Curtis Tilt’s last-gasp header proved in vain as Salford City slipped to a second successive League Two defeat with a 2-1 loss at Cheltenham Town.
In the dying seconds of the contest, Tilt climbed above his marker to score a late consolation goal after Tommy Blackwell and Jordan Thomas had given the hosts a commanding lead.
Winning is the only cast-iron way to control the narrative in football so when The Ammies recorded their sixth shutout victory on the spin against MK Dons three weeks ago, climbing to third in the league table, Karl Robinson faced less challenging questions.
His side are yet to shake the hangover from their 8-0 defeat to Manchester City earlier in the month, after a disappointing 2-1 loss against Fleetwood last week, familiar failings flared in Gloucestershire as Salford were punished for indecisive penalty area defending.
“We felt that we could have negated their goals by things tactically that we’ve spoken about consistently, but I am pleased with the players’ attitude,” Robinson said after the match.
“I have seen certain aspects I can be pleased with, but certain components you wouldn’t be pleased with.”
It was Salford that, through Hakeeb Adelakun’s brace, produced a ruthlessly clinical performance to win 2-1 when the sides met in September – but six months down the line roles reversed at Whaddon Road as Cheltenham capitalised on lapses in concentration at the back.
The Ammies began the game on the front foot and came close to opening the scoring on 25 minutes when Ryan Watson – despite his history of scoring spectacular volleyed goals – miscued unmarked at the back post to drag his shot from Rosaire Longelo’s cross tamely wide.
Cheltenham broke the deadlock six minutes later as Matty Young parried Ethon Archer’s shot into the path of 21-year-old Tommy Blackwell who converted from close range.
In an end-to-end first period, Salford almost responded immediately, scything through their opponent’s defence before Connor McAleny’s strike was blocked over the crossbar by Robins’ goalkeeper Joe Day.
After the interval, Cheltenham began to sit deeper looking to exploit growing spaces on the counter-attack as Salford committed numbers forward in search of an equaliser.
The home side came close to doubling their advantage when Blackwell pounced on a loose Luke Garbutt touch, allowing Matty Taylor to slip Jordan Thomas in behind the Salford defence but, carrying the ball wide and off-balance, the right-winger, crossed onto the relieved hands of Young.
But Salford’s reprieve would not last, and, on 80 minutes, Cheltenham scored a deserved second, when Thomas took advantage of statuesque Ammies defending to smash the ball into the roof of the net from inside the six-yard box.
Deep into added time, Karl Robinson’s men halved the deficit as Tilt’s header from Liam Shepard’s corner found a way through Day, but Cheltenham had done enough to secure all three points.
Too little too late, and it’s a third defeat in a row.
2-1 | #CLTSAL pic.twitter.com/AQqNjnND5m
— Salford City FC (@SalfordCityFC) January 25, 2025
After the full-time whistle sounded, Robinson bemoaned his team’s wastefulness in front of goal, but praised the commitment shown by Salford’s players:
“When you come away from home at this level, you are just hoping that when you do well, you take your chances and when they get their momentum, it doesn’t fall for them, but today it did once or twice and they took their opportunities when they came along.
“We kept going right to the end of injury time and I can’t ask for any more in that respect. Injuries have caught up with us a bit but I know there is more to come from us.”
With defeat at Cheltenham, Salford have fallen to eighth in League Two and are two points off the play-off positions.
Robinson will hope his side can end their January form slump as they welcome Newport County to the Peninsula stadium on Tuesday 28th January, kick-off is at 7:45 pm.
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