Ben Wright scored his second goal in as many games as a nervy Macclesfield Town secured the points.
The home side wasted a catalogue of chances before Wright struck, after keeper Scott Brown spilled a Lee Bell shot into his path.
Bell earlier saw his penalty saved by Brown after Wright had been floored by the clumsy Ashley Eastham.
Wright and Vinny Mukendi wasted more chances, while Matty Thornhill hit the woodwork for the visitors.
Macclesfield Town boss Gary Simpson told BBC Radio Manchester:
"It was a massive three points in a six-point game.
"If we had lost they would have gone a point behind us with a game in hand.
"I knew it wasn't going to be pretty. The pitch is bobbly, uneven and dry and I didn't think it would suit our ball players."
Cheltenham Town manager Mark Yates told BBC Gloucestershire:
"It was a really poor performance. Neither team deserved to win. It was an atrocious game of football on an atrocious pitch.
"We're not happy with our final ball and our quality from set pieces, and in general play.
"Ashley Eastham did a fantastic job today. The back four and the keeper were superb. We have to dust ourselves down for the big games coming up."
Live text and stats
Saturday, 27 March 2010
League Two
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Macclesfield
1-0
Cheltenham
FT
(HT 0-0)
Wright 89
Macclesfield
01 Brain
04 Hessey
05 Brown
06 Morgan
16 Brisley
07 Bell
08 Draper (Mukendi 33)
15 Bolland
09 Sinclair (Tipton 86)
11 Wright
28 Lindfield (Reid 66)
Substitutes
13 Veiga,
19 Lowe,
02 Reid,
14 Rooney,
12 Wilson,
23 Tipton,
24 Mukendi
Cheltenham
01 Brown
05 Townsend
16 Eastham
02 Bird (Hutton 75)
07 Pook
17 Low
19 Elito
28 Thornhill
36 Lescott
09 Richards (Hayles 81)
11 Almond (Alsop 60)
Substitutes
21 Puddy,
03 Ridley,
08 Gallinagh,
06 Brown,
10 Hutton,
38 Hayles,
39 Alsop
Ref: IldertonAtt: 1,572
MACCLESFIELD
CHELTENHAM
Possession
Macclesfield48%
Cheltenham52%
Attempts on target
Macclesfield7
Cheltenham5
Attempts off target
Macclesfield2
Cheltenham5
Corners
Macclesfield3
Cheltenham5
Fouls
Macclesfield7
Cheltenham8
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+3:24 The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.
88:58 Matt Thornhill takes a shot. Save by Jon Brain.
88:08 GOAL - Ben Wright:Macclesfield 1 - 0 Cheltenham Ben Wright finds the back of the net with a goal from close range low into the middle of the goal. Macclesfield 1-0 Cheltenham.
87:34 Effort on goal by Lee Bell from 20 yards. Save by Scott P Brown.
85:59 Substitution Emile Sinclair goes off and Mathew Tipton comes on.
84:55 Medy Elito takes a shot. Blocked by Nathaniel Brown.
83:17 Lee Bell takes a shot. Save made by Scott P Brown.
82:12 Corner taken by Lee Bell from the right by-line.
81:56 Shaun Brisley has a drilled shot. Blocked by Joshua Low.
81:16 Matt Thornhill has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the target.
80:41 Substitution (Cheltenham) makes a substitution, with Barry Hayles coming on for Justin Richards.
74:50 Aaron Lescott challenges Emile Sinclair unfairly and gives away a free kick. Sean Hessey restarts play with the free kick.
Correction - 74:16 Substitution David Hutton joins the action as a substitute, replacing David Bird.
74:16 Substitution David Bird leaves the field to be replaced by David Hutton.
73:03 Lee Bell concedes a free kick for a foul on Michael Pook. Scott P Brown restarts play with the free kick.
69:12 Ben Wright has a drilled shot. Jon Brain makes a save.
68:47 Lee Bell fouled by Julian Alsop, the ref awards a free kick. Lee Bell takes the direct free kick.
67:01 Michael Townsend has a drilled shot and went wide of the right-hand post.
65:58 Substitution Craig Lindfield leaves the field to be replaced by Izak Reid.
64:32 Michael Pook has a shot on goal from outside the area which misses left.
64:01 David Bird takes a shot. Emile Sinclair gets a block in.
61:29 The referee blows for offside. Jon Brain takes the free kick.
59:48 Substitution Julian Alsop joins the action as a substitute, replacing Louis Almond.
57:08 Ben Wright sends in a cross.
55:25 Vinny Mukendi takes a shot. Scott P Brown makes a save.
53:10 Louis Almond gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nathaniel Brown. Lee Bell takes the free kick.
51:44 Effort from the edge of the area by Medy Elito goes wide of the right-hand upright.
47:33 Free kick awarded for a foul by Shaun Brisley on Justin Richards. Direct free kick taken by Matt Thornhill.
45:01 The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.
Half Time
45:00+2:00 The match has reached half-time.
45:00+1:37 The referee blows for offside against Justin Richards. Jon Brain takes the indirect free kick.
45:00+0:25 Ben Wright concedes a free kick for a foul on Ashley Eastham. Scott P Brown takes the free kick.
44:21 Louis Almond fouled by Nathaniel Brown, the ref awards a free kick. Medy Elito takes the direct free kick.
43:18 David Bird takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, Paul Bolland makes a clearance.
40:58 Ashley Eastham concedes a free kick for a foul on Vinny Mukendi. Direct free kick taken by Sean Hessey.
39:52 Foul by Craig Lindfield on Medy Elito, free kick awarded. Scott P Brown takes the free kick.
35:35 Free kick awarded for a foul by Michael Townsend on Paul Bolland. Direct free kick taken by Sean Hessey.
33:43 Free kick awarded for a foul by Vinny Mukendi on Michael Townsend. Scott P Brown takes the direct free kick.
33:21 Unfair challenge on Paul Morgan by Louis Almond results in a free kick. Jon Brain takes the free kick.
Correction - 32:27 Substitution Vinny Mukendi on for Ross Draper.
32:27 Substitution Vinny Mukendi on for Ross Draper.
31:32 Craig Lindfield takes a shot from 20 yards. Save by Scott P Brown.
28:45 Power penalty taken by Lee Bell saved by Scott P Brown. Macclesfield 0-0 Cheltenham.
28:45 Foul by Ashley Eastham on Ben Wright, Penalty awarded.
27:44 Corner taken by Lee Bell played to the near post, clearance made by Matt Thornhill.
26:39 Free kick awarded for a foul by Louis Almond on Lee Bell. Jon Brain takes the direct free kick.
Correction - 25:00 Shot by Matt Thornhill from deep inside the penalty area misses wide to the left of the target.
25:00 Matt Thornhill has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal.
Correction - 23:27 David Bird takes a outswinging corner.
23:27 Corner taken right-footed by David Bird.
22:57 Medy Elito takes a shot. Shaun Brisley gets a block in.
21:39 Corner taken by Lee Bell, clearance made by Medy Elito.
20:32 Medy Elito decides to take the corner short.
19:51 Shot by Shaun Brisley from outside the box goes over the net.
16:12 Louis Almond has an effort at goal. Paul Morgan gets a block in.
15:48 Emile Sinclair takes a shot. Blocked by Aaron Lescott.
11:04 Corner taken short by Medy Elito.
9:45 Corner taken by David Bird from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Lee Bell.
3:30 Ross Draper challenges David Bird unfairly and gives away a free kick. Scott P Brown takes the free kick.
Correction - 2:10 The assistant referee signals for offside against Louis Almond. Jon Brain restarts play with the free kick.
2:10 The offside flag is raised against Louis Almond. Jon Brain restarts play with the free kick.
0:00 The match begins.
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