Swindon 1 Hartlepool 1

Last updated : 09 May 2004 By Tim
Swindon playing in next season's new kit got off to the best possible start when Sammy Igoe scored after only 7 minutes after a Brian Howard corner.

Swindon had chances to score a 2nd, with the Hartlepool 'keeper been put under pressure, but they were unable to score.

Just before half time Swindon should have scored with Duke missing a good chance from 10 yards.

In the second half Hartlepool looked the better team with Rhys Evans having to make a good save on 50 minutes to keep Swindon in the lead.

Hartlepool have more chances to score with Alan Reeves forced to clear a goal bound chance by heading the ball out for a corner.

The game was held up for a couple of minutes as Howard was treated for a head injury, which saw him play the rest of the half with his head wrapped in a bandage.

Hartlepool scored on 75 minutes with a close range shot, which made it 1-1 and left both sides heading for a place in the play off's.

For the last 10 minutes or so both sides were time wasting, with few shots on goal, the ball was spending most of it's time near the corner flag, with plenty of throwing for both sides.

The 4th official flashed up 3 minutes on the board, then changed it to 1 minute, but only 20 sceconds was played before the full time whistle was blown to put both sides into the play off's.

At the end of the game both sets of fans clapped each other, with the Swindon fans singing "We'll see you in Cardiff". Both sets of players came out to do a lap of honour at the end.