Match ends, Cheltenham Town 1, Carlisle United 0.
Danny Wright eventually made Cheltenham's pressure pay to see off promotion-chasing Carlisle at Whaddon Road.
The Robins had endured a frustrating evening despite bossing much of the contest before second-half substitute Wright bundled home James Dayton's high cross at the far post in the 85th minute.
It was the least Cheltenham deserved for being the more enterprising side on a tricky Whaddon Road surface as Gary Johnson's men put together three straight wins in League Two for the first time this season.
Carl Winchester and the lively Billy Waters went close for the hosts early on but United were agonisingly close to a spectacular opener after 17 minutes when Mike Jones hit the crossbar from 25 yards.
Waters fired a half-volley straight at goalkeeper Mark Gillespie eight minutes before half-time as the hosts remained on the front foot, while Kyle Wootton's point-blank header was pushed away seconds prior to the interval.
After the break, Wootton thumped over after connecting with Kyle Storer's wild blast, Winchester fired wide of the near post and Wright somehow scooped over from six yards five minutes after coming on.
But with time ticking away, Wright made no mistake to give Cheltenham a nine-point cushion over the bottom two.
Match report supplied by the Press Association.
Line-ups
Cheltenham
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Brown
- 23OnariaseBooked at 87mins
- 15BoyleBooked at 39mins
- 32Plavotic
- 2Barthram
- 4StorerSubstituted forDaytonat 84'minutes
- 7Pell
- 27Winchester
- 33Davis
- 19WoottonSubstituted forWrightat 61'minutes
- 8WatersSubstituted forHolmanat 61'minutes
Substitutes
- 9Wright
- 12Kitscha
- 17Cranston
- 18Rowe
- 21Dayton
- 24O'Shaughnessy
- 30Holman
Carlisle
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Gillespie
- 28Liddle
- 15Brisley
- 12Gillesphey
- 19LambeSubstituted forO'Sullivanat 65'minutes
- 16BaileySubstituted forMillerat 77'minutes
- 4Joyce
- 8Jones
- 10Adams
- 27WaringSubstituted forIbehreat 64'minutes
- 9ProctorBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 3Grainger
- 14Ibehre
- 17Devitt
- 18O'Sullivan
- 22Crocombe
- 23Miller
- 44McQueen
- Referee:
- Andy Haines
- Attendance:
- 2,433
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home55%
- Away45%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away4
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away1
- Corners
- Home4
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away12
Live Text
-
Post update
-
Full Time
Second Half ends, Cheltenham Town 1, Carlisle United 0.
-
Post update
Attempt saved. Shaun Brisley (Carlisle United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
-
Post update
Foul by Dan Holman (Cheltenham Town).
-
Post update
Shaun Brisley (Carlisle United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
-
Post update
William Boyle (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
-
Post update
Foul by John O'Sullivan (Carlisle United).
-
Booking
Jamie Proctor (Carlisle United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
-
Post update
William Boyle (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
-
Post update
Foul by Jamie Proctor (Carlisle United).
-
Post update
Attempt missed. Michael Jones (Carlisle United) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
-
Booking
Manny Onariase (Cheltenham Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
-
Post update
Foul by Manny Onariase (Cheltenham Town).
-
Post update
Jamie Proctor (Carlisle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Goal!
Goal! Cheltenham Town 1, Carlisle United 0. Daniel Wright (Cheltenham Town) header from very close range to the top left corner.
-
Substitution
Substitution, Cheltenham Town. James Dayton replaces Kyle Storer.
-
Substitution
Substitution, Carlisle United. Tom Miller replaces James Bailey.
-
Post update
Hand ball by Daniel Wright (Cheltenham Town).
-
Post update
Foul by Liam Davis (Cheltenham Town).
-
Post update
John O'Sullivan (Carlisle United) wins a free kick on the left wing.