Swindon Town maintained their unbeaten League record with a first half goal by Blair Sturrock but substitute Ashley Vincent scored a thunderbolt equaliser to secure a point for Cheltenham, writes Adrian Smith.

Swindon made most of the running at Whaddon Road but were pegged back by Cheltenham Town after taking a first half`lead although a double substitution for the home side with one of the substitutes firing in the equalising goal for the Gloucestershire side. 

Swindon kicked off on a roasting hot afternoon at Whaddon Road playing in their new Black kit cheered on by a superb away following of 1800 supporters who were making a tremendous amount of noise.

Christian Roberts was the first Swindon player to launch an attack but his long range effort was wide much to the annoyance of Zaaboub who was in plenty of space on the left wing.

Cheltenham threatened with chances from a corner and a free-kick from their right wing in the first 10 minutes but the Wiltshire Robins defence cleared the danger. Swindon went close to scoring in the 12th minute with a superb header by Blair Sturrock which was only palmed away by the home keeper Shane Higgs to Zaaboub but his effort struck a defender and was cleared.

In the 20th minute Andy Lindegaard outpaced Jamie Vincent on the right wing before sending a wicked curling cross which was headed powerfully by Steven Gillespie but his effort struck Jack Smith and the ball went out for a corner and although the cross was eventually cleared, the ball reached Jerry Gill who sent in a piledriver shot which Phil Smith did well to tip over for a corner.

Lee Peacock sent a superb ball across field to Zaaboub who cut inside the penalty area before sending a shot across goal which was deflected for a corner but Swindon wasted the chance.

The home side lifted the momentum and had a strong period of attacking play following a free-kick awarded against Jerel Ifil for a clash with Steven Gillespie but the move eventually ended with Paul Connor heading over at the back post.

The referee ignored loud appeals for a penalty when Jennison Myrie-Williams went down under a challenge from Ifil in the 33rd minute and within a minute, Myrie-Williams went down under another challenge by Ifil in the penalty area but the referee chose to caution the Cheltenham player for simulation.

Swindon took the lead in the 35th minute when Zaaboub did well to intercept a defensive clearance on the left side of the penalty area before sending a superb cross to the back post which was met by Blair Sturrock and his downward header beat Higgs. Sturrock's goal had been scored on his 26th birthday and was also Swindon's first ever League goal against Cheltenham at the third attempt!  The Swindon fans lifted the volume in response making the match seem like a home game with the Gloucestershire team's fans stunned into silence.

Blair Sturrock was seeing plenty of the ball and he almost doubled his goal tally when he outpaced the home defence to fire in a shot across goal which Higgs could only parry but the defence were on hand to clear.

There was little other goalmouth action in the two minutes of added time before the referee Mr K Stroud blew the half time whistle.

Half Time:

Cheltenham Town 0 Swindon Town 1

Swindon made a bright start to the second half with Roberts doing well to jink his way into the penalty area but he tumbled under pressure from several defenders although the referee ignored the appeals for  a penalty.

Lee Peacock was sent clear from a superb ball forward by Zaaboub in the 53rd minute but he took one touch too many before firing in a hurried shot which Higgs parried and although Roberts challenged for the loose ball, the referee decided that his challenge on the keeper was dangerous and so Roberts became the second player to be cautioned in the match.

Shane Duff saw yellow in the 57th minute for a foul on Pook but Vincent's long ball forward was easily dealt with by the home defence. Jack Smith also saw yellow for holding onto the ball when a free-kick had been awarded for a foul by Pook although Gillespie's long range effort was easily caught by Phil Smith.

Christian Roberts set up another opportunity in the 64th minute when he charged into the penalty area but he again lost possession after clashing with a defender.

The home side decided to chase the game in the 65th minute introducing Damien Spencer and Ashley Vincent in place of Paul Connor and Steven Gillespie and five minutes later Paul Sturrock decided to replace Christian Roberts with Miguel Comminges.

Cheltenham equalised in the 72nd minute with a fantastic shot from 25 yards from substitute Ashley Vincent after he latched onto a defensive header and the thunderbolt effort gave Phil Smith absolutely no chance.

Cheltenham keeper Shane Higgs again kept his side in the game with a point blank save from Miguel Comminges after a superb move saw the Swindon substitute certain to score but somehow the keeper managed to push the goalbound shot away.

Hasney Aljofree became the 5th player to be cautioned for a late tackle which put the Swindon defence under some pressure but the resulting kick was cleared in the 77th minute.

Blair Sturrock went agonisingly close to putting Swindon back in front when he latched onto a curling cross by Zaaboub but Sturrock's header went just over the crossbar with ten minutes of the half remaining.  Two minutes later Comminges unleashed a powerful shot from twenty yards after jinking inside a defender but Higgs did well to parry the ball and eventually snatch possession.

Swindon threatened with a good shot by Sturrock which was deflected for a corner and when that was crossed, Pook gained control of the ball before firing in a shot from the edge of the area which was also deflected for another corner but the resulting cross was cleared by the home defence.

Blair Sturrock was replaced by Ibon Arrieta with two minutes remaining and the substitute sent a superb crossfield ball to Comminges but his shot was blocked a tthe expense of a corner and that led to a good move which saw a fine cross by Zaaboub to Easton but his goalbound header was well caught by Higgs.

Swindon were unable to find the elusive second goal in the 4 minutes of added time and so the match ended all square after a good away performance although it could have been three points for Paul Sturrock's team but for a fine performance by home keeper Shane Higgs.

Full Time:

Cheltenham Town 1 Swindon Town 1

.    

.