TOWN narrowly went down 1-0 at Bradford City thanks to Billy Clarke’s first half header.
After falling behind in the first forty-five, the visitors rallied and created chances in the second half but couldn’t find an equaliser.
Luke Williams made two changes to the starting line-up with Nathan Thompson restored to the centre of defence after his three-match suspension. James Brophy came in at left wing-back in place of Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill while there was also a place among the substitutes for Fabien Robert.
The home side put Town under pressure from the first moments and, after a succession of early corners that the visitors repelled, Billy Clarke planted header straight into the arms of Tyrell Belford.
The frontman wouldn’t be denied, though and midway through the first half, opened the scoring. A long-throw routine saw the ball hoisted back into the box where Clarke connected with a header. The ball looped across goal and down onto the line before being adjudged to have crossed it.
Jamie Proctor’s header drew a simple save from Belford while the visitors’ best chance of the half dropped to Jermaine Hylton. After good work from a combination of Hylton and strike partner, Ellis Iandolo, the former smacked a left-footed effort goalwards that Ben Williams did well to keep out and hold on to on the stretch.
At the start of the second half, Belford was called into action early on to hold onto a dipping volley from distance and the Town stopper was called into action shortly afterwards to keep Tony McMahon’s free-kick out at his near post.
At the other end, Swindon set about trying to find a way back into the game. Michael Doughty’s jinking run almost took him all the way through before being halted inside the box while he would also lash a shot over the crossbar later in the half.
Louis Thompson followed suit with a shot from distance that was well caught by Williams.
Doughty was involved again when James Brophy collected his neat drag-back inside the box having lent him the ball momentarily then going down under a challenge in the box. To the consternation of the bench and the travelling support, no penalty was given.
Towards the end of proceedings, the home side pressed to add to their advantage but a superb sliding tackle from Nathan Thompson – unaware that the linesman’s flag was already up – broke up a certain goalscoring opportunity for the Bantams.
