A superb individual goal from Dean Morgan in the 90th minute secured a massive three points for the Shots, at Whaddon Road this afternoon.
The Shots now move into 5th place in the table, and a win at the Rec next Saturday over Lincoln should secure them a play-off place.
Andy Sandell came back into the starting line-up after a long injury lay off. This meant Anthony Charles moved to centre-half, with Winfield dropping to the bench.
In the only other change to last week’s team, Damien Spencer replaced Harding.
In the third minute, Dean Morgan’s cross-cum shot flashed across the 6 yard box, and just wide of the far post.
Three minutes later Michael Pook’s effort was well punched away by Young.
Shortly after, Charles’ flying header from a Donnelly corner went just over.
Cheltenham took the lead in controversial circumstances on 14 minutes.
Charles’ back header was woefully short of pace and Barry Hayles chased it down.
However his first touch took the ball well wide of the onrushing Young and when the forward went down the referee adjudged that there had been contact. Young received a yellow card.
Justin Richards stepped up and calmly sent Young the wrong way.
Five minutes later the Shots almost drew level.
Marlon Jackson found Spencer, who turned and shot in one movement, but his effort went narrowly wide.
In the 23rd minute Aaron Brown met Donnelly’s free kick on the volley, but his namesake in the Cheltenham goal made an excellent save at full stretch.
In the 31st minute, Josh Low fired well over when in a good position.
Then after a well worked move down the Shots right, ex Cheltenham striker Spencer shot wildly over when he should have hit the target.
In the 35th minute, Young made an excellent save from a Hayles shot.
Just before the interval, the unmarked Brown failed to direct his header from a Donnelly free kick, on target.
HALF TIME: CHELTENHAM 1 – SHOTS 0
The Shots restored parity in the 48th minute.
Justin Richards handballed from a Shots corner and the Ref had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Scott Donnelly nonchalantly slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
Not long after Marvin Morgan looked to have been brought down inside the box, but the ref waived away confident penalty appeals
The home side then began to get on top, and in the 62nd minute Matt Thornhill’s long range effort flew just over.
Jamie Young’s miscue from a goal kick then went straight to Hayles, who was adjudged to have been brought down by Charles.
However the subsequent free kick, from a central position 22 yards out, came to nothing.
John Halls, another long term absentee, replaced Spencer in the 77th minute – enabling Dean Morgan to join his namesake Marvin, up front.
A minute later the Shots should have taken the lead, as they began to exert some serious pressure on the home side.
Anthony Straker dispossessed the full back, and slipped a perfectly weighted ball through for Marvin Morgan.
The Shots striker fired across the keeper, who managed to get a faint touch on the ball, to divert it inches wide of the far post.
On 83 minutes Charles’ header, from a Donnelly corner struck the top of the bar.
Shortly after a quality cross from Halls was met by Straker, who couldn’t get enough power on his header.
In the 89th minute Hudson replaced Jackson, and the substitute made an immediate impact.
His header saw Dean Morgan run onto the ball and, with his first touch, flick it over the defender’s head before unleashing an unstoppable volley past Brown.
It was reminiscent of Gazza’s goal in Euro 96, against Scotland – the only thing missing was the dentist chair celebration.
The Shots held on without too many drama’s, in the five minutes of stoppage time, and in fact they almost increased their lead, when a Straker pile driver flew just wide.
TS RATINGS:
Young 6.5, Blackburn 5, Sandell 6.5, Charles 6, Brown 6, Donnelly 7, Jackson 6(Hudson), D Morgan 7.5, M Morgan 5.5, Spencer 5 (Halls), Straker 6.5
Referee: P Gibbs – 4
Entertainment value: 7