Swindon Town 1 Walsall 0

A Superb strike by striker Jamie Cureton, ensure’s Swindon Town take all 3 points and more importantly move up the table to 22nd, 2 points from safety.

Swindon Town have done something they have not done this season, Win 2 successive home games at the County Ground.

As the fans froze in the stands, Walsall started the game as if they wanted it more than The Robins, by challenging Town keeper Rhys Evans several times in the opening 15 minutes of the match. Jamie Cureton missed a un-missable header but eventually made up for it with a superb 43rd minute strike from outside the area to put Town up 1-0 going into the break. Cureton’s goal perhaps was sweet revenge for a obvious foul that Referee Deadman refused to give in Swindon’s favour. Sean O’Hanlon became the first booking of the match before half time by getting booked in the 47th minute.

Swindon came back from the half time break lively and went straight back on the attack, however Walsall very nearly scored at the beginning of the 2nd half by Saddlers Kevin James hitting the cross bar. At the 51st minute Stefani Miglioranzi was substituted for Charlie Comyn-Platt who has had a great run as of late with the first team. On the 56th minute Jamie Cureton almost put Town 2 up, however failed to convert the chance. Walsall looking to shuffle the deck substituted Mark Wright for former Swindon target James Constable who was greeted by a corus of boo’s from Swindon fans. On the 68th minute Andy Gurney was substitued for Paul Smith, a straight change for 2 similar players with similar hard tackling styles. Constable almost made Swindon’s worst nightmare’s come true when he shuffled past Swindon’s defenders at the 70 minute mark. With Walsall Pressing, Manager Iffy Onoura decided to substitute Lee Peacock, with recent loan signing, Trevor Benjamin.

When Benjamin came on Swindon seemed to sit back and allow Walsall to attack to their heart’s content. Benjamin did little to inject any life into Swindon as he chased the defenders half the time or just stood their the other.

Walsall were very unlucky not to score. For about 10 minute’s Swindon played some dire hoofball much to the disgust of the County Ground faithful who began to get on the team’s backs. Finally Ricky Shakes ended the rot and got town attacking again winning some superb corners, and almost scoring himself.

Things got nasty towards the end of the match as Town played the ball in the corner and Saddlers’ Anthony Gerrard got booked on the 90th minute for some rough play, which appeared to boil down to his frustration at Town’s time wasting.

Finally after 2 minutes of added time, Swindon Town had won their second consecutive home game.

Former Swindon Town midfielder Grant Smith started the game and barely did anything except be in the middle of the heated play towards the end. Both games Smith has played at the County Ground this season, Swindon have won. Smtih played on 11 Nov 2005 for Bristol City before being relegated to the bench and eventually shipped out on loan by the Saddlers.



SWINDON TOWN STARTING XI

1 Rhys Evans
3 Jack Smith
15 Andrew Nicholas
2 Sean O`Hanlon
5 Jerel Ifil
12 Ricky Shakes
10 Stefani Miglioranzi
27 Andy Gurney
32 Aaron Brown
9 Lee Peacock
11 Jamie Cureton

SUBS

13 Matthew Bulman
17 Charlie Comyn-Platt
20 Paul Smith
8 Trevor Benjamin
30 Ashan Holgate

WALSALL STARTING XI
1 Andy Oakes
2 Craig Pead
3 Daniel Fox
4 Anthony Gerrard
5 Chris Westwood
14 Mark Wright
17 Grant Smith
28 Michael Leary
40 Kevin James
34 Alex Nicholas
9 Mads Timm

SUBS:

31 Rene Gilmartin
37 Mark Bradley
7 Michael Standing
8 Simon Osborn
39 James Constable