Swindon 2 Brighton 1

Last updated : 30 December 2003 By Tim
Brighton started the game well, and with Rhys Evans suffering from some poor kicking must to the amusement of the 2,000 travelling Brighton fans, it looked like it would only be a matter of time before Brighton scored.

In the first half most of the Swindon fans and players thought that Alan Reeves had given away a Brighton free kick on the edge of the area, but then as the referee seem to be signaling him over to speak to, he booked a Brighton player instead, it must have been for diving, and gave Swindon the free kick.

With half time only seconds away Swindon scored first with Sam Parkin getting his 13th goal of the season from close range to give Swindon the lead.

At half time Brighton bought on sub Leon Knight, and he scored after 55 minutes with a close range shot. He had a goal disallowed for offside two minutes earlier. Knight was quite rightly booked for taking off his shirt after the goal, and wasting time.

Miglioranzi looked to have given Swindon the lead on 65 minutes agin when his shot hit the bar, and bounced down, but the referee and linesman didn't give it, but instead gave a corner, as the ball had by this time gone out of play.

Brighton then put the ball out for a second corner, when on 66 minutes Miglioranzi made sure his goal counted for the second attempt with a close range goal.

Swindon had chances to score more goals with Parkin missing a shot that would have been easier to have scored on 82 minutes, but despite late pressure from Brighton Swindon held out for the 2-1 home win.

In the final view seconds of the game the referee sent off Brighton's Nathan Jones for violent conduct.

Overall a good game, a large attendance - 9,269, and for once a good referee - Mr Tanner. Swindon now move back up into the top half of the table ahead of this Saturday's visit of Bournemouth to the County Ground.