Cheltenham Town 3 Rotherham United 0
Cheltenham Town put their automatic promotion push firmly back on track with an emphatic home victory over Rotherham United.
First half goals from Jermaine McGlashan and Marlon Pack and a late strike by Steve Elliott earned the Robins a vital win over their rivals for a top three place.
The result lifted Mark Yates' side up to fourth, just three points off second place with seven matches remaining.
Yates made three changes to the side beaten 3-1 at Burton Albion last Saturday.
Ex-Millers midfielder Jason Taylor was left out, as part of an agreement with his former club after his January switch to Whaddon Road.
Keith Lowe and Darren Carter were left out, with McGlashan, Kaid Mohamed and Sido Jombati recalled.
Wide men McGlashan and Mohamed had a big say in the afternoon's events, with Mohamed setting up all three goals.
But McGlashan shone against a team managed by the man who tried to sign him for Crawley Town last season before he joined Cheltenham: Steve Evans.
Scott Brown turned a long-range drive from Lee Frecklington over the bar in the 14th minute, during an even opening to the game.
But Cheltenham took control after 20 minutes, with Pack's shot striking the outside of the right post after good play from McGlashan.
Paul Benson robbed the cumbersome Claude Davis in the 23rd minute, setting up Sam Deering for a shooting chance, but his effort was easy for Andy Warrington in the Rotherham goal.
But Cheltenham took a deserved lead in the 31st minute when Pack fed Mohamed on the left and his looping cross reached McGlashan at the far post.
The Robins' joint record signing connected perfectly with a volley which flew into the bottom left corner, giving Warrington no chance and McGlashan his fourth goal of the campaign.
Seven minutes later Mohamed supplied Pack, who calmly placed a low shot inside the same bottom corner to put Cheltenham firmly on course before half-time.
Warrington denied substitute Byron Harrison with a good block in the 83rd minute, but from the resulting corner taken by Mohamed, the experienced goalkeeper flapped and Elliott lifted it into the net.
Cheltenham Town: S Brown; S Jombati, M Hector, S Elliott, B Jones; J McGlashan (D Duffy 90), M Pack, S Deering, R Penn, K Mohamed (D Carter 88); P Benson (B Harrison 79). Subs not used: K Lowe, C Roberts, S Harrad, J Hanks.
Rotherham United: A Warrington; J Mullins, C Davis, C Morgan, L Ridehalgh; B Pringle (K Agard 80), D Noble (D Kearns 46), M O'Connor, L Frecklington; D Nardiello, A Revell (K Odejayi 57). Subs not used: S Shearer, D Tonge, D Rowe.
Referee: Darren Deadman.
Attendance: 3,241 (650 away).
Star man: Jermaine McGlashan.
To re-live the action as it unfolded, click below:
