GM Vauxhall Conference - 19/12/97 - Broadhall Way
During their first season back in the Conference, Cheltenham faced a festive Friday night trip to Stevenage's impressive Broadhall Way. The game was switched in an attempt to allow fans to complete their last minute Christmas shopping on the Saturday.
Stevenage, managed by Paul Fairclough, were one of the biggest clubs in non-league football at the time and had won the Conference two years earlier. Cheltenham were enjoying life in the upper echelon of the semi-professional game and had already taken a number of teams by surprise.
Both clubs had made it through to the third round of the FA Cup the previous week and both were high on confidence, if a little jaded from their cup exploits.
The first half took a while to come to life and it was the home side that carved out the majority of the chances. Stevenage took the lead just before half-time through combative midfielder Stuart Beevor.
While the first half was largely one to forget for the Robins, the second will live on long in the memory of the fans who had made it to Hertfordshire, despite their coach breaking down en route.
The Stevenage defence, marshalled superbly by England semi-professional international Mark Smith, looked rock solid during the first 45 minutes and it took two pieces of sublime finishing for Cheltenham to break through.
The equaliser came from the right foot of Jimmy Smith in the 53rd minute. Smith cut inside from the left flank and lobbed the ball delicately over Stevenage keeper Des Gallagher, to send the travelling fans assembled behind the goal wild.
In a season full of pleasant surprises, Cheltenham took the lead 20 minutes later and it was a goal that had Steve Cotterill written all over it. Cheltenham's set pieces were always right out of the top drawer under Cotterill and 20 minutes after the equaliser, his side crafted an imaginative winner.
It was the 'pretend to have messed it up' free-kick routine and involved Bob Bloomer, Jimmy Smith and eventual scorer Dale Watkins. Bloomer and Smith played out an attempted strike at goal and then reprimanded each other for getting in the way. In the meantime as the Stevenage defensive wall and goalkeeper's concentration lapsed for a split second and Watkins hit a scorching drive into the corner of the net to give Cheltenham the lead.
There was a party atmosphere on the away terrace as the Robins fans sensed another big scalp on their travels and despite some late pressure from Borough, Cheltenham held out for a memorable win.
Stevenage 1 (1) (Beevor 43) Cheltenham 2 (0) (Smith 53, Watkins 75) Stevenage: Gallagher, Kirby, March M. Smith, Trott, Beevor (Stapleton 82), Perkins, Trebble, Crawshaw, Wordsworth, Love.
Cheltenham: Book, Duff, Victory, Banks, Freeman, Benton, Howells, C. Walker (Crisp 62), J. Smith, Watkins, Bloomer.
Referee: R. Beeby (Northampton)
Attendance: 1,467