Match report: Swindon Town 1-0 Colchester United

A fortunate Tyrese Shade goal on 64 minutes ensured that Swindon returned to winning ways as they moved to within a point of the play-offs.

The substitute's strike was enough to split the two sides in what was an uneventful Autumn affair.

Swindon came into the meeting seeking redemption from their previous 2-0 defeat at Stevenage. Colchester on the other hand enjoyed their first win under new gaffer Matt Bloomfield the previous weekend. Bloomfield came to the helm in late September after The Us had made a far from ideal start to the campaign. 

Swindon would name the same eleven to the one that fell to defeat at Stevenage last time out. With Colchester languishing at the bottom of the table all signs pointed towards a home victory at The County Ground. However the visitors had become Swindon's bogey team of late with Town not winning in their last six meetings.

The hosts made a strong start to proceedings as a bright passage of play brought them their second corner inside six minutes. From the resulting corner The Robins thought that they had gained the advantage after Frazer Blake-Tracey rifled home a header. 

However, the goal was ruled out by referee Andy Haines for a foul in the build up. Minutes later, Welsh international Jonny Williams had an effort deflected for another corner.

Swindon had certainly had more intensity in the opening stages than in previous weeks. And on 18 minutes they should've had the reward to go with their good start. A delicious Jonny Williams ball over the back line found the run of Luke Jephcott. 

Inside the box one on one with the keeper, Town's talisman controlled the ball only to lash his half volley at the keeper. Moment's later Ronan Darcy shanked his effort from range into the Town End following a short corner.

However, after an impressive start the first half slowly drifted into a drab affair. The half time whistle soon sounded with little action to report upon.

The first notable opportunity of the second 45 was Colchester's first of the match. After substitute Ricky Aguiar had been disposed deep into the Colchester half Frank Nouble received the ball on the wing. After sitting down Mathieu Baudry the much-travelled striker made his way into the box only to fire an effort over the bar.

Three minutes later that missed chance would be made to look rather costly. Tom Clayton on half way played a ball into Jephcott, who with his back to goal spun and found Jonny Williams in acres of space on the right wing. The Welshman then fizzed the ball across the face of goal where Tyrese Shade stuck out a leg and watched the ball trickle into the net. The goal was Shade's second of the season. 

Just past 70 minutes Colchester found themselves three against two on the counter attack. However Al-Amin Kazeem's dangerous ball from the left flank was well intervened by Aguiar. On 83 minutes Ellis Iandolo had a low left footed effort denied. Then two minutes from time Alex Newby's long range free kick sailed comfortably into Sol Brynn's gloves. 

With that Town saw the game out to conquer 1-0 and move into eighth. 

Although Swindon got the result it must be mentioned that their performance was average at best. Against a poor defensive unit they created very few clear cut chances. At times it felt like the visitors would return to Essex with an easy point.