Match ends, Cheltenham Town 4, Tranmere Rovers 0.
CheltenhamCheltenham Town4TranmereTranmere Rovers0
Cheltenham Town eased to victory against promotion rivals Tranmere Rovers, earning their biggest league win of the season in the process.
Three first-half goals gave the hosts a sizeable cushion before Michael Duff's side wrapped things up with a stunning Callum Wright strike early in the second period.
Conor Thomas grabbed Cheltenham's fourth-minute opener, slotting home from close range as the visitors failed to deal with Ben Tozer's long throw.
It was a similar situation in the 14th minute when William Boyle diverted a Wright shot over the line following another throw and it could have been three soon after but Alfie May's effort was blocked by the legs of Tranmere keeper Joe Murphy.
A Kieron Morris shot was deflected into the keeper's arms as the visitors looked for a way back into the game, only for Cheltenham to score again in the 42nd minute when Liam Sercombe sent May in on goal and he slotted past Murphy.
Wright's long-range special came in the 57th minute, a sweet volley after another Tozer throw was only half cleared, while Tranmere's best chance of a consolation came in added time when David Nugent latched on to an Otis Khan cross but fired straight at keeper Josh Griffiths.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Cheltenham
Formation 3-5-2
- 20Griffiths
- 2Long
- 4Tozer
- 15Boyle
- 11BlairSubstituted forRaglanat 83'minutes
- 23WrightSubstituted forAzazat 82'minutes
- 7ThomasSubstituted forChapmanat 26'minutes
- 26SercombeBooked at 35mins
- 3Hussey
- 9SmithBooked at 52minsSubstituted forWilliamsat 76'minutes
- 10MaySubstituted forVassilevat 76'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Flinders
- 5Raglan
- 14Williams
- 18Azaz
- 19Lloyd
- 28Chapman
- 29Vassilev
Tranmere
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 13Murphy
- 17Khan
- 26Clarke
- 21RaySubstituted forRidehalghat 68'minutes
- 18MacDonald
- 2O'ConnorBooked at 45minsSubstituted forLloyd-McGoldrickat 45'minutes
- 8Spearing
- 7MorrisSubstituted forNugentat 45'minutes
- 19FeeneySubstituted forCrawfordat 79'minutes
- 22Lewis
- 14Woolery
Substitutes
- 3Ridehalgh
- 4Nelson
- 15Crawford
- 16Kirby
- 28Nugent
- 30Jones
- 35Lloyd-McGoldrick
- Referee:
- John Busby
Match Stats
Home TeamCheltenhamAway TeamTranmere
- Possession
- Home35%
- Away65%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away2
- Corners
- Home3
- Away0
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Cheltenham Town 4, Tranmere Rovers 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Alister Crawford (Tranmere Rovers) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jay Spearing.
Post update
Attempt saved. David Nugent (Tranmere Rovers) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Otis Khan.
Post update
Attempt missed. Indiana Vassilev (Cheltenham Town) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Andy Williams with a headed pass.
Post update
Attempt missed. Liam Sercombe (Cheltenham Town) right footed shot from outside the box is too high following a set piece situation.
Post update
Foul by Otis Khan (Tranmere Rovers).
Post update
Chris Hussey (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Calum MacDonald (Tranmere Rovers).
Post update
Sean Long (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Danny Lloyd (Tranmere Rovers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Finn Azaz (Cheltenham Town).
Post update
Foul by David Nugent (Tranmere Rovers).
Post update
Chris Hussey (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Cheltenham Town. Charlie Raglan replaces Matty Blair.
Substitution
Substitution, Cheltenham Town. Finn Azaz replaces Callum Wright.
Post update
Attempt missed. Paul Lewis (Tranmere Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Peter Clarke with a headed pass following a set piece situation.
Post update
Liam Ridehalgh (Tranmere Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Andy Williams (Cheltenham Town).
Substitution
Substitution, Tranmere Rovers. Alister Crawford replaces Liam Feeney.
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