[Exile on Spencer St]

What a depressing journey home. Very, very poor performance from Stanley today, which culminated in Naismith clutching defeat from the jaws of an undeserved draw. The only consolation is that it was the softest penalty I've seen in a long time. Suspect it was to make up for the one not given to Buxton earlier. The plusses won't take long...Simpson was excellent, Windass did well in midfield, and Bowerman, when he finally came on, showed great spirit and his battling attitude led to the equaliser. Atkinson had a good game, the only downside being that Aldred, being pushed left, didn't particularly. Cheltenham were quicker to the ball, stronger in the tussle, and used forward passes into space for their players to run on to. They used wingers who kept Buxton and Mustoe pinned back and got behind Stanley's defence at will in the first half. Their crosses and corners were threatening most times. With a few exceptions, Stanley looked stale and clueless. Too much standing still waiting for the ball to arrive, if it ever did. Hunt as a midfielder, even in an emergency, did not work. Mustoe offers nothing that Liddle can. Alabi, despite his physique, seemed to be out-muscled and worked only one decent shot, just over the bar, in the first half.
You'd think the team had only just been assembled in pre-season, such was their lack of fluidity and movement.
Like our heat wave, the season of optimism has quickly faded. Much hard work ahead.