Game Fifty Two - Swindon Town Home

14 February 2009

Valentines day arrives at the Walkers Stadium and it seems there is a massive love in at the club these days after a string of unbeaten games. There is a bit of a buzz around the place again and after two nil nil draws, everyone at the ground was eager to see us get back on track with a strong victory. Swindon Town, battling away against relegation seemed like the perfect chance to kick start the title bid.

I met up with Jodie at the stadium as per normal to exchange money - seem to be doing that a lot recentley. Chloe and Raj also made an appearance before I headed off to find my seat and after a rousing minutes applause to acknowledge the memory of Neville Hamilton who passed away during the week, we were into the action. After a rather tentative start involving very little goal mouth action, the game bounded into life midway through the first half when an Oakley corner was headed back across goal by Howard for King to volley against the post when he really should have scored. The post and Andy King would go on to feature throughout the 90 minutes!

Not long after that, City had the ball in the net after another Oakley cross caused mahem in the Swindon box. Howard went up for the ball with the keeper, who spilled it to Fryatt to roll in only for the referee to judge that Howard's challenge was illegal.
Swindon were always dangerous on the counter attack though with the speed of Simon Cox always causing the centre backs trouble with his tricks and rapid change of pace. And that proved to be our undoing when a long ball over the top released Cox who drilled his effort at David Martin only to see the rebound fall straight to his feet and left him the simple task of putting the visitors ahead. Very frustrating but the defence were not alert enough and we paid the price.

And that's the way things stayed until the half time whistle went and I headed down to the concourse for my usual bit of banter with Katy to catch up on whats been going on in the world. Her trip to Paris was the main topic as the nerves were starting to get to her - I'm sure she's having a great time out there now though with Fez for good company! Some cheeky comments and 15 minutes later and back to the seats for what would hopefully be an improved 45 minutes in front of goal.

The crossbar was all that denied Michael Morrisson from equalising with a header from a corner and you started to sense that it wouldn't be our day as the rebound was handled in a desperate attempt to force it home.
The injured David Martin was then replaced in goal by the inexperienced Carl Pentney to make his debut between the sticks. Not a great situation to claim your first appearance but his chance to make a stake for starting against Hartlepool in mid-week should Martin's injury be deemed to be serious.

The new keeper did well though to deny Cox twice as he threatened to really put the game beyond our reach. At one down, we always had a chance of continuing this mini run though and only a great fingertip save from the Swindon keeper kept a looping Howard header out with ten minutes to go.

As the clock counted down, the woodwork was struck for the third and final time as similar to the first time, a Howard header across goal saw King head against the outside of the goal frame. It's almost unheard of for the post to take a battering like that in one game but you have days when things do not run for you in the slightest and we resigned ourselves to getting the first defeat in months..... until five minutes to go and King finally got his goal. Oakley tried to force the ball through a crowded goalmouth and the ball fell to King who took one touch to beat the nearest defender before placing his shot into the corner with the outside of his foot. Neat goal and one that was badly needed.

City continued to push forward in the dying minutes to get the illusive winner but it wasn't to be and the closest we came was a Morisson effort that was well saved by the keepers feet. Another home game without a win though, the third draw on the bounce and signs that complacency has started to take hold of the players slightly. Is it just the case that they're struggling to find a way over the finishing line or are they just tired from their efforts throughout the season? Either way with the teams chasing us failing to register victories, once again we seem to have gotten away with things and continue to be strong favourites to take promotion and the league title.

And that's the lot for now - I've been a bit busy recentley and havent had the chance to update this till tonight and so will have to cut this short and work on writing Hartlepool later in the week.... one point closer to promotion though and one step closer to the unbeaten record. See you back up north!