Cheltenham carried their decent pre season form and high level of positivity into the first game and came away with the points in what was a very entertaining afternoon. I mentioned in last week’s column that the main priority for any club was to get those first points on the board  , which has been achieved at the first time of asking.

Any team  at the start of the season will have a certain tick box they would like to achieve as soon as possible, ie first goal , first clean sheet , first point , first win etc . Most of these were achieved on Saturday and not only these but a level of performance that was encouraging in many ways .

Commentating on the game we felt Grimsby looked the more experienced side , with the greater strength too , and this proved the case as they started well and deservedly went ahead with a fine goal from Barry Conlon . If this was a goal in the Premier League next week it would be shown time and again on Match of the Day . A lovely 8 – 10 pass move ended with Proudlock crossing for Conlon at the far post . 

This is where a major positive for me occurred . As gradually , and in particular , after half time Cheltenham turned the game around and made Grimsby look very ordinary . They came out with a real purpose , as I said at half time we needed to raise it 5 or 10 % and that we certainly did . At times in the first half the front two were isolated and it became hard for the midfield to join in , the game needed shortening slightly and in particular Hutton and Pook got on the ball more and created dangerous situations. Saturday was the first time I had seen Oliver Bozanic and was impressed despite his substitution . He added balance and craft to the side and I’m sure will be a good addition to the squad.

That substitution bought on Barry Hayles and there can’t have been many impacts as instant as his in a Cheltenham match. Making the first after a run from the full back area through two tackles and finishing off the second after a fine passing move involving Pook and Hutton. His experience will prove vital and on a number of occasions combined well with Hammond , who had a fine game , to open up the Grimsby defence.

Elvis Hammond showed to all fans that he can be a real threat at this level . He has that unpredictability that forwards of his type possess . He does the unexpected at times , sometimes to the detriment of the team but more often than not on Saturday proved the undoing of Bennett and Atkinson sending them one way whilst going the other. With a bit more fitness and sharpness he could have had a couple himself , after working his way  into  potential goalscoring  postions , that maybe in a few more games time will see his name on the scoresheet .

Talking of experience there should be a positive from a relegation! When I looked down Saturday’s  team sheet there were 9 from 18 who were heavily involved in Cheltenham’s League One campaign at some point over the past 3 years . They should take that into this season and the confidence and know how which comes with playing at a higher level will be of benefit . Add to that Julian Alsop , Barry Richardson and Michael Pook and we do have a squad that should feel they more than belong at this level . Saturdays result will confirm this , especially having to come from behind , something we didn’t do a lot of in a higher league.

Saturdays game v Hereford brings an early season derby to the fore . We certainly owe them two from last season as they “did the double” over us in League One . Extra spice will be added with a number of ex Cheltenham players in their ranks , including Keith Lowe , Darren Jones and Leon Constantine in The Bulls ranks. One thing should be a certainty in that we can’t perform as poorly as that day in November last season where we were on the receiving end of a 3 nil defeat.

Momentum is a word used a lot in sport and in particular football  and is a key word that can best describe what Cheltenham need to gain from here . On the back of that important first win comes the need to pick up results and performances and hence keep the momentum going that has been created since pre season .  At times in successful teams I’ve played in , you can walk on the pitch knowing you are going to do well and get performances . This feeling wouldn’t change even if you were to fall behind in a match , safe in the knowledge you  can get back in the game . This creates a confidence around the team and in your team mates and the longer this goes on the greater that self and team belief  becomes. One things for certain the players in the camp must be feeling a lot better than those in the Swindon, Norwich and Bradford dressing rooms after Sarurday’s  results.