 53'minutes
- 5Brown
- 3Braham-Barrett
- 20Wynter
- 16Hanks
- 8Richards
- 28McDonaldSubstituted forHaynesat 65'minutesBooked at 79mins
- 39MansetSubstituted forHarradat 74'minutesBooked at 77mins
- 10Burns
Substitutes
- 9Haynes
- 12Gould
- 15Deaman
- 17Kotwica
- 24Sparrow
- 25Berry
- 29Harrad
Stevenage
Formation 4-4-2
- 16DayBooked at 18mins
- 7Whelpdale
- 3Dembele
- 19Wells
- 23OkimoBooked at 26mins
- 50MartinSubstituted forDeaconat 76'minutes
- 8WaltonSubstituted forAndradeat 65'minutes
- 6Bond
- 18Parrett
- 20BeardsleySubstituted forKennedyat 57'minutes
- 22Lee
Substitutes
- 1Beasant
- 11Pett
- 12McAllister
- 32Conlon
- 33Kennedy
- 34Deacon
- 36Andrade
- Referee:
- Richard Clark
- Attendance:
- 2,858
Match Stats
Home TeamCheltenhamAway TeamStevenage
- Possession
- Home51%
- Away49%
- Shots
- Home10
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away4
- Corners
- Home4
- Away11
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Cheltenham Town 0, Stevenage 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Danny Haynes (Cheltenham Town) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Post update
Foul by Dean Parrett (Stevenage).
Post update
Lee Vaughan (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Ben Kennedy (Stevenage) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Foul by Dean Parrett (Stevenage).
Post update
Joe Hanks (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Jerome Okimo (Stevenage) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jordan Wynter (Cheltenham Town).
Post update
Ben Kennedy (Stevenage) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jordan Wynter (Cheltenham Town).
Post update
Ben Kennedy (Stevenage) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Craig Braham-Barrett (Cheltenham Town).
Booking
Lee Vaughan (Cheltenham Town) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Dean Parrett (Stevenage) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Lee Vaughan (Cheltenham Town).
Booking
Craig Braham-Barrett (Cheltenham Town) is shown the yellow card.
Goal!
Goal! Cheltenham Town 0, Stevenage 1. Ben Kennedy (Stevenage) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Booking
Shaun Harrad (Cheltenham Town) is shown the yellow card.
