Cheltenham and Exeter City met in the EFL Trophy, Group South, and finished level at 2:2 after ninety minutes. The hosts took the lead twice through Jake Bickerstaff and Josh Gordon, while Charlie Cummins pulled one back for the visitors. And here's the thing — a penalty shootout followed, with both sides trading strikes and misses until the dust settled.
Bickerstaff opened the scoring just before half-time, firing home in the forty-fifth minute plus one. Gordon doubled the advantage fifty-two minutes in, putting Cheltenham ahead by two goals. To be fair, Cummins responded with a goal of his own in the eighty-sixth minute, keeping Exeter in contention.
The match shifted into a penalty shootout after the final whistle. George Miller stepped up first for Cheltenham, converting in the eighty-ninth minute. By then, Josh Gordon had missed his chance in the ninety-second minute, but George Nurse recovered to restore the lead.
Exeter answered through Lakyle Samuel in the ninety-third minute, and L. Woodhouse levelled in the ninety-fourth. Charlie Cummins and Jake Bickerstaff both found the net for Cheltenham in the ninety-fifth minute. Ryan Broom added another for the hosts in the ninety-sixth.
Taylor Perry missed for Exeter in the ninety-seventh minute, but George Miller converted to seal the shootout. Exeter registered more attacks and shots, while Cheltenham relied on efficiency. Ethan Sutherland was sent off during the penalty phase in the ninety-first minute plus seven.
The result leaves Cheltenham third on two points from three games, while Exeter move into second with six points. Both sides have shown glimpses of promise, but consistency remains elusive. The group stage is still wide open, and every point matters.
