Match report

Cheltenham Defeats Salford City 3-2 in League Two Thriller

Cheltenham
Cheltenham
3–2
FT
Salford City
Salford City
Feb 21, 2026

Cheltenham stunned Salford City with a hard-fought 3-2 win in an electrifying League Two match. Despite falling behind early to Jorge Grant's goal for Salford, Cheltenham rallied back, capitalizing on a red card and two late goals by H. Ashfield and G. Miller to seal their victory.

Key Facts

  • • Cheltenham 3–2 Salford City
  • • Jorge Grant scored for Salford in the 6th minute
  • • I. Hutchinson converted a penalty for Cheltenham at 51'
  • • L. Garbutt received a red card for Salford in the 48th minute, reducing their numbers to ten
  • • H. Ashfield and G. Miller scored crucial goals for Cheltenham late in the game

Lineups

Cheltenham

Starting XI

  • 1 Joe Day (G)
  • 24 Sam Sherring (D)
  • 5 James Wilson (D)
  • 6 Robbie Cundy (D)
  • 27 Jonathan Tomkinson (D)
  • 26 Ben Stevenson (M)
  • 11 Jordan Thomas (M)
  • 8 Luke Young (M)
  • 23 Isaac Hutchinson (M)
  • 20 Jake Bickerstaff (M)
  • 9 Josh Davison (F)

Substitutes

  • 2 Arkell Jude-Boyd
  • 10 George Miller
  • 7 Cole Deeming
  • 4 Harry Ashfield
  • 21 George Nurse
  • 41 Mamadou Diallo
  • 14 Ryan Broom

Salford City

Starting XI

  • 1 Matthew Young (G)
  • 24 Alfie Dorrington (D)
  • 28 Zach Awe (D)
  • 29 Luke Garbutt (D)
  • 4 Ossama Ashley (M)
  • 19 Haji Mnoga (M)
  • 17 Josh Austerfield (M)
  • 8 Jorge Grant (M)
  • 14 Kadeem Harris (M)
  • 26 Ryan Graydon (F)
  • 10 Kelly N'Mai (F)

Substitutes

  • 23 Daniel Udoh
  • 15 Brandon Cooper
  • 7 Ben Woodburn
  • 33 Mark Howard
  • 45 Rosaire Longelo
  • 16 Fabio Borini
  • 9 Cole Stockton

Timeline

  1. Salford City
    ?' Salford City Card · Yellow Card
    B. Woodburn

    Argument

  2. Salford City
    6' Salford City Goal · Normal Goal
    Jorge Grant · Assist: J. Austerfield
  3. Salford City
    14' Salford City Card · Yellow Card
    K. Harris
  4. Salford City
    43' Salford City subst · Substitution 1
    Off: K. Harris · On: D. Udoh
  5. Salford City
    48' Salford City Card · Red Card
    L. Garbutt

    Professional foul last man

  6. Cheltenham
    51' Cheltenham Goal · Penalty
    I. Hutchinson
  7. Salford City
    53' Salford City subst · Substitution 2
    Off: J. Austerfield · On: Brandon Cooper
  8. Cheltenham
    64' Cheltenham subst · Substitution 1
    Off: J. Davison · On: G. Miller
  9. Cheltenham
    64' Cheltenham subst · Substitution 2
    Off: S. Sherring · On: Arkell Jude-Boyd
  10. Salford City
    71' Salford City Card · Yellow Card
    M. Young

    Time wasting

  11. Salford City
    73' Salford City Card · Yellow Card
    R. Graydon

    Argument

  12. Salford City
    76' Salford City Goal · Normal Goal
    Z. Awe · Assist: A. Dorrington
  13. Cheltenham
    82' Cheltenham subst · Substitution 3
    Off: Jonathan Tomkinson · On: C. Deeming
  14. Cheltenham
    82' Cheltenham subst · Substitution 4
    Off: Luke Young · On: H. Ashfield
  15. Cheltenham
    84' Cheltenham Goal · Normal Goal
    H. Ashfield
  16. Cheltenham
    88' Cheltenham subst · Substitution 5
    Off: Jordan Thomas · On: G. Nurse
  17. Cheltenham
    90'+6 Cheltenham Goal · Normal Goal
    G. Miller · Assist: C. Deeming
  18. Salford City
    90' Salford City subst · Substitution 3
    Off: D. Udoh · On: B. Woodburn

Match Stats

Stat Cheltenham Salford City
Fouls 7 14
Pass Accuracy 73% 63%
Offsides 5 1
Red Cards 0 1
Total Shots 13 6
Corners 7 3
Total Passes 386 312
Yellow Cards 1 5
Blocked Shots 3 1
Shots on Target 5 4
xG — —
Shots off Target 5 1
Possession 57% 43%
Goals Prevented — —
Accurate Passes 282 198
Shots Inside Box 11 5
Saves 2 2
Shots Outside Box 2 1

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ Cheltenham capitalized on L. Garbutt's red card by equalizing from a penalty, turning the match in their favor
  • ▸ The two late goals by H. Ashfield and G. Miller shifted momentum significantly and secured Cheltenham’s victory