IT WAS perhaps the best game of football this writer has had the privilege of watching.

It was most definitely the best Swindon Town display I have ever been lucky enough to witness. The Robins didn’t just compete against Premier League Stoke; they outplayed, outclassed and outwitted them.

And against a team boasting seven internationals in their starting line-up, against a team who were unbeaten at home since defeat to Valencia in February, against a team who held Arsenal on Sunday, they created an iconic moment in recent Swindon history.

Two goals from James Collins put the Robins in control in the opening period, only for strikes from Kenwyne Jones and Jonathan Walters to peg the visitors back.

In extra-time, Aden Flint again nudged Swindon in front but Peter Crouch levelled and penalties seemed a certainty.

However, in the final 60 seconds of 120 pulsating, intriguing, heart-thumping minutes at the Britannia Stadium, Collins popped up to slide in a winner to complete the most sensational of victories.

Swindon started well, defying their ranking two tiers below their hosts and playing the better football in the opening 10 minutes.

Only Matthew Upson’s outstretched leg prevented Collins from latching onto Matt Ritchie’s fizzing cross after six minutes, while two minutes later Tommy Miller brought the first save out of Thomas Sorensen in the Stoke goal – albeit from a speculative attempt from long range.

Stoke almost seemed baffled by their opponents’ ability, both on the ball and off it, and in their confusion mislaid passes in an almost amnesiac manner.

Raffa De Vita sent Sorensen sprawling to his left with a shot from the edge of the area after exchanging passes with Collins and the sense of belief evidently lifted amongst the Swindon squad and the travelling fans as Town maintained possession.

Stoke took until the 20th minute to bully their way into the contest, although Cameron Jerome’s volley on the turn from 25 yards was straight at Wes Foderingham and Jones nodded Jermaine Pennant's cross over the bar.

Still, Swindon seemed undaunted. Williams was causing Upson and Robert Huth bundles of problems and his pace sparked utter confusion in the 23rd minute as Upson’s tame clearance landed at the feet of Collins, who could only put his first-time effort wide.

Briefly the Potters suddenly stamped on the accelerator, like a sudden spasm out of nowhere, and either Jones or Jerome should have headed the hosts in front when Pennant knocked Michael Kightly’s original cross back across goal.

However, the two strikers managed better connection with each other rather than the ball – which drifted out for a goal-kick.

For a moment at least it appeared as though Swindon were starting to be exposed, but no sooner had that thought crossed this reporter’s mind than the Robins were celebrating the opening goal of the game.

De Vita played a short corner to Jay McEveley on the left and, when Sorensen dropped his whipped cross, Collins was on hand to tap in from short range.

It was nothing more than Town deserved for a display of cheek and nerve to that point, and they kept up those qualities through to half-time – and to what reward.

De Vita almost fired the Robins two goals to the good in the 39th minute, collecting Alan McCormack’s obscenely good lofted through ball to canter clear of his marker and bear down on Sorensen, only to strike a post.

But the oohs and aahs from the Swindon end soon turned to full-blooded celebration less than 60 seconds later when Collins somehow managed to wrap his head around De Vita’s corner to glance the ball into the far corner.

It was as though Swindon were giving their Premier League cousins a lesson in footballing culture. And, quite frankly, Town should have been out of sight by the break.

First, Williams again showed the home defence a clean pair of heels to canter into the area and lay back for Collins but the former Shrewsbury man saw his effort blocked on the line by Ryan Shotton before De Vita volleyed against a post when the Stoke back four stood and stared as a high ball dropped in the box.

It was an astonishing first-half display and one that would take some replicating in the second period.

But the Robins went about their business in the early moments after the break with the same sort of gusto with which they finished the first half.

De Vita saw his goalbound shot blocked en route to the back of the net by Huth, while Collins’ bullet effort from 25 yards fizzed over the bar.

On the hour mark, however, the game shifted. Stoke simmered, with Pennant hitting a weak free-kick at Foderingham and Kightly curling wide from the edge of the box before coming to the boil as Shotton’s cross was nodded home by Jones from 10 yards.

It was the first goal Swindon had conceded since the 3-1 defeat to Gillingham towards the end of last season and eyes were on the visitors to see how they would react.

As it was they got through a brief storm, quickly turning their fluency and fluidity of the first period into robustness and stubbornness after the interval.

Chances became very rare indeed and Town seemed to be shepherding themselves through to a shock result.

However, with five minutes remaining Stoke dealt a cruel blow.

Substitute Crouch played havoc under a long ball and, when the break fell his way, Walters slotted underneath Foderingham.

Extra-time beckoned. Town dug deep and almost summoned up another goal when Miller played in Williams, but the striker dragged wide from 12 yards.

From then on in Stoke dominated. Upson headed wide, Crouch was denied by Flint’s block, Geoff Cameron contrived to shoot wide when played in by Crouch With Joe Devera switching to left-back following injury to McEveley, Swindon were handed an extra hurdle to jump but somehow they found the bounce to soar back into the lead.

Ritchie swung in a corner from the right and Devera, in his best performance yet for Town, flicked on to the back post where Flint was lurking to nod home.

Again hopes were raised, but with nine minutes left of extra-time Walters lofted the ball into the area and Crouch hung in the air to head past Foderingham. Penalties beckoned.

But in a game that had twisted and turned itself into a fascinating knot, Town had one more trick left up their sleeve.

It came in the final minute of extra-time as Sorensen palmed away Miller’s shot, Williams headed across goal and Collins slid in to complete a sensational hat-trick.

So then, as good as Valencia and better than Arsenal – where next for Paolo Di Canio’s Swindon Town?