Saturday 17 August, Globe Arena 3pm.

After two tricky away ties at Mansfield, one in League 2 the other in the League Cup, avoiding defeat in both games and getting through on pens in the latter, it was time for a home game v Cheltenham.
In a tricky and swirling wind on a warm August Saturday, both teams essentially cancelled one another out and in a forgettable encounter, both took a share of the spoils.
Luke Varney had the only Robins effort on target in the entire game, a tame header bouncing for Baz to collect with ease. Up the other end, in perhaps the only excitement generated by the Shrimps, Stockton and Lewis were tripping over each other to try and finish a cross from O’Sullivan, in the end Lewis crashed his shot against the bar and it was cleared away for a corner.

That brief description encapsulated the entire game as both sides tried but failed to negotiate a strong wind, both guilty of overhitting at will resulting in goal kicks and throw-ins all afternoon. The second period was a non event with plenty of perspiration but no inspiration from either side. We could have played until doomsday and nor scored, but so could the Robins.

For me, Kev does brilliantly defensively but has no effect going forward currently, as does Alex and Tuttey, so we are left with three outfield attacking players out of the starting 11, hence no goals scored on our patch as yet. I appreciate we were tight at the back but with 8 defensively minded players at home, it didn’t make for an edifying spectacle.
We finished last season with a flourish using the best of the options at our disposal, ie, Collins and Bennett up top with Cranston running in from midfield. Im sure the home fans would appreciate a similar outlook, as only O’Sullivan, who rightly in my view was awarded the MOM award, looked in any way committed to closing down Cheltenham in the second period.
It was a snooze fest best forgotten!