So near yet so far…

As much as Cheltenham’s form in April has given some cause for optimism for next season, the fact that their football league safety has still to be mathematically secured shows that much work still needs to be done. Of course it would take a sequence of freak results to relegate the Robins, but most fans would have expected safety to have been sealed before now. Nothing should be taken away from Mark Yates and the job he has done in his time at Whaddon Road, but two consecutive home games left Cheltenham with the ideal chance to put their relegation fears to bed and they failed to do so.

In many ways the Darlington game last week summarised everything that has improved since Christmas and also highlighted the frailties that still lie within. The first half was a total shambles as dire defending gave the Quakers a three goal headstart within the opening half hour. But, whilst a few months ago the Robins would have folded, a spirited fightback secured a point. The second half was everything the opening 45 wasn’t as the game was grabbed by the scruff of the neck and every attack looked like a real goalscoring opportunity. Michael Pook seemed to revel in his role as captain and is surely the most improved player in the second half of the season, whilst Josh Low threatened before being taken off.

The match said alot about the mental strength (and sometimes lack of) of the Cheltenham players. These days much is made of the psychological side of the game and the desire to fightback was encouraging. But, the nightmare opening 45 could be put down to a laidback mindset and the presumption that we could just turn up and win. Overall though it showed that as much as some individuals might have played themselves into contention for next season, there are still some who are clearly not good enough and should look to pastures new.

Last weekend’s clash with Aldershot was also something of a mixed bag as the Robins were unlucky to come away defeated against superior opposition. A similar approach from the start against Darlington would have seen Cheltenham definitely safe by now, but they aren’t. Mark Yates will have learnt alot about his players in recent weeks, but the last couple of games will have again raised doubts about some of the players he inherited.