KAYODE ODEJAYI ensured Newcastle United will face a potentially fraught trip to Whaddon Road in the FA Cup fourth round with the goal that secured Cheltenham Town’s passage beyond the third round for only the second time in their history.
Odejayi’s close-range effort after 52 minutes separated the Coca-Cola League Two sides and on the evidence of this display, the Barclays Premiership side will not find easy relief from a difficult season in their visit to Gloucestershire.
A sixth successive league defeat, at home to Boston United on Saturday, had led to Keith Curle, the Chester City manager, imposing a rigorous 9 to 5 regime on his players and his attempt to shock them into life appeared to have paid off during a bright opening for the home side. Chester initially looked likely to go through, with Michael Branch causing the visiting team problems on his return after a six-week layoff through injury.
The forward’s quick thinking almost brought a goal after sixteen minutes opener when he intercepted Brian Wilson’s pass before Craig Armstrong stepped in with a well-timed tackle and Branch was again involved moments later when he set up Ben Davies for a low drive that tested Shane Higgs, the Cheltenham goalkeeper.
But Chester’s dominance ended midway through the first half when Cheltenham began to assert the form that has seen them lose only once in eleven games. Wilson wasted a good chance before the breakthrough came seven minutes after the interval, when Odejayi took advantage of a static Chester defence to score from eight yards.
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CHESTER CITY (4-4-2): S Gillet — S McNiven (sub: A El Kholti, 86min), D Artell, L Dimech, C Regan — J Walker (sub: M Richardson, 69), S Drummond, T Curtis, B Davies — G Blundell, M Branch. Substitutes not used: R Brookfield, S Vaughan, P Bolland. Booked: Dimech.
CHELTENHAM TOWN (4-4-2): S Higgs — J Gill, G Caines, M Townsend, C Armstrong — J Melligan, J Finnigan, D Bird, B Wilson — K Odejayi (sub: D Spencer, 88), S Guinan. Substitutes not used: S Brown, A Connolly, A Vincent, M Wylde.
Referee: A Hall.