Greer's late strike reverses the trend (From Swindon Advertiser)

Greer's late strike reverses the trend

8:30am Monday 22nd March 2010 in

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GORDON Greer re-wrote Town’s late goals script with one firm thump of his head on Saturday afternoon at the County Ground.

All too often this season Swindon have been on the receiving end of last-gasp efforts – sometimes at a cost – but when Greer nodded in against Norwich in the 92nd minute it provided a welcome change in fortunes.

The centre-back’s leveller followed Canaries front man Grant Holt breaking the deadlock seven minutes into the second half, and Greer believes it was a crucial goal in Town’s quest for promotion.

“It was great timing,” joked the captain.

“It’s definitely the most important goal I’ve scored for Swindon.

“I scored against Brighton last year which was really important because we needed the points to avoid relegation, but hat wasn’t as good as this one so I was really pleased with it.

“I thought we deserved something from the game, and I was so pleased that we managed to get a point from it.

“They didn’t cause us too many problems throughout the game and I don’t think Phil (Smith) has had too many saves to make.

“Norwich showed how dangerous they can be but we kept pushing and pushing and fortunately for me I got the goal.”

An even, if uneventful, opening period was brought to life in the 17th minute when debutant Frank Nouble raced on to Charlie Austin’s assist and got clear of Norwich defender Michael Nelson.

However, the striker was first dragged back and then brought down right on the edge of the area, only for referee Scott Mathieson to wave away Swindon’s protests.

The visitors began to grow into the game and started to dominate as you would expect the league leaders to do so.

Nelson, Darel Russell and Chris Martin all went close to breaking the deadlock, while all Town had to show for their efforts was a long range Danny Ward strike which Norwich keeper Fraser Forster had to tip over.

The Canaries strike force of Grant Holt and Chris Martin had plundered 47 goals between them before this game, and Holt made it 48 with his 28th of the campaign soon after the restart.

A superbly-worked team move ended with the big forward heading home Michael Rose’s centre, and even at that stage it looked like probably being game over.

But Swindon manager Danny Wilson changed his team’s shape with a series of substitutions and it gave them the impetus to take the game to their opponents.

First, the increasingly influential Danny Ward set up Austin for a strike which Forster kept out, and then the teenager saw an effort of his own blocked by the Canaries stopper.

As Town threw men forward in search of an equaliser it looked as through their efforts would be in vain, especially when Forster produced an outstanding save to divert Jonathan Douglas’ volley out for a corner.

The keeper’s fingertips looked to have saved all three points for Norwich, but Greer popped up to get the last laugh seconds later.