THE 50th anniversary celebrations of the greatest day in Swindon Town’s history turned into something of a damp squib as they played out an uninspiring goalless draw at home to Port Vale in League Two this afternoon.

Fifty years ago yesterday, Town stunned top-flight side Arsenal to claim an unforgettable victory in the League Cup final at Wembley.

Although those memories were revived as members of that legendary team were honoured on the pitch both pre-match and at half-time, the game itself failed to get anywhere close to replicating that never-to-be forgotten day.

A strong gusting wind robbed either side of the chance of producing much in the way of flowing football as the majority of promising forays forward at goal were soon quashed by possession drifting harmlessly out of play.

Although Town shaded proceedings, they never really looked like snatching a winning goal, with the point earned further stalling their ever-fading hopes of a place in the play-offs come the end of the season.

The Valiants made a positive start to the game and Luke Woolfenden got in a good firm challenge to deny Ricky Miller a clear sight at goal after he wriggled his way into the Town box in the fourth minute.

However, moments of genuine excitement were few and far between after that, with a strong blustery wind causing havoc and sapping any quality from the game.

Town were the beneficiaries of having the elements at their backs in the first half, but they proved nigh-on impossible to capitalise on as passes went astray, while probing balls forward quickly drifted out of play.

Theo Robinson did look to use the wind to his advantage in the seventh minute when he let fly with a neat half-volley from 25 yards after spotting Vale keeper Scott Brown out of position, but the strike drifted well wide of goal.

The midway point of the first half had passed before the next sight of goal arrived, although it was far from clear-cut as Keshi Anderson saw a powerful drilled effort from just inside the box blocked behind for a corner by visiting captain Leon Legge.

Suggestions that chance may kick-start the game into life proved a false dawn, however, as supporters were then made to wait until stoppage time at the end of the first half for the next attacking opportunity of note, although it again did little to provide much in the way of enthusiasm within the terraces.

Kyle Bennett tried his luck with a 25-yard snap-shot after Robinson had done well to hold up a free-kick from deep from Town keeper Lawrence Vigouroux, but it never looked like troubling Brown in the Vale goal as the two sides headed back into the changing rooms with the stalemate intact.

Despite having to play into the wind after the break, Swindon were actually first to threaten after only five minutes when Dion Conroy played an inch-perfect ball over the top for Robinson to chase, but his strike on the angle drifted harmlessly across the face of goal.

Town continued to be positive and after a Vale attack broke up in the Town half just before the hour mark, Canice Carroll sent Kaiyne Woolery into space and he charged towards goal before letting fly from the edge of the box. Although the visitors’ net bulged, sadly, the ball crashed into the side-netting.

Shortly afterwards, Woolfenden found Bennett in a pocket of space midway inside the Vale half and after carrying forwards a couple of yards, the Bristol Rovers loanee drilled a low strike narrowly wide.

Vigouroux was largely a spectator at the other end of the pitch, and although Vale did call him into action in the 70th minute, it was simply to bend down and pick up a tame miscued effort as Nathan Smith hopefully swung a leg at a high ball.

The home side did survive a scare shortly afterwards as two David Worrall corners in quick succession caused alarm in the box.

The first cannoned off a Town body and bounced narrowly wide at the back post, with the second requiring a low scrambled save from Vigoruoux to prevent a powerful Legge header crossing the line.

Although Town were able to wrestle back control of the play, clear sights at goal remained at a premium and the contest meandered to a lacklustre conclusion with a winner for either side never looking likely to arrive.

SWINDON TOWN (4-3-3): Vigouroux; Knoyle, Woolfenden, Conroy (c), Koiki; Rose (MCourt 90), Bennett (Richards 88), Carroll; Anderson, Robinson, Woolery. Subs not used: McCormick, Dunne, Diagouraga, Broadbent, Bancroft.

PORT VALE (4-3-3): Brown; Clark, Smith, Legge (c), Crooks; Oyeleke, Joyce, Conlon; Worrall, Miller (Montano 87), Hannant. Subs not used: Gibbons, Kay, Hornby, Harris, Whitfield, Howkins.

Referee: Darren Drysdale

Attendance: 6,322 (224 away)