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4:50pm Saturday 2nd May 2009 in
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)
jimbog
says...
4:58pm Sat 2 May 09
jan aage flipflop
says...
4:59pm Sat 2 May 09
RFM
says...
5:08pm Sat 2 May 09
Russ STFC
says...
5:09pm Sat 2 May 09
stfccox
says...
5:22pm Sat 2 May 09
The Changeling
says...
5:26pm Sat 2 May 09
madterrier
says...
5:51pm Sat 2 May 09
jam1
says...
6:17pm Sat 2 May 09
stfccox wrote: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..
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!!!
scollenstfc
says...
6:19pm Sat 2 May 09
The Changeling
says...
6:43pm Sat 2 May 09
stfccox wrote:Thanks for listening.....sharma
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!!!
capott
says...
6:58pm Sat 2 May 09
drrock
says...
7:01pm Sat 2 May 09
TheBlackHand
says...
7:39pm Sat 2 May 09
graham81
says...
8:12pm Sat 2 May 09
RFM wrote:some people would rather finish 2nd in the bottom half than be relegated to league 2 !!! ....
"if things stay as they are we will finsh 2nd in the bottom half" Some people are easily pleased!!!!
tradesman
says...
8:37pm Sat 2 May 09
TheBlackHand wrote:the best assistant is already at the club, BODIN!! promote him now!!
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
jmostfc
says...
8:48pm Sat 2 May 09
mrmikebos
says...
9:13pm Sat 2 May 09
bowralbob
says...
11:29pm Sat 2 May 09
International Robin
says...
12:27am Sun 3 May 09
jan aage flipflop wrote: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
thankyou s cox what a player!!! also have a return on my bet for top scorer you liitle gem!!!!
thorney
says...
6:39am Sun 3 May 09
jan aage flipflop
says...
7:16am Sun 3 May 09
jmostfc wrote:it should be either half the odds...depending on the bookie. i had £5 e/way at 40/1.....looking to pick up £130.
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
jan aage flipflop
says...
7:19am Sun 3 May 09
International Robin wrote:i did think this too. so i e-mailed my bookie, they told me play off games dont count.
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!
super reds
says...
8:29am Sun 3 May 09
drrock wrote:Fair comment drrock but Barry Fry is a bit of a dick head
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
jmostfc
says...
11:04am Sun 3 May 09
jan aage flipflop wrote:cheers mate ill have a bit of a drink then, 100 at 33/1!
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? cheersit 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.
Merlins Pants
says...
1:27pm Sun 3 May 09
scollenstfc
says...
3:27pm Sun 3 May 09
Merlins Pants wrote: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.
Cant believe we would even consider selling Coxy. What kind of ambition does that show from the board? What a joke!
Unityred
says...
10:44am Mon 4 May 09
jan aage flipflop wrote:What ever odds you got, halve them, because it was a tie or dead heat!
thankyou s cox what a player!!! also have a return on my bet for top scorer you liitle gem!!!!
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graham81 says...
4:04pm Sat 2 May 09
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 !!!!