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Richard
1154 Posts |
 Posted - 28 Apr 2012 : 23:55:28
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Well, that was alright I suppose.
After clinching promotion despite two defeats, Swindon stormed to the victory that clinched the League Two title, smashing five goals past Port Vale - a scintillating second half display and subsequent celebrations the perfect end to their home league campaign.
Though the second half was one-sided, the scoreline certainly masks a far more even and open first half - the game starting at a high tempo, with both sides looking good going forward. Vale created the first opening of the game, Sean Rigg crossing the ball after good work down the left flank, finding the head of Tom Pope, who could only head wide. At the other end, a cross-field pass found Holmes who played it back for McEveley, his dangerous whipped cross was just diverted from danger by the Vale defence, with Benson ready to pounce. Later on in the half, after Bostock had fired a 25 yard low effort wide, another superb cross-field pass from Simon Ferry found Holmes, who put another wicked ball into the area, but this time no-one was there.
Vale looked a very neat side at this stage, particularly down the Town’s right side, where Doug Loft and Rigg were linking up well. Just prior to Bostock’s effort, the visitors were awarded a free-kick forty yards or so from goal in a central position, Chris Shuker lifted the ball right into the danger zone, only for defender Joe Davis to divert it wide with his head when it looked easier to have scored.
Vale’s big chance to take the lead though came with about ten minutes of the half remaining, courtesy of a gift from Aden Flint. As a ball was played down the left touchline, Flint completely missed it, and was forced to chase it back towards his own corner flag. Under no pressure, he attempted to play the ball back to Wes Foderingham in the Town goal, but played it far too square, straight into the path of Marc Richards. The Vale striker tried to round Foderingham, but the Town custodian did well to usher him out - Vale were awarded a corner, the reaction in the Town End suggested that it shouldn’t have been.
Within minutes, Swindon made Vale pay for the miss, with yet another contender for goal of the season. A ball into the Vale penalty area was chased down by Bostock, who found himself virtually on the bye-line with his back to goal. Bostock spotted the darting run of Ritchie, and picked him out with a superbly angled ball inside the full-back, Ritchie took one touch to make space for himself, and then arrowed his strike right into the far top corner of the goal. With their tails up, Swindon poured forward in search of a second, but in fact it was the Valiants who went closest before the half was out - a corner finding the head of Marc Richards unmarked in the box, but his effort went straight at Foderingham.
Vale attacked in the opening moments of the second half - Foderingham almost fumbling a long range effort from Rigg - but just six minutes after the restart, Swindon doubled their lead with another superbly worked goal. A ball was played into the feet of Simon Ferry, with back to goal, 25 yards out - but rather than control it, Ferry instead back-heeled it on, redirecting it behind the Vale defence. It fell perfectly into the path of Paul Benson, and the Town striker showed great composure to delicately chip the ball over the advancing keeper. Never mind League Two, the opening goals would have graced the Champions League.
And from then, the floodgates opened. Vale were beaten, and Swindon were playing some sublime stuff. Caddis shot a long-ranger just wide. Bostock danced past a defender in the area, and shot past the keeper, only to see the ball blocked on the line by a desperate defender, then just scrambled away as Benson looked to pounce on it. Ritchie cut inside two defenders on a blazing run, but fired his shot past the post.
On 65 minutes though, the Town breached the Vale defence for the third time. The goal was created by some old-fashioned wing-wizardry from Lee Holmes, taking the age old method of playing the ball past his defender on the outside, running past him on the inside, and beating his man for pace. He whipped the ball into the near post, where he found the run of Paul Benson, who volleyed the ball into the far corner of the goal. Just moments later, it was four. Straight from the kick-off, Swindon forced a corner on the right side, Matt Ritchie played it to the back post where Aden Flint was unmarked to volley home.
By now, the party was well and truly underway, and the County Ground was in full voice. Still Swindon pushed forward for more goals - and there was a comical sequence where Bostock and Holmes twice had efforts blocked - Town players seemingly queuing up to score. Di Canio brought on Luke Rooney, Jonathan Smith and Alan Connell on to join in the fun - the latter two both involved in the Town’s final goal, which came with five minutes to go - Smith picking the ball up on the edge of the area before firing a shot at goal, the ball striking Connell on the way through, leaving the keeper sat on his backside as the ball rolled into the net. Still there could have been more - Rooney letting in Jay McEveley for a one-on-one chance with the keeper, only for the defender to screw his shot well wide. Vale did almost get on the scoresheet themselves - Wes Foderingham having to display a strong arm to prevent a shot from Clayton McDonald going in, the Town defence throwing themselves at the follow-up shot, to block it away for a corner. The save preserved Foderingham’s goal for the ninth successive match at the County Ground, a new club record.
There were joyous scenes at the final whistle - the customary pitch invasion, everyone clearing themselves off the pitch, followed by the presentation of the League Two trophy, and a good thirty minutes of celebration culminating in the second pitch invasion of the afternoon.... the horror of last season a distant memory, the turnaround in this club in the past twelve months has been phenomenal.
Now then... when is Paolo booked into that tattoo parlour? |
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grovesie
4 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2012 : 03:19:45
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Thanks once again Richard. As a very long standing (first game v Millwall in 1957) Swindon Town fan now living in Queensland Australia I really appreciate your great STFC reports. What a pleasure it must have been witnessing the highs (and a few lows) this season after last years horrors . Hoping to be in UK in Jan and catch up with a game. Thanks again Richard, the players and of course Mr PDC-so hope he sticks around |
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Alan
South Africa
90 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2012 : 07:48:41
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I echo the sentiments of Grovesie. Really great to have such reports.
Saw the goals on TV this morning and what a cracker from Ritchie to start things off and it just got better from there. Fan-tas-tic!!! Must be a few sore heads this morning. Well done to all the players, manager and background staff. Exciting times once again. Not sure how we will fair in Div 1 but for now we must just savour this years achievement |
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Richard
1154 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2012 : 10:30:33
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| Thanks both - glad you enjoy the reports!! |
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John_
ENG
1182 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2012 : 11:39:58
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Wow!
What a day. Everything went according to plan and then some. There's so much to discuss and describe but there are just 2 things that stick out in my mind right now.
1. The pre-match roll-call was quite a humbling and emotional few minutes. I wasn't quite expecting so many names to be read out.
2. At the end a mother gingerly led her 4-year old son onto the pitch (from the Stratton Bank) in front of me. The little lad checked their progress just so he could reach down and touch the playing surface! Brilliant stuff. That's what I'm talking about!
I loved how we ran riot second half - just a shame all of the goals were up at the Town End. Still, I'm currently enjoying this uploaded video of our third goal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocnDytN0yvQ&feature=related
I was in the front row of Stratton Bank and had a great view of Ritchie's opener and I was delighted to see myself on telly later jumping out of my seat going mental as well!
Also bumped into Simon Ferry and Lady in Co-op on the slow march back into Town/Station. I thanked him for not going the 'Full Monty' in the post match celebrations and he said there "Would'ne be anything to see anyway!"
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RichPullen
ENG
936 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2012 : 11:41:27
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Hooray! The website gets a new season (trophy included) within the achievements section.
Port Vale looked pretty dangerous and right up until Ritchie's goal it was pretty even. Town had lost their discipline with some silly yellow cards too so it was brilliant to get the goal when we did.
Second half was one of the best Town performances that I've witnessed.
I missed the Stockport game in '96 so that was the first time that I've seen Swindon lift a trophy at the County Ground. It was worth the long wait. |
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Swindon Town 5-0 Port Vale
