George Cox gave Swindon a dream start to the new year as he buried a stoppage time penalty to snatch a thriller.
In a game of twists and turns, captain Ollie Clarke led Town into the lead before former Swindon man Jack Payne turned the game on its head with two penalties either side of half time. Aaron Drinan levelled the contest with a fine strike to set up a thrilling finale, which went the way of Swindon.
In front of the Sky cameras, it was far from a blockbuster start. It took until the seventh minute for either side to register an effort, with former Swindon player Ellis Iandolo calling Daniel Barden into action with a low long range left-footed strike.
With a quarter of an hour played, Swindon and Ollie Clarke headed into an early lead. A free kick from the left-hand side was swung into the box through the right foot of Will Wright. It was angled to perfection as it allowed skipper Ollie Clarke to head home the deftest of flicks.
Clarke continued to lead from the front, next coming close with a stinging shot from range. With 23 minutes on the clock, Clarke capitalised on a loose ball as he launched an effort towards goal. Keeper Matt Macey was on hand to prevent the net from bursting with a fine acrobatic save.
Swindon continued to pile on the pressure as Harry Smith was denied, for a corner, just minutes later. Found by Tshimanga on the edge of the box, Swindon’s top scorer saw his first time left-footed curler tipped away from danger.
The hosts came close to doubling their advantage via another free kick on the stroke of the half hour mark, with Will Wright beating the wall from 30 yards only to be denied by Macey.
Town were looking rather assured as the match drifted towards half time. However, a momentary lack of concentration cost them, three minutes shy of the break. Joel Cotterill needlessly tripped Harry Anderson inside the box, gifting former Town favourite Jack Payne the opportunity to convert from 12 yards. As was always the case in his time at SN1, Payne made no mistake as he beat Barden to level proceedings.
So, the two teams went in level, with Swindon doing most of the running but ultimately getting no reward. Town and in particular Joel Cotterill had another 45 minutes to put that record right.
Ten minutes into the second half Jack Payne looked for his second of the afternoon with a low strike from 28 yards which Barden was equal to, although the visitors were certainly edging ahead in the momentum stakes.
And with an hour played Colchester edged ahead on the scoreline. In a comedic turn of events, Daniel Barden fouled Anderson with the goal gaping, allowing Payne to smash home his second penalty of the afternoon. It meant that Swindon had undone all their early hard work.
They very nearly drew level through what was a really well worked counterattack, with Cotterill and Tshimanga linking up well to present Aaron Drinan with the opportunity to flash a well struck effort against the perimeter of the goal.
It was shaping up to be a frustrating afternoon at the office for The Robins. But in the dying stages a goal of real quality set up a deserved grandstand finish. Danny Butterworth supplied Aaron Drinan with an expertly fizzed pass to the back post where he took it down and smashed home from a tight angle.
Inside stoppage time Swindon came within inches of regaining the lead when George Cox struck the crossbar inside the box. Nnamdi Ofoborh went mightily close in the 93rd minute when his low shot from range drifted agonisingly wide of the target. Ellis Iandolo was dismissed a minute later for a second bookable offence as he fouled Glatzel.
But the drama wasn’t done there. In a game of penalties Swindon had their first in the final minute. A handball from a free kick gave Town a precious opportunity to earn a valuable three points. George Cox took the responsibility, and George Cox kept his cool to fire home from 12 yards to spark pandemonium.
It finished 3-2 in a game which was a rollercoaster of emotions. Swindon thoroughly deserved the bragging rights, and more so the 8/12 points which they’ve earned over the festive period. However, the quick turnarounds are not yet complete for Ian Holloway’s side with a Saturday midday trip to Notts County next on the agenda.
In front of the Sky cameras, it was far from a blockbuster start. It took until the seventh minute for either side to register an effort, with former Swindon player Ellis Iandolo calling Daniel Barden into action with a low long range left-footed strike.
With a quarter of an hour played, Swindon and Ollie Clarke headed into an early lead. A free kick from the left-hand side was swung into the box through the right foot of Will Wright. It was angled to perfection as it allowed skipper Ollie Clarke to head home the deftest of flicks.
Clarke continued to lead from the front, next coming close with a stinging shot from range. With 23 minutes on the clock, Clarke capitalised on a loose ball as he launched an effort towards goal. Keeper Matt Macey was on hand to prevent the net from bursting with a fine acrobatic save.
Swindon continued to pile on the pressure as Harry Smith was denied, for a corner, just minutes later. Found by Tshimanga on the edge of the box, Swindon’s top scorer saw his first time left-footed curler tipped away from danger.
The hosts came close to doubling their advantage via another free kick on the stroke of the half hour mark, with Will Wright beating the wall from 30 yards only to be denied by Macey.
Town were looking rather assured as the match drifted towards half time. However, a momentary lack of concentration cost them, three minutes shy of the break. Joel Cotterill needlessly tripped Harry Anderson inside the box, gifting former Town favourite Jack Payne the opportunity to convert from 12 yards. As was always the case in his time at SN1, Payne made no mistake as he beat Barden to level proceedings.
So, the two teams went in level, with Swindon doing most of the running but ultimately getting no reward. Town and in particular Joel Cotterill had another 45 minutes to put that record right.
Ten minutes into the second half Jack Payne looked for his second of the afternoon with a low strike from 28 yards which Barden was equal to, although the visitors were certainly edging ahead in the momentum stakes.
And with an hour played Colchester edged ahead on the scoreline. In a comedic turn of events, Daniel Barden fouled Anderson with the goal gaping, allowing Payne to smash home his second penalty of the afternoon. It meant that Swindon had undone all their early hard work.
They very nearly drew level through what was a really well worked counterattack, with Cotterill and Tshimanga linking up well to present Aaron Drinan with the opportunity to flash a well struck effort against the perimeter of the goal.
It was shaping up to be a frustrating afternoon at the office for The Robins. But in the dying stages a goal of real quality set up a deserved grandstand finish. Danny Butterworth supplied Aaron Drinan with an expertly fizzed pass to the back post where he took it down and smashed home from a tight angle.
Inside stoppage time Swindon came within inches of regaining the lead when George Cox struck the crossbar inside the box. Nnamdi Ofoborh went mightily close in the 93rd minute when his low shot from range drifted agonisingly wide of the target. Ellis Iandolo was dismissed a minute later for a second bookable offence as he fouled Glatzel.
But the drama wasn’t done there. In a game of penalties Swindon had their first in the final minute. A handball from a free kick gave Town a precious opportunity to earn a valuable three points. George Cox took the responsibility, and George Cox kept his cool to fire home from 12 yards to spark pandemonium.
It finished 3-2 in a game which was a rollercoaster of emotions. Swindon thoroughly deserved the bragging rights, and more so the 8/12 points which they’ve earned over the festive period. However, the quick turnarounds are not yet complete for Ian Holloway’s side with a Saturday midday trip to Notts County next on the agenda.
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