SWINDON Town’s winless run in League One extended to 10 matches after a 1-0 home defeat to Carlisle United this afternoon.

James Berrett’s 30-yard drive in the 29th minute proved to be the difference between the sides, although Town created a number of openings across the 90 minutes and should have taken at least a point from the contest.

Scott Cuthbert saw his first-half header saved and Jonathan Obika rolled wide when played through one-on-one with United keeper Adam Collin, as Swindon huffed and puffed throughout.

And in the second period David Prutton, Jonathan Douglas and Obika all peppered the Carlisle goal with attempts, but none could beat Collin.

Here are the key moments from today’s match:

Four mins: Great early opportunity goes begging for Town as Michael Rose whips in a delicious left-footed cross and Scott Cuthbert, unmarked at the back post, nods wide. Swindon to top in the initial exchanges here.

Seven mins: David Lucas is called into action for the first time this afternoon, getting down well to hang on to Liam Noble’s 20-yard half-volley.

Eight mins: Lucas has to be alert to push Ben Marshall’s dangerous centre away from the onrushing Francois Loko. The ball ricochets kindly for Swindon and Jon-Paul McGovern can clear. Lively start to this one.

22 mins: Elliot Benyon is withdrawn with what looks like a hamstring problem, with Thomas Dossevi replacing him.

24 mins: Noble isn’t far away from giving the Cumbrians the lead, as his bending left-footed effort from the corner of the penalty area just flies over the crossbar. Carlisle are starting to force themselves on Town now, and that midfield grit could be decisive in this contest.

25 mins: Cuthbert has not found himself in so many goalscoring positions in his entire career as he has in the last two weeks. Again he is at the back post to meet McGovern’s looping cross, and this time he hits the target with his header. But keeper Adam Collin does well to reach up and paw the ball out for a corner.

27 mins: A first sight of goal on his home debut for Jonathan Obika, who absolutely roasts Peter Murphy for pace as he chases down McGovern’s superb through-ball down the right channel.

The on-loan Spurs man races clear of the backtracking defender, but from a tight angle slides his shot past the post.

28 mins: Dossevi rises to meet Caddis’ inswinging cross and heads high and wide into the Stratton Bank/Adkins Family Stand.

29 mins: (GOAL 0-1, Berrett) After 10 minutes of utter Town dominance, this is an absolute killer. The ball falls to James Berrett 30 yards out from goal. The situation seems innocuous but the midfielder lets fly and Lucas has no chance, the ball nestling in the top corner.

30 mins: Town should be level as Jonathan Douglas latches onto a loose ball on the edge of the box with Collin committed and chips a pass to Ritchie at the back post. The winger does well to outjump his marker but can only nod wide.

31 mins: Ritchie, who has been electric down the left, fizzes a low cross in. Obika meets it at the near posts but can only toe-poke well wide.

36 mins: Lucas does superbly well to come off his line quickly and get down to Marshall’s feet after the winger, who has looked Carlisle’s most potent weapon, dances past Rose and into the area.

46 mins: Michael Timlin has the first shot at goal for Town in the second half, but the less said about it the better as the ball trickles harmlessly out for a goal-kick midway between goal and corner flag.

54 mins: Town have started brightly again in this second period but the final ball is letting them down time and time again. Plenty of quality in the build-up appears to be abandoned in the final third. Plenty of promise, but that’s not worth much in a relegation battle.

56 mins: Collin does not instil a whole of confidence in his defence when he fumbles Douglas’ 20-yard rocket into the path of Obika, but the striker cannot get the right connection on the bouncing ball to force it home.

59 mins: Ritchie has a stinging shot from 20 yards easily collected by Collin, but Swindon are definitely in the ascendancy in this second half.

60 mins: Taiwo lashes wide from the edge of the box after the ball falls kindly to him off Cuthbert. He should have made Lucas work there.

62 mins: Only the last-gasp sliding challenge of Murphy prevents Ritchie from picking out Obika for a simple tap-in. Moments before Ritchie produced a moment of class to instantly kill Rose’s long, flighted through-ball into his stride. Superb stuff from the wide man.

67 mins: Obika heads a difficult header wide from McGovern’s whipped cross from the right.

68 mins: Prutton fires well wide after receiving a lay-off from Obika about 25 yards out.

69 mins: Carlisle are still on the hunt for a second and both Noble and Marshall have shots well blocked in a moment of panic for the hosts.

78 mins: So much huff and puff and hustle and bustle from Swindon, but nothing at the end of it. Time after time they cut the Carlisle defence open and take advantage of great chasms in midfield, but the killer pass and the accurate finish seem to be very hard to come by.

82 mins: Douglas rises to meet Ritchie’s vicious centre and heads just over the bar. They’re getting closer and closer, Swindon, but that all-important goal is still proving elusive.

86 mins: Obika has a glorious chance to level it for the Robins, but Collin makes himself massive in a one-on-one situation to block the on-loan striker from 12 yards. Moment’s later Obika’s header looks destined for the bottom corner before Murphy gets his body in the way with Collin seemingly beaten. Frantic stuff at the death.

90 mins: Lucas hangs on to Marshall’s curling effort.

SWINDON TOWN (4-4-2): David Lucas; Paul Caddis, Scott Cuthbert, Andy Frampton, Michael Rose; Jon-Paul McGovern, Michael Timlin (Simon Ferry, 66), Jonathan Douglas, Matt Ritchie; Elliot Benyon (Thomas Dossevi, 22 (David Prutton, 46)), Jonathan Obika

Subs not used: Phil Smith, Alan Sheehan, Billy Bodin, Aden Flint

CARLISLE UNITED (4-4-2): Adam Collin; Frank Simek, Peter Murphy, Lubomir Michalik (Danny Livesey, 41) , Matt Robson; Tom Taiwo, Ben Marshall, Liam Noble, James Berrett; Rory Loy (Craig Curran, 61), Francois Zoko (Patrick Madden, 76)

Subs not used: Tony Caig, Gary Borrowdale, Nakhi Wells, Marc-Antoine Gbarssin

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