TO REVERT to cliché, there was little Luke Williams could do once his troops had crossed the white line.

Sure, in midweek, Swindon Town had dipped their toe into the uncharted waters of the Checkatrade Trophy and earned a 2-1 victory over a youthful Chelsea U23 side but a week on from a jarring defeat at local rivals Oxford United, Saturday’s clash with Bury was the real opportunity for Williams’ men to bounce back from their last League One outing.

This was the bread and butter, the meat and potatoes – whatever gastro-metaphor you want to throw at it.

While just under 20,00 fans turned up to watch Tuesday’s Chelsea encounter, with an attendance more closely resembling what’s usually seen at the County Ground, this was also an opportunity for Town to help their supporters truly get over that derby defeat.

In the end, Swindon were unable to maintain their early-season unbeaten home record and for long periods, head coach Williams must have felt powerless as his team served up a near-anaemic display and slipped to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of David Flitcroft’s Shakers.

A controversial refereeing decision went against them, with Jonathan Obika denied an equaliser midway through the first half and the home side finally awoke from their slumber in the final half-hour, piling on the pressure as Bury were forced to throw everything into defending their lead.

However, that didn’t stop Williams from blasting his players post-match, accusing Town of starting the match ‘in a coma’, while also accusing his team of being ‘dopey’ on the day.

For Swindon’s usually measured and calculated chief, the severity of his criticism on Saturday showed just how unimpressed he was with his side’s showing and his gesticulations from the sidelines did little to alter the course of what proved an ultimately disappointing day at the office for the men in red.

A lack of urgency across the pitch and care for the ball during possession seemingly irked Williams the most and the Town boss felt that his players had failed in their responsibilities.

Swindon Advertiser:
The players shake hands before kick-off at the County Ground

Williams made a raft of changes – some enforced – to the team he fielded seven days previous away to Oxford.

The most glaring absences were Michael Doughty, ruled out as he recovers from surgery to ease the pain of appendicitis, goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux and defender Lloyd Jones – the latter two were suspended after their red cards against Oxford.

Anton Rodgers was also only fit for a place on the bench after struggling with a back problem in the week, meaning that there were eight changes from the team beaten by the U’s, with teenager Will Henry deputising for Vigouroux and Sean Murray making his first league start for the club.

The likes of Raphael Branco, Jonathan Obika and Jamie Sendles-White were all also brought in, with Nathan Delfouneso also handed a start after opening his account with a goal in Tuesday’s win over Chelsea’s youngsters.

There was also a heart-warming sight amidst the pre-match preparations as academy goalkeeper Declan Lehmann, who was only given the all-clear from cancer earlier this year, warmed up alongside Henry and coach Dean Thornton.

The visitors’ Danny Mayor tested goalie Henry five minutes in with a low side-footed effort, while a dangerous delivery from the lively Zeli Ismail was narrowly missed by Hallam Hope.

At the other end, Yaser Kasim fired just over the bar from outside the area, while Delfouneso, who had made a confident start, curled into the arms of Shakers keeper Ben Williams after being fed by Branco.

But with just 12 minutes on the clock, Bury were ahead.

Ismail got himself into a crossing position on the right flank and looped a ball to the far post, where Tom Pope’s header was acrobatically palmed away by Henry.

Unfortunately for the Town back-line, his strike partner Hope was following up and stroked home into the net to open the scoring.

Swindon Advertiser:
Town fall behind early against Bury

Kasim had a controlled free-kick tipped over the bar by Williams as the hosts went looking to repair the damage of Bury’s opening goal and just past the 20-minute mark, Obika through he had restored parity.

Murray responded to the crowd’s calls for him to shoot from just outside the area and his effort was diverted in by the toe of Obika, with supporters celebrating and the County Ground’s goal music blaring as the striker wheeled away.

However, it was only then when referee Charles Breakspear spotted that his linesman’s flag had been hoisted aloft and the equaliser was chalked off, much to the ire of the home fans.

Swindon Advertiser:
The officials consult to chalk off a Town equaliser

Injury was then added to insult in literal terms as Sendles-White went down following a challenge with Bury’s Pope and immediately signalled to the bench that he was in agony, with the defender having to be stretchered off.

Swindon were seemingly rattled and Bradley Barry, Kasim and Branco were all soon booked by referee Breakspear, with the visitors’ Tom Soares also cautioned for crashing into Henry in mid-air.

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Jamie Sendles-White is helped off on a stretcher

The hosts’ frustrations were to spiral into despair just a minute before the break as Murray lost possession and striker Hope bundled his way past Nathan Thompson before maintaining his composure and confidently tucking away his and Bury’s second of the afternoon.

Despite enjoying plenty more of the ball in the second half, the match drifted into a malaise as Town struggled to find a way to break down Bury.

They needed something to shout about and it came just past the hour, with little warning.

Murray pumped a powerful ball into the area and Obika surprised everyone, including the Shakers keeper, with a sumptuous first-time finish, feathering a shot past Williams at the near post to half the deficit.

Swindon Advertiser:
Jonathan Obika gets a goal back for Town

John Goddard was introduced shortly afterwards and with his first contribution, he almost teed up Obika for an equaliser but the striker shot agonisingly wide from the midfielder cut-back.

All of a sudden, Swindon had their tails up and James Brophy embarked on a jinking run into the box from the left flank before unselfishly laying off into the path of Kasim but he saw his strike beaten away by Williams.

At the other end, Henry held on to a shot from substitute Andrew Tutte but the closing stages were largely defined by the hosts’ hunt for a leveller.

However, for all their promise in the closing stages, the hosts were unable to find a second goal and Bury had done enough.