Matty Virtue double gives Fleetwood win at Cheltenham

A goal early in each half from Matty Virtue earned Fleetwood a comfortable 2-0 win at Cheltenham.

His first came after a mistake from home skipper Scott Bennett, who was caught in possession by Ryan Graydon.

Graydon was forced wide by goalkeeper Owen Evans but the ball found its way to Virtue via Ronan Coughlan and the summer signing from Blackpool tapped into an unguarded net inside five minutes.

Elliot Bonds, who left Cheltenham to join Fleetwood for a five-figure fee in the summer, set up Coughlan in the 14th minute, but Evans saved well.

Coughlan hit the post after half an hour when a free-kick routine caught Cheltenham out as Fleetwood continued to control proceedings and the home side were booed off at the break.

Bonds threaded a ball through for Virtue in the 51st minute and, after a sharp turn, he fired past Evans for his second of the game and for the club.

Graydon hit the post in the 73rd minute and, from the rebound, Carl Johnston’s shot was cleared off the line.

Substitute Kian Harratt shot wide from a good position, denying Fleetwood a third that their dominance merited.