Strikes from Darren Carter and on-loan forward Shaun Harrad saw Cheltenham end their three-match winless league run with victory over Oxford United.

Carter opened his Town account with a fine left-footed shot from 25 yards.

Adam Chapman almost brought Oxford level soon after the restart, but his powerful free-kick rattled a post.

Harrad then doubled Cheltenham's lead when he smashed a shot into the top corner before Peter Leven converted a late penalty for Oxford.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Cheltenham Town goalscorer Darren Carter told BBC Gloucestershire:

"It was nice the way it fell for me. I connected with it sweetly and it went exactly where I wanted it to go.

"It was a good win for us. We had to grind it out and it wasn't pretty at times.

"I think we knew that coming in to the game, as we've had two bad defeats at home.

"To get that first win is always a bit of a test but it's about getting the result."

Oxford United manager Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Oxford:

"It is frustrating, but I can accept it tonight, I could not accept it on Saturday.

"The level of performance and commitment was spot on and we've pushed a good team very, very hard and there was not a lot in the game.

"It was two wonder strikes from their guys but we've had double, treble the amount of chances they've had.

"It is a disappointing period, there is no getting away from that and it is important we show the same level of commitment and desire that we've done tonight. If we do then a win is just around the corner. We've got to believe that."

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (6)

Cheltenham Town

  • 01 Brown
  • 03 Jones
  • 06 Elliott
  • 15 Bennett
  • 22 Jombati
  • 04 Carter
  • 07 Pack
  • 08 Deering (Penn - 66' )
  • 11 McGlashan (Lowe - 89' )
  • 14 Harrad
  • 26 Zebroski Booked (Mohamed - 78' )

Substitutes

  • 12 Roberts
  • 02 Lowe
  • 05 Hooman
  • 16 Penn
  • 09 Duffy
  • 10 Goulding
  • 23 Mohamed

Oxford United

  • 01 Clarke
  • 02 Batt
  • 04 Raynes
  • 06 Wright Booked
  • 17 Capaldi
  • 07 Chapman
  • 08 Heslop (Leven - 65' )
  • 19 Cox Booked
  • 10 Smalley Booked
  • 11 Pittman (Potter - 13' )
  • 29 Craddock (Constable - 66' )

Substitutes

  • 21 Brown
  • 23 O'Brien
  • 24 Boateng
  • 14 Rigg
  • 20 Leven
  • 09 Constable
  • 15 Potter
Ref: Madley
Att: 3,037

Match Stats

Shots

8 13

On target

4 8

Corners

2 6

Fouls

9 10

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:58 Full time

Full Time The referee blows for the end of the match.

90:00 +3:04

Corner taken right-footed by Adam Chapman, Steve Elliott makes a clearance.

90:00 +2:44

Foul by Marlon Pack on Damian Batt, free kick awarded. Ryan Clarke takes the direct free kick.

90:00 +1:14

Tony Capaldi crosses the ball, clearance made by Steve Elliott.

90:00 +0:49

Russell Penn takes a shot. Save made by Ryan Clarke.

90:00 +0:21

Long distance shot from James Constable misses to the left of the goal.

88:32

Free kick taken by Marlon Pack.

88:32 Substitution

Substitution Keith Lowe replaces Jermaine McGlashan.

88:32 Booking

Booking Lee Cox receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

88:13

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Darren Carter by Lee Cox.

85:41

Alan Bennett fouled by James Constable, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Scott Brown.

83:47

Deane Smalley takes a shot. Save by Scott Brown. Adam Chapman takes a short corner. Unfair challenge on Sido Jombati by Tony Capaldi results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Scott Brown.

82:59

Effort from just outside the area by Adam Chapman goes over the target.

82:32

Centre by Jermaine McGlashan, save made by Ryan Clarke.

80:32

Russell Penn fouled by James Constable, the ref awards a free kick. Alan Bennett takes the direct free kick.

79:51 Goal scored

Goal - Peter Leven - Cheltenham 2 - 1 Oxford Peter Leven scores a power penalty. Cheltenham 2-1 Oxford Utd.

77:50

Chris Zebroski is caught offside. Ryan Clarke takes the free kick.

77:49

Jake Wright fouled by Alan Bennett, the ref awards a Penalty.

77:49 Substitution

Substitution Kaid Mohamed is brought on as a substitute for Chris Zebroski.

75:24

Damian Batt sends in a cross, Alan Bennett manages to make a clearance.

72:59

Shaun Harrad crosses the ball, Effort from the edge of the area by Billy Jones goes wide of the left-hand upright.

72:00

The assistant referee signals for offside against Deane Smalley. Indirect free kick taken by Scott Brown.

67:49

The ball is sent over by Sido Jombati.

66:36

Short corner taken by Adam Chapman from the left by-line.

64:39 Substitution

Substitution (Cheltenham) makes a substitution, with Russell Penn coming on for Sam Deering.

64:39 Substitution

Substitution James Constable comes on in place of Tom Craddock.

64:39 Substitution

Substitution Peter Leven on for Simon Heslop.

63:00

Effort on goal by Simon Heslop from long range goes harmlessly over the bar.

60:36

Lee Cox takes a shot. Scott Brown makes a save. Adam Chapman takes the inswinging corner, clearance made by Marlon Pack.

59:19 Goal scored

Goal - Shaun Harrad - Cheltenham 2 - 0 Oxford Shaun Harrad finds the back of the net with a brilliant goal from a long way out to the top left corner of the goal. Cheltenham 2-0 Oxford Utd.

58:11

The ball is swung over by Jermaine McGlashan, clearance made by Michael Raynes.

55:00

Tom Craddock has an effort at goal from outside the area which goes wide right of the goal.

54:17

Handball by Deane Smalley. Scott Brown takes the indirect free kick.

53:29

Tom Craddock is ruled offside. Marlon Pack restarts play with the free kick.

52:37

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Marlon Pack from the right by-line to the near post.

50:36

The ball is crossed by Marlon Pack, Adam Chapman takes a shot. Save by Ryan Clarke.

49:41

Shaun Harrad has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the goal.

49:14

Deane Smalley concedes a free kick for a foul on Darren Carter. Alan Bennett takes the direct free kick.

47:28

Foul by Steve Elliott on Deane Smalley, free kick awarded. Lee Cox takes the free kick. Adam Chapman produces a right-footed shot from outside the box and hits the post.

46:43

Ryan Clarke takes the direct free kick.

46:43 Booking

Booking Chris Zebroski goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.

46:35

Damian Batt fouled by Chris Zebroski, the ref awards a free kick.

45:18

Foul by Marlon Pack on Deane Smalley, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Adam Chapman.

45:01

The second half has started.

45:00 +2:03 Half time

Half Time The match has reached half-time.

44:54

Unfair challenge on Damian Batt by Chris Zebroski results in a free kick. Ryan Clarke takes the direct free kick.

44:11

Free kick taken by Marlon Pack.

44:11 Booking

Booking Jake Wright booked for unsporting behaviour.

43:39

Jake Wright gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jermaine McGlashan.

41:50

Scott Brown takes the free kick.

41:50 Booking

Booking The referee shows Deane Smalley a yellow card.

41:38

Deane Smalley challenges Darren Carter unfairly and gives away a free kick.

39:30

Chris Zebroski gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jake Wright. Ryan Clarke restarts play with the free kick.

39:11

The ball is swung over by Damian Batt, save made by Scott Brown.

36:43

A cross is delivered by Darren Carter.

34:16

Sido Jombati sends in a cross.

29:00 Goal scored

Goal - Darren Carter - Cheltenham 1 - 0 Oxford Darren Carter finds the back of the net with a goal from outside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Cheltenham 1-0 Oxford Utd.

28:55

The ball is swung over by Jermaine McGlashan.

28:18

Deane Smalley sends in a cross.

27:05

Tom Craddock takes a shot. Save by Scott Brown.

25:30

The ball is sent over by Deane Smalley.

23:40

Darren Carter concedes a free kick for a foul on Simon Heslop. Tony Capaldi crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing, clearance made by Darren Carter. Corner taken by Adam Chapman from the left by-line played to the near post, save made by Scott Brown.

23:06

Tom Craddock fouled by Marlon Pack, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Tony Capaldi.

22:27

Alfie Potter takes a shot. Scott Brown makes a save.

21:58

The ball is delivered by Jermaine McGlashan, save by Ryan Clarke.

20:59

The assistant referee flags for offside against Shaun Harrad. Ryan Clarke restarts play with the free kick.

18:38

Centre by Sido Jombati, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Shaun Harrad misses to the left of the goal.

17:10

Tom Craddock takes a shot. Scott Brown makes a save. Deane Smalley is ruled offside. Scott Brown takes the free kick.

15:43

Billy Jones produces a cross, Ryan Clarke makes a save.

13:00

Adam Chapman takes a shot. Save by Scott Brown.

11:29 Substitution

Substitution Alfie Potter is brought on as a substitute for Jon-Paul Pittman.

11:29

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jermaine McGlashan by Jon-Paul Pittman. Marlon Pack restarts play with the free kick.

9:04

Tony Capaldi takes a corner.

8:21

Jermaine McGlashan has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box which goes wide left of the goal.

6:52

Jon-Paul Pittman takes a shot. Scott Brown makes a save.

6:03

Chris Zebroski fouled by Damian Batt, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Marlon Pack.

5:20

Adam Chapman challenges Jermaine McGlashan unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Marlon Pack.

4:28

Outswinging corner taken by Marlon Pack from the right by-line played to the near post, Alan Bennett takes a shot. Ryan Clarke makes a save.

0:00

The game begins.

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