Stevenage vs Cheltenham Town. Sky Bet League One.
Lamex Stadium.
Saturday 27 April 2024 15:46, UK
Cheltenham's three-year stay in League One was brought to an end following a 2-1 defeat at Stevenage.
The Robins needed a final-day victory and results to go their way at either Burton or Cambridge, but Darrell Clarke's side came up short meaning the Brewers' defeat at Fleetwood was inconsequential.
Boro took the lead in first-half stoppage time when Elliot Bonds tripped Elliott List in the penalty area and Kane Hemmings stepped up to convert from the spot.
Cheltenham levelled eight minutes into the second half, with Matty Taylor nodding in from a Will Ferry corner at the near post.
Substitute goalkeeper Jamie Pardington saved well from Hemmings after a mistake from Curtis Davies and then tipped a volley from Nick Freeman over the crossbar to keep Cheltenham's hopes alive.
James Olayinka was denied by the legs of keeper Craig MacGillivray and Tom Bradbury saw a header cleared off the line as Cheltenham pushed forward knowing they needed just one goal to secure safety.
But Freeman won it for Stevenage in the last minute of normal time to condemn the Robins to fourth-tier football next season.
Cheltenham boss Darrell Clarke:
"It's an agonising day. I'm gutted for our supporters and gutted for everybody at the football club," Clarke said.
"To miss out by a couple of points is gut-wrenching. But the table doesn't lie after 46 games and the boys have given me everything since I've been in the building and since I've been at the club, but we've just missed out.
"There haven't been many games when I can fault them to be honest, just on that quality element of what they need to be a League One player on a more regular basis and we haven't shown that, certainly in the last eight weeks, that bit of quality at times.
"Heart, desire and application: the boys haven't left anything out on the pitch, that's for sure.
"I always say this in life: it's not how many times you get knocked down, it's how many times you get up.
"Tough day for the football club, but it's a great club and I'm sure we'll bounce back."
