Match report

Colchester Defeats Cheltenham 4-1 in League Two Thriller

Cheltenham
Cheltenham
1–4
FT
Colchester
Colchester
May 2, 2026

Colchester stunned Cheltenham with a dominant display, securing a 4-1 victory in their League Two match. Early goals from S. Tovide and A. Read set the tone, and despite a late consolation from G. Miller for Cheltenham, the U's maintained their lead with goals from Harry Anderson and F. Barbrook.

Key Facts

  • • Colchester scored four goals against Cheltenham, with S. Tovide (3'), A. Read (23'), Harry Anderson (31'), and F. Barbrook (90+3') finding the net.
  • • Luke Young (5') and O. Edwards (74') received yellow cards.
  • • Cheltenham's G. Miller scored a consolation goal in the 55th minute.
  • • Cheltenham made multiple substitutions, including J. Bickerstaff, G. Miller, Jordan Thomas, G. Nurse, and Luke Young.
  • • Colchester substituted K. Lisbie, T. Bishop, S. Tovide, J. Payne, and A. Read.

Lineups

Cheltenham

Formation: 4-1-4-1

Starting XI

  • 1 J. Day (G)
  • 27 J. Tomkinson (D)
  • 24 S. Sherring (D)
  • 5 J. Wilson (D)
  • 21 G. Nurse (D)
  • 26 B. Stevenson (M)
  • 11 J. Thomas (M)
  • 8 L. Young (M)
  • 23 I. Hutchinson (M)
  • 20 J. Bickerstaff (M)
  • 10 G. Miller (F)

Substitutes

  • 41 M. Diallo
  • 14 R. Broom
  • 16 J. Martin
  • 2 A. Jude-Boyd
  • 9 J. Davison
  • 4 H. Ashfield
  • 22 M. Faal

Colchester

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Starting XI

  • 1 M. Macey (G)
  • 2 R. Hunt (D)
  • 44 S. Kuffour (D)
  • 5 J. Tucker (D)
  • 40 F. Terry (D)
  • 16 A. Read (M)
  • 8 T. Bishop (M)
  • 14 K. Lisbie
  • 10 J. Payne (M)
  • 7 H. Anderson (M)
  • 9 S. Tovide (F)

Substitutes

  • 46 H. Chamberlain
  • 21 O. Edwards
  • 17 J. Williams
  • 41 M. Jollife
  • 27 R. Akachukwu
  • 25 F. Barbrook
  • 47 R. Harvey

Timeline

  1. Colchester
    3' Colchester Goal · Normal Goal
    S. Tovide · Assist: F. Terry
  2. Cheltenham
    5' Cheltenham Card · Yellow Card
    Luke Young

    Foul

  3. Colchester
    23' Colchester Goal · Normal Goal
    A. Read · Assist: T. Bishop
  4. Colchester
    31' Colchester Goal · Normal Goal
    Harry Anderson · Assist: K. Lisbie
  5. Cheltenham
    55' Cheltenham Goal · Normal Goal
    G. Miller · Assist: Luke Young
  6. Cheltenham
    62' Cheltenham subst · Substitution 1
    Off: J. Bickerstaff · On: Josh Martin
  7. Cheltenham
    62' Cheltenham subst · Substitution 2
    Off: G. Miller · On: M. Faal
  8. Cheltenham
    63' Cheltenham subst · Substitution 3
    Off: Jordan Thomas · On: Ryan Broom
  9. Colchester
    67' Colchester subst · Substitution 1
    Off: K. Lisbie · On: O. Edwards
  10. Colchester
    67' Colchester subst · Substitution 2
    Off: T. Bishop · On: F. Barbrook
  11. Cheltenham
    73' Cheltenham subst · Substitution 4
    Off: G. Nurse · On: Arkell Jude-Boyd
  12. Colchester
    74' Colchester Card · Yellow Card
    O. Edwards

    Foul

  13. Colchester
    76' Colchester subst · Substitution 3
    Off: S. Tovide · On: J. Williams
  14. Colchester
    76' Colchester subst · Substitution 4
    Off: J. Payne · On: Romeo Akachukwu
  15. Cheltenham
    86' Cheltenham subst · Substitution 5
    Off: Luke Young · On: H. Ashfield
  16. Colchester
    90'+3 Colchester subst · Substitution 5
    Off: A. Read · On: M. Jollife
  17. Colchester
    90' Colchester Goal · Normal Goal
    F. Barbrook

Match Stats

Stat Cheltenham Colchester
Fouls 11 8
Pass Accuracy 84% 76%
Offsides 1 2
Red Cards — —
Total Shots 15 11
Corners 9 1
Total Passes 410 398
Yellow Cards 1 1
Blocked Shots 6 0
Shots on Target 4 7
xG — —
Shots off Target 5 4
Possession 52% 48%
Goals Prevented — —
Accurate Passes 343 304
Shots Inside Box 13 6
Saves 3 3
Shots Outside Box 2 5

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ Colchester capitalized early with goals from Tovide and Read in the first 23 minutes, setting the stage for a commanding victory.
  • ▸ Colchester's third goal by Harry Anderson in the 31st minute put Cheltenham on the back foot, despite a late goal from G. Miller in the 55th minute.