Plymouth 2 Swindon 1

Last updated : 14 March 2004 By Tim
Nearly 2,000 Swindon fans made the trip down the M5 to Devon, which was the largest away following seen at Home Park this season, and with Plymouth nearly selling out their own ends the crowd was over 16,000.

Plymouth took the lead after only 11 minutes when Keith beat the Swindon defence to fire in his shot.

In the first half Swindon came close a number of times, with Parkin missing from close range, as well Mooney also coming close.

In the second half Plymouth also managed to miss what should have been an easy goal right in front of the travelling Swindon fans.

On 75 minutes Swindon were reduced to 10 men when Andy Gurney was sent off for a foul just outside the area. A first Gurney refused to leave the pitch, and went to protest to the linesman, Malcolm Crosby had to come onto the pitch to get Gurney to go back to the dressing rooms before he got himself into any more trouble.

On 84 minutes Evans made the first of three mistakes all within a few seconds to allow Plymouth to get their second goal. First he picked up Matt Heywood's back pass, then instead of keeping the ball until Swindon had got their defence in place, in gave the ball back to Plymouth which allowed them to take an indirect free kick from 12 yards inside the box, the ball hit Evans, and then rolled slowly into the net.

If Evans had not even tried to make the save the goal wouldn't have been given. I don't think that Evans thought that it would be a goal, as after he had touched it it should have had time to made a second save before the ball crossed the line.

On 90 minutes Swindon got a goal back with a close range shot from Tommy Mooney after a goal month scamble. Swindon then pushed for a late equaliser, and came close, but couldn't force the ball over the line for a second time.

Overall Plymouth played well, and deserved to win, but Swindon were unluckly not to have got at least a point from this game. Swindon are at home to Grimsby on Wednesday.