After much talk during Monday of an impending injury crisis for the game it failed to materialise. The concerns over Carlisle and Gallen had cleared up sufficiently for them to take their places in the starting line up. So, as it was on Saturday, the line up was Day in goal, a back four of Forbes, Shittu, Carlisle and Padula. The midfield four were Ainsworth, palmer, Bircham and Langley, with Gallen and Furlong up front.

The game couldn't have got off to a worse start as Cheltenham hit the front after only four minutes. Rangers failed to deal with a ball bouncing around outside the area and Grant McCann cracked a dipping volley over Day into the top corner. It was a breathtaking goal from a player that on last nights showing looks as though he should be playing at a higher level than he is.

The R's managed to get back on terms quickly though and equalised within ten minutes. Paul Furlong won a freekick twenty-five yards from goal and the Cheltenham wall lined themselves up. Referee Penn, a man that looks like a stunted version of Mr Claypole from Rent-a-Ghost, paced the wall back ten paces. Or should I say ten of his paces, which did not amount to ten paces of a regular sized adult. Much protestation ensued; Langley paced the wall out himself to show it was too close; Palmer had words, as did Furlong. Penn took exception to what he had to say and promptly booked him.

When play finally got under way the ball was rolled to Furlong who smashed the ball toward goal. Cheltenham keeper Steve Book managed to block the initial shot but the rebound fell straight to Gareth Ainsworth who stabbed home his third in two games.

Just as it seemed Rangers were going to take control of proceedings, disaster struck and Furlong received his marching orders. A long ball was played down the channel and Furlong gave chase as Mike Duff looked to shepherd the ball to safety. Furs tried to hook a foot round him to get at it but only succeeded in fouling his man. It was a nothing challenge, not dangerous, not malicious, just a genuine effort to win the ball. Pedant Penn didn't see it like this and quickly flashed a second yellow at the R's hitman. Furs calmly walked off the field but rumours later surfaced of him being arrested for trashing a dressing room. How true this is we don't know, but we can only hope that Penn's jester suit was damaged in the process.

If people don't know of Penn's previous handy work, let me refresh your memories. Last year, away at, funnily enough, Cheltenham Town, he sent off Carlisle for spitting at Julian Alsop. It was only when Alsop wrote a letter backing up Carlisle that the card was overturned. I wonder if the fact that he was made to look a fool last time was going through his mind when Furlong left the field. Two yellow cards means no appeal. How convenient.

There was now a storm to be weathered as Bobby Gould got his side to start moving the ball to take advantage of the extra man and the front two of Spencer and Odejayi, who wouldn't look out of place at York Hall in Bethnal Green, began to impose themselves.

Luckily for Rangers what they had in bulk and brawn was not matched by a calm head in front of goal and despite the balance of play being heavily in Cheltenham's favour, it was Rangers that looked most likely to score again before the break. Ainsworth and Gallen both tested Book from long range, as did Langley. Dan Shittu saw an effort hacked off the line as the half drew to a close.

The second half saw a switch in pattern of play as Cheltenham suddenly started to create some chances of their own. Twice Kayode Odejayi burst through for one on one chances against Chris Day. Twice though the big Rangers stopper came out on top as Odejayi's touch let him down. Daisy was now commanding his area and had to be alert again when McCann smashed a shot just over his bar.

Rangers had two terrific chances to grab a lead within minutes of each other. Firstly, Gareth Ainsworth, now playing alongside Gallen in attack, worked an opening on the right and his cross was met with a firm header from Gallen. Book seemed to be beaten but the ball struck Duff in the back and ricocheted away. Soon after, Gallen turned provider as he turned neatly in the box to thread a ball through the tightest of gaps. Langley was sliding in at the far post but once again Book was on hand to deny him.

Things were starting to get a bit twitchy now, as it seemed as though the goal would never come. John Brough bravely stopped a Langley shot with what I will describe as his lower abdomen. The look of pain on his face was one that any man would sympathise with!

Finally, just as the thought of another half an hour was on everybody's minds Langley came up with a cracker. Once again Gallen was instrumental in the goal as he held the ball up with his back to goal and laid the ball into the path of Langley. Langley had no time to weigh up his options and he thumped the ball into the top corner, leaving Book with no chance. The final few minutes and injury time seemed to take an eternity but finally Claypole's whistle went and Rangers had finally broken the cup hoodoo!

This was a performance that showed different qualities to the one on Saturday. Whilst that game was all about the ability of the players, this was about the spirit. To a man they all dug in and when one got into trouble another was on hand to help him out. No one personified this better than man of the match Chris Day who thwarted any attempts Cheltenham made to kill us off and he allowed us the opportunity to grab the vital winner so late on.

The players now have a week until the next game and this will be another massive test against Brighton. They showed with a good win at Oldham that they will be contenders and we need to make our mark on this game to show them that we will be a force to be reckoned with.