It may have taken 17 attempts, but a goal in each half from Elvis Hammond and Nicholas Bignall was enough for Cheltenham Town to claim victory this afternoon.

It was Martin Allen's side's first win of 2009, their first since December 19 at Leyton Orient, and it put a smile back on Whaddon Road following a turbulent season in which the supporters have had very little to cheer about.

Hammond's 35th minute penalty kick punctured a forgettable first half, and while Hartlepool responded strongly in the second, substitute Bignall secured the three points a minute from time with his first strike for the club.TEAM NEWS: Four more changes, two of which were enforced following injuries to John Finnigan (ankle) and Shane Duff (Achilles). In came Andy Lindegaard at right back, allowing David Bird to move up into central midfield while Michael Townsend replaced Duff in the heart of defence alongside Drissa Diallo, who returned from his head injury. Up front, Paul Connor rejoined the attack after missing out against Leicester City last weekend. Andy Gallinagh and Marley Watkins dropped to the bench.

28th minute: It took a while, but Cheltenham finally fashioned the first opportunity of the game two minutes shy of the half hour mark when Elvis Hammond took advantage of some hesitancy by Ritchie Humphreys at left back to test goalkeeper Arran Lee-Barrett from close-range.

30: Hartlepool responded with a chance of their own two minutes later, Keigan Parker placing an 18-yard curler the wrong side of the right post.

32: Hammond stabbed one wide after some determined play by Andy Lindegaard in midfield.

35 GOAL: Cheltenham Town 1-0 Hartlepool Town
A game of few chances came to life 10 minutes before the interval when Cheltenham were awarded a penalty. Connor skipped away down the left and delivered it low to Hammond, who attempted to contol it with his back to goal. The loose ball rebounded off Michael Nelson's hand, the referee pointed to the spot and Hammond successfully tucked it away.

40: Spencer went close to extending the lead after Josh Low centred from the right, although his ball was a foot too high for the big man to connect.

42: David Bird provided Hartlepool's sole effort of the first period when he inadvertently hooked the ball towards his own goal following a corner from the left. Fortunately from his perspective, team mate Lindegaard was at the far post to head clear.

HALF TIME: 1-0

49: The Hartlepool front pairing contrived to put the ball in the back of the net four minutes after the re-start, although the goal was eventually chalked off for offside. Joel Porter carried the ball towards the edge of the box before releasing a firm strike, which Brown parried into the path of Parker. The striker steered it home, but the Assistant Referee had already raised his flag.

50: Parker drew a smart block by Brown with a shot from a tight angle.

52: Low provided Cheltenham's first attempt of the second half with an effort which flew over the bar from 18 yards.

55: Michael Mackay tested Brown with a well-executed volley from 25 yards, although the Cheltenham stopped held on to it, diving to his left.

58: Humphries and Porter swapped passes on the edge of Cheltenham's penalty area before the Porter thumped one over from a promising position down the left channel.

61 SUBSTITUTION: David Foley replaced Mackay with an hour played.

63 SUBSTITUTION: Damian Spencer made way for Nicholas Bignall in what amounted to a straight swap.

65: Hartlepool substitute Foley called Brown into a decent low save with a crisp strike from 20 yards.

68 SUBSTITUTION: Andy Gallinagh was sent into central midfield at the expense of Hammond, with Ian Westlake moving out to the left and Bignall joining Connor up front.

74 BOOKING: Brown went into the book for time wasting when taking a goal kick.

80: Connor was presented with a chance to put the game out of Hartlepool's reach after Westlake and Gallinagh combined down the left, before Gallinagh cut it back into the path of Connor. The former Hartlepool United loanee, however, lifted it over from a good position inside the box.

81 BOOKING: Parker was carded for a clumsy challenge on Connor.

86 SUBSTITUTION: Hartlepool made their second change of the afternoon, switching Porter with Matty Robson.

87 SUBSTITUTION: Martin Allen made his last change when he replaced Connor with young Marley Watkins.

89 GOAL: Cheltenham Town 2-0 Hartlepool United
The home side wrapped it up with one minute remaining of normal time after substitute Bignall claimed his first goal for the club. Low was the provider, setting him up from the right before the Reading loanee spun and shot inside the right post from 12 yards.

FULL TIME: 2-0

CHELTENHAM TOWN (4-4-2): Brown; Lindegaard, Diallo, Townsend, Ridley; Low, Bird (c), Westlake, Spencer (Bignall 63); Connor (Watkins 87), Hammond (Gallinagh 68). Subs not used: Puddy (Gk), Durrant.

HARTLEPOOL UNIITED (4-4-2 ): Lee-Barrett; Liddle, Nelson (c), Collins, Humprheys; Mackay (Foley 61), Sweeney, Clark, Monkhouse; Parker, Porter (Robson 86). Subs not used: Jones, Cook (Gk), Henderson.

So we were all over them like a rash and lost 2-0.