Cheltenham Town 0 Bradford City 0
Cheltenham Town are gearing up for a two-legged play-off semi-final against Northampton Town after results conspired against them on the last day of the regular season.
A 0-0 draw at home to Bradford City proved academic in Cheltenham's automatic promotion hopes, with Rotherham United defeating Aldershot Town at home to ensure they finished third.
Burton moved above Cheltenham with a home win over champions Gillingham, leaving the Robins fifth. Bradford will therefore meet Burton in the other semi-final.
Cheltenham will travel to Northampton Town on Thursday night (7.45pm), with the second leg at Whaddon Road next Sunday (6.45pm).
Boss Mark Yates named the same side that had enjoyed back-to-back wins over Gillingham and Exeter City, with fit-again Paul Benson having to settle for a place on the bench.
Before the game Scott Brown was named supporters' and players' player of the year, with Joe Hanks taking the young player award and Jermaine McGlashan earning the Junior Robins' vote.
Cheltenham started the game brightly in front of the biggest League Two crowd of the season at the Abbey Business Stadium.
Steve Elliott, who started all 46 of Cheltenham's League Two games this term, headed Billy Jones' free-kick wide from a good position in the 16th minute.
Sido Jombati took every opportunity to get forward and one skilful run ended with a looping cross that Kaid Mohamed nodded wide.
Bradford made eight changes to their side and only a good save from Matt Duke kept out Marlon Pack's free-kick in the 20th minute.
Cheltenham lost some of their momentum as the first half ended goalless.
Bradford lost central defender Andrew Davies after an hour for a second yellow card.
He shoved Jermaine McGlashan having already been cautioned for a foul on Byron Harrison in the first period.
Cheltenham had half an hour against ten men, but failed to break them down despite the introduction of Benson, Shaun Harrad and Sam Deering.
Marlon Pack went closest, seeing header from another Jones delivery bounce back off a post with Duke beaten.
Harrad due a smart stop from Duke and also stretched to direct another effort into Duke's arms after flicked the ball over a defender.
As news filtered around that Rotherham were ahead, the atmosphere became understandably flat, but Cheltenham must now lift themselves ready to take on Northampton, who they have already beaten twice this season.
Cheltenham Town: S Brown; S Jombati, M Hector, S Elliott, B Jones; J McGlashan, M Pack, R Penn (S Deering 78), J Taylor (P Benson 67), K Mohamed; B Harrison (S Harrad 72). Subs not used: C Roberts, D Duffy, K Lowe, D Carter.
Bradford City: M Duke; S Darby, A Davies, M Nelson, C McHugh; Z Hines, R Ravenhill, N Doyle, W Atkinson; A Connell (R McArdle 63), A Gray (G Thompson 78) Subs not used: J McLaughlin, J Meredith, J Hanson, G Jones, N Wells.
Referee: Andy D'Urso.
Attendance: 5,888 (1,495).
Star Man: Sido Jombati.
To re-live the action as it unfolded, please click below:
