Stevenage 2-1 Cheltenham Town: Attendance 5,441 (including 1,207 visitors)

It was win or bust for Cheltenham Town against Stevenage on a Saturday lunchtime fraught with emotion for the West Country club's loyal supporters.

Unfortunately for Robins' hopes their side failed to grab the victory that would have kept them in League One, as they slipped through the relegation trapdoor.

Darrell Clarke's Robins' started with vigour, Tom Bradbury firing over after two minutes, prior to Shane Long's effort flying over the bar as the visitors chased the all-important win.

On 15 minutes Elliot List unleashed a powerful low drive that Cheltenham keeper Luke Southwood palmed away. The ball fell to Boro's Nesa Guinness-Walker who tested the Robins keeper with a fine effort that Southwood did well to keep out.

There was drama on the half hour mark for Cheltenham's reserve keeper and former Wolves academy youngster Jamie Pardington who replaced the stricken Southwood, to make his league debut. The switch coming after the Robins' first choice net minder was stretchered off after a clash in the box.

Pardington almost had a fairytale start when he so nearly kept out Kane Hemnings penalty moments before half time to make it 1-0 to Stevenage. The spot-kick awarded by referee Lee Swabey after List was fouled in the box.

On 53 minutes, Cheltenham's Matty Taylor emphatically headed home at the near post from Will Ferry's corner to put the Robins level at 1-1, as their tremendous away support celebrated.

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With 25 minutes to go, Pardington produced a superb save to tip goalscorer Taylor's effort over the bar, and keep his side in the conversation as the clock ticked down.

Stevenage keeper Craig Macgillivray then denied former Arsenal academy starlet James Olayinka, prior to the Robins' Jordan Thomas having an effort cleared off the line as the visitors pressed desperately for the elusive goal that would change their entire season.

For with Fleetwood beating Burton 3-0 a win here and Cheltenham would stay in League One

The tension was palpable. In hectic closing stages, Boro's Jordan Roberts' shot was deflected by right-back Sean Long. Roberts then clipped the post after his shot was deflected onto the woodwork with two minutes remaining.

However, that was before Nick Freeman's 90th minutes effort broke Cheltenham hearts, preventing the grandstand finish they required to seal all three points, and the Robins' three year sojourn in the third tier ended in heartbreak for their loyal fans.