Soccer
Cheltenham boss Steve Cotterill offers high praise for Jake Evans after York win
Delighted Cheltenham Town manager Steve Cotterill saw his side come from behind to take the points and praised the efforts of teenager Jake Evans whose two goals helped the Robins end York City’s unbeaten start to life back in the Football League.
Ollie Pearce handed the visitors a 12th minute lead but Evans struck six minutes later, stabbing home the loose ball after a Charlie McCann penalty had been saved.
It was Evans who handed the home side the lead midway through the second half with a fierce shot from just outside the area only for former Cheltenham striker Jovan Malcolm to level eight minutes later with a fine diving header.
The winner came on 86 minutes as McCann made up for the earlier penalty miss by firing past York keeper Alfie McNally.
“I thought it was a really good game,” Cotterill said. “They are a good team and have been together for a little while.
“Jake is a great lad. I tried to get him last year and I’m glad I didn’t because if I had, then we might not have had him this year and it would have been for a shorter period.
“I’m delighted we have got him here. He’s a great kid. He has no airs and graces and is down to earth – and a right tough cookie as well. I love all of those traits and he’s not a bad player either.”
And he also had a word for match-winner McCann who secured Cheltenham’s win after missing an earlier penalty.
“I’m really pleased for him because after missing a penalty he would have been disappointed because he has high standards,” the Robins boss added.
York went into the game on a high after two wins and a draw from their opening three matches and while boss Scott Lindsey praised Cheltenham, he was disappointed by the officiating or two of the goals.
“It was a tough game and I thought they probably competed better than us,” he said. “We probably came second best a lot of the time in terms of the physicality but I felt we still had the lion’s share of possession and the lion’s share of the chances, having 20 shots.
“It wasn’t a penalty for me and I thought there was a foul on (Arthur) Read for their third goal so for me, two of the goals they’ve scored today are down to poor officiating.
“We have to understand that we are at the League Two level where teams are physical. I thought that out of the four games we have played, this was the toughest.
“I did think we looked a little leggy and tired so we need to get them ready for another game on Saturday. We take our medicine and move on.”
