Swindon Town 2 - Cheltenham 2 (From Swindon Advertiser)
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Swindon Town 2 - Cheltenham 2
9:30pm Tuesday 3rd March 2009 in Sport
Kevin Amankwaah (right) scores Swindon's equaliser
KEVIN Amankwaah's second half leveller earned Town a point against League One basement boys Cheltenham, but it was far from an ideal result in their own bid to avoid the drop.
The substitute headed in Hal Robson-Kanu's corner within two minutes of his introduction at a time when the visitors had shocked the County Ground by edging in front.
Earlier, Robson-Kanu had given Town a first half lead, but two Elvis Hammond goals, either side of the break, put Cheltenham in control.
Simon Cox and Jack Smith both had good chances to record Town's first win in three attempts, but they were forced to settle for a share of the spoils.
The final whistle was greeted by a chorus of boos as Swindon's fans made clear their feelings that three points were much-needed tonight.
Cheltenham had a glorious chance to open the scoring with just three minutes on the clock.
Ashley Vincent stole in between Jack Smith and Jerel Ifil, sped away from the duo and raced into the area, but couldn't get his curled effort on target when he should have at least tested Town keeper Peter Brezovan.
It was Swindon's turn next as Hal Robson-Kanu and Anthony McNamee combined well on a quick break. The latter's instant cross found Billy Paynter unmarked at the far post, but the big striker blazed his volley miles over.
In the 21st minute, Robson-Kanu picked up the ball in the middle of the park, strode forward into space and forced Cheltenham keeper Scott Brown into a good stop low down.
Minutes later Simon Cox appeared on the right flank where his dangerous cross was flicked goalwards by Smith, but the header went just wide of the far upright.
Town made the breakthrough on 32 minutes through Reading-loanee Robson-Kanu.
Cheltenham left-back Alex Ridley gave away possession cheaply to the wideman and he was made to pay as Robson-Kanu sped away, cut inside and drilled a fine low effort into the bottom corner past the despairing grasp of Brown.
However, having edged in front, Swindon threw it away within 60 seconds.
Straight from the restart Josh Low fed Elvis Hammond on the edge of the box and Cheltenham's striker fired a right-footed drive into the top corner to stun the County Ground.
Three minutes before half-time Cox spurned a great chance to send Town in ahead. A ricochet from Smith's shot fell kindly to the front man in the box.
The angle was tight but he should have done better rather than screwing his effort well wide.
Cheltenham forward Ashley Vincent was stretchered off in obvious discomfort on the stroke of half-time following a tackle from Michael Timlin which earned the Town man a booking.
The visitors took the lead in the 54th minute. A long throw into the area by Ridley dropped at the feet of Hammond and the former Fulham man turned and sent a low shot past Brezovan and into the far corner.
Substitute Kevin Amankwaah drew Town level with only his second touch of the game, just two minutes after coming off the bench.
The full-back, who was booed by some sections of the home support at his introduction, rose highest to power home Robson-Kanu's corner.
Rejuvenated, Swindon roared into life and Smith's powerful 25 yard drive had to be beaten away by Brown, before the stopper was called into action again at his near post to deny Cox.
In a rare Cheltenham attack, Brezovan was called into action in the 75th minute, making an impressive save with his legs to deny Bignall, who had broken into the box.
Back at the other end, Town continued to press and Cox headed McNamee's deep cross inches wide with Brown frozen to his line.
TOWN (4-4-2): Peter Brezovan; Jack Smith, Jerel Ifil (c), Gordon Greer, Jamie Vincent (Kevin Amankwaah 64); Hal Robson-Kanu, Michael Timlin, Lee Peacock (Chris Allen 46), Anthony McNamee; Billy Paynter, Simon Cox.
Subs not used: Phil Smith, Lescinel Jean-Francois, Mark Marshall.
CHELTENHAM (4-3-3): Scott Brown; Dave Bird, Andy Gallinagh, Shane Duff, Lee Ridley; John Finnigan (c), Ian Westlake, Josh Low; Ashley Vincent (Nicholas Bignall 45), Paul Connor (Damian Spencer 76), Elvis Hammond.
Subs not used: Will Puddy, Jack Durrant, Ashley Hemmings.
Comments(47)
stfc4life!!
says...
9:22pm Tue 3 Mar 09
umpcah
says...
9:40pm Tue 3 Mar 09
Mighty Reds
says...
9:41pm Tue 3 Mar 09
jimmys lovechild
says...
9:42pm Tue 3 Mar 09
Bring on thr Barnet!!!!!!!!
greenml
says...
9:48pm Tue 3 Mar 09
We are just very very poor. To be honest I don't see a big improvement since DW over Byrne or Malpas...OK...maybe Malpas. But really the tactics, fitness and ability are just not good enough...
Seriously thinking that we won't renew our 4 season tickets...
portland red
says...
9:48pm Tue 3 Mar 09
Unityred
says...
9:52pm Tue 3 Mar 09
jimmys lovechild wrote:?????????? You sir are a disgrace!!
I'm so fed up with this trash i'm beginging to wish we had gone to the wall 12 months ago. Bring on thr Barnet!!!!!!!!
There are far worse teams in this league, and plenty that will fill all the available relegation places.
Frustrating i know, but luck has'nt exactly been much of a lover of ours recently, keep the faith!
Roger_Smart
says...
9:52pm Tue 3 Mar 09
umpcah
says...
9:53pm Tue 3 Mar 09
portland red wrote:Martin Allen had a job to put a team out ! Had the match been played a month ago with a fullstrength Cheltenham team Swindon would have surely lost !
gutless!! cant even beat cheltenham proves how poor a team we are,another let down from the players relegation looking likely!!
Davidsyrett
says...
9:54pm Tue 3 Mar 09
No fight, no belief.
portland red
says...
9:55pm Tue 3 Mar 09
SL6 Maidenhead
says...
10:04pm Tue 3 Mar 09
I wonder what sort of excuses will be forthcoming this time.
Just accept it now we are just not good enough !
I wish I could be more positive but the team is showing no signs of wanting to get out of a mess !
dazegoonboy
says...
10:13pm Tue 3 Mar 09
It was like playing with nine men for most of the game.
Shameful.
lambo
says...
10:32pm Tue 3 Mar 09
he badly needs at least 2 loan players to save the season and our team from relegation.
about time though he saw the light and relegated paynter to the reserves, never seen a striker with such little ability. cannot shoot, cannot pass, never looks interested. rubbish.
cox can't do it on his own, although he tries hard. there is no way he should be dropping deep and wide to get the ball if paynter is supposed to be the link man.
back four with the exception of smith who looks more like a midfielder than a defender look ok.
missing two central midfielders. timlin flatters to deceive, and rarely produces. allen had another woeful game.
DW has got them functioning more as a unit. they do look unfit & slow compared to most teams who visit.
players to get rid of in the summer.
p smith, peacock (sadly, been struggling too long with injuries and done nothing of substance for 18 months now), nallis, allen, pook, corr, paynter and if you aren't going to even give them 10 minutes marshal, razik, joyce.
jury is still out on kanyuka.
to get out of this mess, DW should put a booze ban on all players for the rest of the season. get a proper fitness coach in to boost their stamina, and get 2/3 decent quality loan players in. at least a midfielder and a striker is what's needed.
security word : wage-pass lol!!! more like bus-pass for this lot.
portland red
says...
10:45pm Tue 3 Mar 09
lambo wrote:yeah i agree!! dont forget to add aljofree,sturrock,ca
what can you do in DW shoes? he's inherited a bunch of wasters from regimes gone by. until the summer when he gets a chance to clear them out and start afresh then we wont see anything better than what's on offer now. he badly needs at least 2 loan players to save the season and our team from relegation. about time though he saw the light and relegated paynter to the reserves, never seen a striker with such little ability. cannot shoot, cannot pass, never looks interested. rubbish. cox can't do it on his own, although he tries hard. there is no way he should be dropping deep and wide to get the ball if paynter is supposed to be the link man. back four with the exception of smith who looks more like a midfielder than a defender look ok. missing two central midfielders. timlin flatters to deceive, and rarely produces. allen had another woeful game. DW has got them functioning more as a unit. they do look unfit & slow compared to most teams who visit. players to get rid of in the summer. p smith, peacock (sadly, been struggling too long with injuries and done nothing of substance for 18 months now), nallis, allen, pook, corr, paynter and if you aren't going to even give them 10 minutes marshal, razik, joyce. jury is still out on kanyuka. to get out of this mess, DW should put a booze ban on all players for the rest of the season. get a proper fitness coach in to boost their stamina, and get 2/3 decent quality loan players in. at least a midfielder and a striker is what's needed. security word : wage-pass lol!!! more like bus-pass for this lot.
sal,thats half the squad who should be moved on so many getting paid good money for nothing!!not being harsh but they have proved NOT to be good enough even at this level.
jimmys lovechild
says...
10:55pm Tue 3 Mar 09
Unityred wrote:Football his about opinions and thats mine.It was said tongue in cheek,but take it how you want.
jimmys lovechild wrote: I'm so fed up with this trash i'm beginging to wish we had gone to the wall 12 months ago. Bring on thr Barnet!!!!!!!!?????????? You sir are a disgrace!! There are far worse teams in this league, and plenty that will fill all the available relegation places. Frustrating i know, but luck has'nt exactly been much of a lover of ours recently, keep the faith!
You make your own luck and personally I feel our card is marked and this time I would'nt bank on such a quick return!
grim reapers gone
says...
11:04pm Tue 3 Mar 09
portland red wrote:what craap you talk, if i was wilson i would be laughting all the way to the bank, this muppet should not be in management, its only coz fitton has got no idea into running this club why hes employed. ive said time and time again why was this man sacked from hartlepool who were further up the leaque than us, simple because the board did not rate his poor negative way he managed,at home he plays so deep you will not win many games, and he says he wants the c/g to be a fortress, hes an absent minded idiot with no skills at all.
lambo wrote: what can you do in DW shoes? he's inherited a bunch of wasters from regimes gone by. until the summer when he gets a chance to clear them out and start afresh then we wont see anything better than what's on offer now. he badly needs at least 2 loan players to save the season and our team from relegation. about time though he saw the light and relegated paynter to the reserves, never seen a striker with such little ability. cannot shoot, cannot pass, never looks interested. rubbish. cox can't do it on his own, although he tries hard. there is no way he should be dropping deep and wide to get the ball if paynter is supposed to be the link man. back four with the exception of smith who looks more like a midfielder than a defender look ok. missing two central midfielders. timlin flatters to deceive, and rarely produces. allen had another woeful game. DW has got them functioning more as a unit. they do look unfit & slow compared to most teams who visit. players to get rid of in the summer. p smith, peacock (sadly, been struggling too long with injuries and done nothing of substance for 18 months now), nallis, allen, pook, corr, paynter and if you aren't going to even give them 10 minutes marshal, razik, joyce. jury is still out on kanyuka. to get out of this mess, DW should put a booze ban on all players for the rest of the season. get a proper fitness coach in to boost their stamina, and get 2/3 decent quality loan players in. at least a midfielder and a striker is what's needed. security word : wage-pass lol!!! more like bus-pass for this lot.yeah i agree!! dont forget to add aljofree,sturrock,ca sal,thats half the squad who should be moved on so many getting paid good money for nothing!!not being harsh but they have proved NOT to be good enough even at this level.
my name for the stratton bank will be called the new oxford bank,as they will be the only team to fill it in two years time when fitton takes us into none leaque
tommyg
says...
11:07pm Tue 3 Mar 09
grim reapers gone
says...
11:11pm Tue 3 Mar 09
tommyg wrote:we have never been top,and never will
i see that the 'we are not top of the league, we must sack the manager' crowd are crawling out if the woodwork. thats all we need right now
tommyg
says...
11:13pm Tue 3 Mar 09
grim reapers gone wrote:who says we never will be top in the future and you know exactly what i meant
tommyg wrote:we have never been top,and never will
i see that the 'we are not top of the league, we must sack the manager' crowd are crawling out if the woodwork. thats all we need right now
Tite_Fitt
says...
11:14pm Tue 3 Mar 09
grim reapers gone
says...
11:26pm Tue 3 Mar 09
tommyg wrote:yeah and win the f.a cup,carling cup,premier league, and champions league, the future looks bright dont it
grim reapers gone wrote:who says we never will be top in the future and you know exactly what i meanttommyg wrote: i see that the 'we are not top of the league, we must sack the manager' crowd are crawling out if the woodwork. thats all we need right nowwe have never been top,and never will
tommyg
says...
11:31pm Tue 3 Mar 09
grim reapers gone wrote:you do know that the league does keep going year after year after year. Who says we won't progress to the championship in the future, say in 5 years. or are you physic and can see now that things are never going to change?
tommyg wrote:yeah and win the f.a cup,carling cup,premier league, and champions league, the future looks bright dont it
grim reapers gone wrote:who says we never will be top in the future and you know exactly what i meanttommyg wrote: i see that the 'we are not top of the league, we must sack the manager' crowd are crawling out if the woodwork. thats all we need right nowwe have never been top,and never will
townie63
says...
11:55pm Tue 3 Mar 09
graham81
says...
12:23am Wed 4 Mar 09
townie63 wrote:yes a lot of moaning going on here but come on mate if cant beat bottom of the league cheltenham at home something must seriously being going wrong. A good / firm team would take full advantage of these games and take all 3 points no doubt. Arguably the EASIEST game of the season.
why don't you moning bunch of w***ers go and support oxford, then you'll have something to moan about, we're not down yet, we didn't lose tonight, yet moan moan and moan again, what a bunch of miserable gits
MALPAS = C**T. You've ruined Swindon !!!!
lambo
says...
12:29am Wed 4 Mar 09
i work hard to earn good money to go and see the team i have followed since a boy when i went with my dad.
It isn't value for money at the moment. our cash...& fittons to a certain extent, is employing a bunch of players who have so little pride in their work that in any normal job they would be up on a disciplinary by now or got ride of. There are exceptions of course.
So whether you think i'm talking craap or moaning, i am merely voicing my opinion.
as for saying DW plays so deep at home, i have to disagree - if you watched him on the touchline, you would see he is shouting at his players all the time to move up, the players that are there are too frightened to do it for fear of conceding a goal. the number of times they should have pushed up the park as soon as it was rolled back to their keeper for a big boot downfield was unreal...but they would be crucified if they got it wrong so they didn't. and whilst the back four might have the skillset to do it, the midfielders haven't got a clue and would just stand there anyway.
lets hope we get 3 points the weekend, come on you reds! top, bottom or middle I will be there supporting them.
International Robin
says...
12:56am Wed 4 Mar 09
This club is slowly getting sorted out. We have a team that is frankly **** but have a few stars in the teams can can make it into something decent. This league is tight with anybody having the ablity to beat anyone on their day. Frustration is a big factor in this league because unless you have millions to spend, it's hard to build a good team.
All of these problems do make me appricate the job Andy King did on that play-off season. To create a play-off team and to lose out on the narrowist of margins.. King should be really held in more regard whoever bad his tactics were. However, thats a debate for another day. In the mean time, simply accept we drew against Cheltenham - that is football - that is Swindon Town.. If everything was plain sailing, it would be boring! Enjoy the ride, go to matches, make your own fun and sing until you have no voice left.. If we lose - so what! You've had a fun day out eh! Enjoy the experience - not the football!
shaner,bournemouth
says...
1:12am Wed 4 Mar 09
townie63
says...
1:35am Wed 4 Mar 09
shaner,bournemouth wrote:spot on shaner, these things take time. we need to get behind the team, the people who say they pay to watch a decent team should keep their money in their pockets. alex ferguson is the best manager in the country and he took 7 years to win his first title, so let's have a bit of patience. DW is the man for the job
we dont win and all the boo boys come out.yeah ok,we should of beaten cheltenham but u dont win every game.there has been a big improvement on the team since danny wilson took over and if u disagree then u need to pay more attention to the game.we do need a midfielder and a good forward to partner cox up top.we need to get behind the lads and cheer them on to 3 points on saturday.grim reaper,im fed up of reading your rubbish on here.give danny wilson a chance
avo
says...
5:39am Wed 4 Mar 09
Slightly different scenario I know, as in we're hardly going to get rid of the majority of our 1st team, not till the end of the season anyway.
Another woeful performance, Simon Cox crodsing it in for jack smith to head wide from open play sums it all up really, I could go on forever but won't.
The best we can hope for is that by some miracle this lot manage to keep league 1 status, then DW has a good clear out in the summer.
I joked the other day that we would probably do all we could to help cheltenscums plight on Tuesday night, then turn around and dick MK dongs on Saturday, so bring them on!!
Positive and hopelessly optimistic as ever!
bowralbob
says...
6:23am Wed 4 Mar 09
Surely things must get better soon?Please.........
.........!!!!!!!!!!!
!!
SW nice-wind.... is it an ill wind?
stfclondon
says...
7:31am Wed 4 Mar 09
drrock
says...
7:49am Wed 4 Mar 09
Top and bottom of it we aint good enough for div 1.
"IF" AF and DW wants to survive he needs at least 3/4 loan playrer asap, never mind we are "LOOKING" maybe ifs buts thats all we get.
What concerns me is on Sat they will go out play excellent footbal pass the ball/defend/attac."T
HEN DRAW"
Everyoe will say unlucky we should have won??????
writing is on the wall AF spend on loan players(who can play immediately) not settle etc we need this now not tomorrow
Otherwise we are down for sure on positve not we went up 1 spot on goal difference but by Sat will be down there, had feeling before last nights game, as our record against Cheltenham over the years has been dissmal
Lambourn Red
says...
8:13am Wed 4 Mar 09
sadgit
says...
8:24am Wed 4 Mar 09
Fittons appointments have been dire.
The Adder
says...
8:48am Wed 4 Mar 09
We have a decent enough squad but they just don't want to put in the effort when they cross the white line.
I suppose the Wilson Out chants will start soon from some of our dumb 'fans'.
luckyluke699
says...
9:02am Wed 4 Mar 09
Town have been lacking in financial and managerial stability (we're on something like our 5th manager since 2005 I believe?), and as soon as we aren't roaring up the leagues, some so called "supporters" start blaming the manager... pathetic to be honest.
And for those saying that AF/DW should sack the players as that is what would happen in a "normal" job, well in a "normal" job there wouldn't be transfer windows to wait for till you could hire new staff, or the issue of paying to bring them in potentially as well as considering their wages and our financial situation. Cheltenham after all have just put their entire squad up for sale.
At the moment, we should be concentrating on doing our best to secure the team, both on the pitch yes but also to reduce our debts, ensure a good cash flow and get out of the current financial situation where the council screw us to play on their ground year after year.
The reality of our situation is, we have a lot of potential. It will be a slow process, and the club will need supporters to be behind the club all the way, be that in League one, or League Two (temporarly)...
luckyluke699
says...
9:10am Wed 4 Mar 09
largey
says...
9:26am Wed 4 Mar 09
sadgit wrote:its pretty obvious he was sacked from hartlepool because he wanted the swindon job was caught speaking to AF.
Wilson talks a good game but has he got the team playing with passion? I think not. He wasn't sacked from Hartlepool for nothing. Fittons appointments have been dire.
stfclondon
says...
9:48am Wed 4 Mar 09
The Adder wrote:I have said loads of times that the players have the ability, but their attitude is all wrong. I'm sick of defending them now. With a few notable exceptions they are nothing but mercenaries. Whether we stay up or not, I wouldn't be sorry to see most of them go.
Perhaps the boo-boys who got Malpas the sack will now realise that our plight was not down to him but wholly down to the players. We have a decent enough squad but they just don't want to put in the effort when they cross the white line. I suppose the Wilson Out chants will start soon from some of our dumb 'fans'.
sadgit
says...
10:10am Wed 4 Mar 09
luckyluke699 wrote:Perhaps you should read the Rivals Hartlepool site.
and sadgit, the fans appeared very gutted when he left, as he did a very good job there!
Comments of negative play and using players out of position are rife.
Sound familiar?
luckyluke699
says...
10:16am Wed 4 Mar 09
/dna/606/F12099103?t
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Joeyeah_right
says...
10:21am Wed 4 Mar 09
Anyway. I shall look forward to us getting something on Saturday. Although I shall be in London celebrating a friend's birthday so shall have to make do with checking the score on my phone during the match.
Is that you Lovesey
says...
10:29am Wed 4 Mar 09
The Adder wrote:WHAT ? Our plight now is still down to him, arse and elbow come to mind, he couldn't find either when he was at Town !!!
Perhaps the boo-boys who got Malpas the sack will now realise that our plight was not down to him but wholly down to the players. We have a decent enough squad but they just don't want to put in the effort when they cross the white line. I suppose the Wilson Out chants will start soon from some of our dumb 'fans'.
luckyluke699
says...
10:34am Wed 4 Mar 09
Tite_Fitt
says...
10:50am Wed 4 Mar 09
luckyluke699 wrote:You're right, we need to move on and stop blaming Malpas for our current plight. Danny Wilson's had long enough in charge now to start getting things right. Unfortunately he hasn't been able to do that with the current squad of players. Only 1 win in the last 7 games, is poor by anyone's standards (even Malpas's).
Time to move on guys. Malpas is long gone (thank god!). We now have a good manager and should concentrate on getting behind STFC going forward...
It's time for DW to admit to himself that he's unable to do any better with the current bunch of players, than did Malpas and Byrne before him.
The time for talking about bringing in new players is over, we need action. We need players with experience and backbone. Other teams in league 1 are signing loan players, so why aren't we?
C'mon DW pull yer finger out please and lets see some new face before Saturdays game against MK Dons.
click2find
Mighty Reds says...
9:06pm Tue 3 Mar 09
Security word: help-door lol..