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Peterborough 2 - Swindon Town 2


DEAN Keates' injury-time free-kick denied Town a final day victory, but a Simon Cox double earned Swindon a point away at Peterborough.

The prolific front man took his tally to 32 for the season, leaving him level in the race for the divisional Golden Boot alongside Bristol Rovers' Rickie Lambert, with two well-taken finishes.

Cox opened the scoring on 17 minutes with a curling effort, and although Craig Mackail-Smith equalised for the hosts on 40 minutes, Cox struck back almost immediately.

Posh striker Aaron McLean missed a second half penalty following Kevin Amankwaah's trip on George Boyd, while Jerel Ifil and Michael Timlin were both forced into late clearances off the goal line.

But, with the game deep into stoppage time, Keates stepped up to fire home a free-kick and earn the home side a share of the spoils.

Here are the key moments from today's game:

Two mins: Charlie Lee picks up possession just inside Swindon's half and drives into the box, jinking past a couple of challenges before poking the ball straight at Phil Smith.

Eight mins: Paul Coutts' corner is headed back across goal by Gabriel Zakuani, but Lee's close range effort is stopped by Smith.

10 mins: Lilian Nalis heads into the path of Billy Paynter and, from the edge of the box, he fired a left-foot shot just wide of the upright.

17 mins (GOAL 0-1 Cox): Simon Cox cuts outs Lee's pass across the back line, cuts inside Craig Morgan and curls a superb right-footed into the far corner for his 31st goal of the season.

20 mins: Peterborough break at pace and George Boyd feeds Aaron McLean inside the area, but Smith keeps out his low drive.

29 mins: Cox beats the offside trap but takes an early speculative effort from 35 yards which flies well wide.

39 mins: Some neat interplay from the home side sees full-back Russell Martin get free in the box. His shot is deflected by the leg of Jamie Vincent and the ball goes agonisingly the wrong side of the post and out for a corner.

40 mins (GOAL 1-1 Mackail-Smith): Coutts and Boyd work a short corner, and as the latter swings in a cross, Craig Mackail-Smith gets ahead of his marker to flick home.

42 mins (GOAL 1-2 Cox): Swindon hit back immediately. Michael Timlin challenges for the ball wide on the left. His delivery in bounces between Peterborough's centre-backs and Cox nips in, takes a touch and finishes past Joe Lewis.

47 mins: Posh centre-back Craig Morgan climbs well but heads Coutts' corner wide.

55 mins: Billy Paynter can only half-clear a free-kick from the touchline and Boyd fires in an acrobatic volley from 20 yards, but his shot flies wide of the far post.

57 minutes: A long ball over the top causes problems for Vincent, and McLean nips ahead of him.

However, he can only lift the effort over when he should have at least tested Smith.

62 mins: Boyd tricks his way past Amankwaah, who is adjudged to have brought the midfielder down inside the box, just seconds after coming on as a substitute.

McLean takes the spot kick, but his effort is weak and Smith guesses right to turn it behind for a corner.

65 mins: Town work the ball forward well, with Cox feeding Vincent down the left flank. His pull-back finds Timlin, who takes a touch before firing in a wayward effort which flies into the side netting.

74 mins: Boyd's low cross finds McLean, who controls and turns Lescinel Jean-Francois in one movement. But his strike is saved by Smith.

84 mins: Peterborough sub Shaun Batt's shot is brilliantly kept out by Phil Smith with a full-length, one-handed save.

As the ball is worked back into the area, Martin strikes low but Jerel Ifil is on hand to clear from the goal line.

87 mins: Lee Frecklington strides forward and forces Smith into another fantastic stop.

From the resulting corner, Zakuani's header appears to be going in, until Timlin nods away from underneath his own crossbar.

90 mins (GOAL 2-2 Keates): Dean Keates curls a 30-yard free-kick around the wall and past Smith to score a stunning equaliser for the home side.

PETERBOROUGH (4-4-2): Joe Lewis (James McKeown 77); Russell Martin (c), Craig Morgan, Gabriel Zakuani, Charlie Lee; Dominic Green (Shaun Batt 77), Paul Coutts, Dean Keates, George Boyd; Aaron McLean, Craig Mackail-Smith (Lee Frecklington 71)

Subs not used: Chris Westwood, Sergio Torres

TOWN (3-5-2): Phil Smith; Jerel Ifil, Lescinel Jean-Francois, Jamie Vincent; Jon-Paul McGovern, Craig Easton (Mark Marshall 78), Owain Tudur Jones, Lilian Nalis (c) (Kevin Amankwaah 60), Michael Timlin; Billy Paynter, Simon Cox (Anthony McNamee 90)

Subs not used: Jack Smith, Hamdi Razak

Comments(28)

graham81 says...
4:04pm Sat 2 May 09

well done lads !!! if things stay as they are we will finsh 2nd in the bottom half.
WE HAVE TO KEEP SIMON COX !!! Fitton dig into your pocket and ensure we do. Look how many games he has won for us with his goal scoring. its not even funny how many. If sold definately a £2.5 / £3 million man in my book !!!!

jimbog says...
4:58pm Sat 2 May 09

Why did Simon Cox get substituted? - because he is leaving the club, that's why - Danny Wilson wanted to give him a send-off in front of the Town supporters.

jan aage flipflop says...
4:59pm Sat 2 May 09

thankyou s cox what a player!!!
also have a return on my bet for top scorer you liitle gem!!!!

RFM says...
5:08pm Sat 2 May 09

"if things stay as they are we will finsh 2nd in the bottom half"

Some people are easily pleased!!!!

Russ STFC says...
5:09pm Sat 2 May 09

Cheerio Simon Cox and thanks for everything,you're now an STFC Legend.

Goodluck for the future..

stfccox says...
5:22pm Sat 2 May 09

Wel done simon cox!!! he is amazing!! why does evry1 think phil smith is a wonderful goalkeeper after he has one good game?? just cos he has one good game it doesn't mean he's gonna be good every game! i hope he doesn't get a new contract!! he is soooo ignorant as well- i cant stand him!! i really dont want cox 2 go cos he is my fave player and he's a really good player!!!

The Changeling says...
5:26pm Sat 2 May 09

what a horrible season. Well done coxy - if we have any ambition then you must keep these players. He'll still be worth the same or even more in a year's time.... what could he do in a decent side?

madterrier says...
5:51pm Sat 2 May 09

He'll have to leave us to find out

jam1 says...
6:17pm Sat 2 May 09

stfccox wrote:
Wel done simon cox!!! he is amazing!! why does evry1 think phil smith is a wonderful goalkeeper after he has one good game?? just cos he has one good game it doesn't mean he's gonna be good every game! i hope he doesn't get a new contract!! he is soooo ignorant as well- i cant stand him!! i really dont want cox 2 go cos he is my fave player and he's a really good player!!!
i think you're being a bit harsh on smith. I reckon he's a decent keeper, certainly the most consistant we have at the moment. He's had quite a few decent games for us and sounded like he made some great saves today..

scollenstfc says...
6:19pm Sat 2 May 09

i believe cox will go but with my best wishes and im sure he'l be great for whoever he plays for lets hope he goes to someone who gives him regular football (having said that, would love him to stay)

as for next season, this one ended on a high compared to the rest of the season so im optimistic, i think DW has the pulling power to bring players to swindon who will want to play and are proved already to have an impact in a league one side, and im hopefull that fitton and co will give a reasonable financial clout to spend after winning their court case.

on the up, YOU REDS!!!!

The Changeling says...
6:43pm Sat 2 May 09

stfccox wrote:
Wel done simon cox!!! he is amazing!! why does evry1 think phil smith is a wonderful goalkeeper after he has one good game?? just cos he has one good game it doesn't mean he's gonna be good every game! i hope he doesn't get a new contract!! he is soooo ignorant as well- i cant stand him!! i really dont want cox 2 go cos he is my fave player and he's a really good player!!!
Thanks for listening.....sharma
in aged 7 from Swindon innit M8

capott says...
6:58pm Sat 2 May 09

Since I live in Northamptonshire I am home after going to the game. For those above who did not but insist on bad commenting on Phil Smith's game - don't. He is the main reason we got a point! He had a superb game. One of the best I have witnessed & that includes Peter Downsbrough's game at Wembley 1969!

drrock says...
7:01pm Sat 2 May 09

Good way to end season, as to Simon Cox hope he stays, read Barry Fry rates Boyd at 5 million pounds???? wow what is simon worth then????
if he goes best wishes to him and hope the club gets the best deal for the player and themselves good luck SIMON

TheBlackHand says...
7:39pm Sat 2 May 09

Well done DW now lets get down to business start with the coaching staff, get rid of Byrne and Granville and get som decent assistance we don't want another season like this. As for Smith, well i'm not sure but remember he did ok when Brez broke his arm so may be worth keeping as no2

graham81 says...
8:12pm Sat 2 May 09

RFM wrote:
"if things stay as they are we will finsh 2nd in the bottom half" Some people are easily pleased!!!!
some people would rather finish 2nd in the bottom half than be relegated to league 2 !!! ....

tradesman says...
8:37pm Sat 2 May 09

TheBlackHand wrote:
Well done DW now lets get down to business start with the coaching staff, get rid of Byrne and Granville and get som decent assistance we don't want another season like this. As for Smith, well i'm not sure but remember he did ok when Brez broke his arm so may be worth keeping as no2
the best assistant is already at the club, BODIN!! promote him now!!

jmostfc says...
8:48pm Sat 2 May 09

most enjoyable town game ive seen all season. peterborough fans s**t, promoted and still wouldnt sing.good luck cox and thanks for all your goals. does anyone know what bookies pay on joint top scorer? is it 1/4 odds? cheers

mrmikebos says...
9:13pm Sat 2 May 09

shame only 863 swindon fans saw this very good perfomance-Smith was brilliant.francois was very composed.Cox was taken off a few minutes before the end. was this to get a well deserved applause for player of the year or a goodbye to the fans. I hope we keep hold of him and build around him and Greer and we with DW will have a side to be proud of.By the way if we sell coxy Reading scum will get 40% of the fee!!!!!

bowralbob says...
11:29pm Sat 2 May 09

Just seen the result and am happy, even though it is no real importance.
Cox, (thank God we bought him) IS the reason we are still in the 1 st. Division. To sell him cheaply would be madness,if I were AF I'd give him a 12 month contract he could not refuse and buy players that can get us in the Championship. It has to be the way to go!
Don't sell Cox!!!!!

International Robin says...
12:27am Sun 3 May 09

jan aage flipflop wrote:
thankyou s cox what a player!!! also have a return on my bet for top scorer you liitle gem!!!!
Don't count your chickens yet... If I'm not mistake, don't play-off goals count to the tally? If so, Beckford is on 27 goals and has at least 2 games left to play... Could be wrong though

Fitton! Don't let Cox leave. Imagine what he will do next season! IF he wants to go slap a price of 3million + 40% sell on clause on his head. If he was to score like that in the Championship, he would be worth 5million minimum! - 3million is reasonable for the leagues top goalscorer, he has age on his side and potential. Please don't be like our previous board and sell our legend for 400k!

thorney says...
6:39am Sun 3 May 09

nice end to the season .we must keep cox ,we need to build a team around him and try to make the play offs next year .if we sell and get 3million that will count for nothing if we go down next season

jan aage flipflop says...
7:16am Sun 3 May 09

jmostfc wrote:
most enjoyable town game ive seen all season. peterborough fans s**t, promoted and still wouldnt sing.good luck cox and thanks for all your goals. does anyone know what bookies pay on joint top scorer? is it 1/4 odds? cheers
it should be either half the odds...depending on the bookie. i had £5 e/way at 40/1.....looking to pick up £130.
nice 1 coxy.

jan aage flipflop says...
7:19am Sun 3 May 09

International Robin wrote:
jan aage flipflop wrote: thankyou s cox what a player!!! also have a return on my bet for top scorer you liitle gem!!!!
Don't count your chickens yet... If I'm not mistake, don't play-off goals count to the tally? If so, Beckford is on 27 goals and has at least 2 games left to play... Could be wrong though Fitton! Don't let Cox leave. Imagine what he will do next season! IF he wants to go slap a price of 3million + 40% sell on clause on his head. If he was to score like that in the Championship, he would be worth 5million minimum! - 3million is reasonable for the leagues top goalscorer, he has age on his side and potential. Please don't be like our previous board and sell our legend for 400k!
i did think this too. so i e-mailed my bookie, they told me play off games dont count.
cheers.

super reds says...
8:29am Sun 3 May 09

drrock wrote:
Good way to end season, as to Simon Cox hope he stays, read Barry Fry rates Boyd at 5 million pounds???? wow what is simon worth then???? if he goes best wishes to him and hope the club gets the best deal for the player and themselves good luck SIMON
Fair comment drrock but Barry Fry is a bit of a dick head

jmostfc says...
11:04am Sun 3 May 09

jan aage flipflop wrote:
jmostfc wrote: most enjoyable town game ive seen all season. peterborough fans s**t, promoted and still wouldnt sing.good luck cox and thanks for all your goals. does anyone know what bookies pay on joint top scorer? is it 1/4 odds? cheers
it should be either half the odds...depending on the bookie. i had £5 e/way at 40/1.....looking to pick up £130. nice 1 coxy.
cheers mate ill have a bit of a drink then, 100 at 33/1!

Merlins Pants says...
1:27pm Sun 3 May 09

Cant believe we would even consider selling Coxy. What kind of ambition does that show from the board? What a joke!

scollenstfc says...
3:27pm Sun 3 May 09

Merlins Pants wrote:
Cant believe we would even consider selling Coxy. What kind of ambition does that show from the board? What a joke!
in all fairness to coxy, if he wants to leave it would be unfair to hold a player like that back. if we refuse to sell him he'l refuse to sign a new contract and go on a free at the end of next season. its not that anyone wants him to go but unfortunately thats football.

Unityred says...
10:44am Mon 4 May 09

jan aage flipflop wrote:
thankyou s cox what a player!!! also have a return on my bet for top scorer you liitle gem!!!!
What ever odds you got, halve them, because it was a tie or dead heat!

Should still have got 40-1 though!


Simo9n Cox celebrates his double at Peterborough Simon Cox celebrates his double at Peterborough

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