Cheltenham Town kicked off their 2024/25 League Two campaign at home against Newport County on Saturday afternoon. This match marked Michael Flynn’s debut as the Robins’ manager, facing his hometown club, where he both played and managed in the past. Sadly, Cheltenham will be without Harry Pell for the entire season due to a torn ACL, with the midfielder set to undergo surgery next week after sustaining the injury in a recent friendly match.
On the bright side, right wing-back Arkell Jude-Boyd and midfielder Luke Young are nearing a return to the squad after dealing with hamstring and toe injuries respectively. Additionally, George Miller, a new signing from Doncaster Rovers, could make his first appearance for Cheltenham in this game. Fans can expect more transfers, both incoming and outgoing, before the transfer window closes at the end of August.
Newport County, led by manager Nelson Jardim, a former assistant coach at Swansea City and Birmingham City, are also looking to start their season on a strong note. The Exiles managed to sell out their away allocation of approximately 1,000 tickets for this match.
As the game unfolds, there have been several key events worth noting. Joel Colwill scored a debut goal for Cheltenham, followed by Liam Dulson finding the back of the net as well. However, Newport fought back with Courtney Baker-Richardson converting a penalty and Oliver Greaves leveling the score before halftime.
Throughout the match, there have been notable chances and attempts from both sides, with players receiving yellow cards and making impactful plays. The atmosphere at the EV Charger Points Stadium seems to be buzzing with excitement and anticipation for what the rest of the game holds.
Despite the absence of Harry Pell on the field, his presence on the bench shows Flynn’s desire to keep him involved with the team during his recovery period. As the second half kicks off, both Cheltenham and Newport will be looking to secure a victory in their opening fixture of the season, setting the tone for the games to come. Stay tuned for more updates as the match progresses.