Swindon Town

SWINDON Town lost 2-1 at home to Peterborough United despite the inclusion of new loanees Ben Gladwin and Adam El-Abd, writes Adrian Smith

Mark Cooper had included Gladwin and El-Abd in his starting line-up as Town looked to try and end their recent losing run. Although Gladwin put in a Man of the Match performance for the Robins, his efforts were not enough as Town could not break down the Posh defence. El-Abd added some extra strength and organisation to the home defence but a mistake by Lawrence Vigouroux gifted a second goal to the visitors before an own goal gave the Robins a lifeline which they could not build on.

Peterborough kicked off playing towards the Town End but it was the Robins who had the first serious attack which saw Hylton head over from Ajose’s cross in the 7th minute.

Gladwin was instrumental in a good Town move in the 12th minute when he picked up the ball in midfield and took several paces forward before passing to Brophy but his cross from close range went wide. Gladwin was then fouled on the edge of the area leading to a free kick which led to Rodgers firing narrowly wide.

Lee Angol went close with a header from close range in the 17th minute when the Posh counterattacked but Town goalkeeper Vigoroux was happy to watch the ball go wide.

Much of Town’s play continued to originate from Gladwin in midfield adding extra strength in attack and getting important challenges to win the ball.

Midway through the half Peterborough keeper Alnwick was almost embarrassed when he spilled a long range shot by Gladwin but the ball went out for a corner and the resulting cross was cleared.

The Ben Gladwin show continued to threaten the visiting defence with the on-loan midfielder outpacing several defenders before firing a powerful shot just wide of goal in the 27th minute.

Lawrence Vigoroux got an important touch on powerful shot by Jon Taylor and his efforts meant that the ball cannoned back off the upright and to safety in the 28th minute.

The Town keeper did well to push out a Taylor shot from close range as the visitors increased their pressure after a good spell of possession and it was Taylor who opened the scoring in the 38th minute after brushing off a couple of challenges before firing past Vigoroux from close range.

Peterborough continued to probe for a second goal keeping Town pinned back but there was no further action to report before the half time whistle was blown by referee Andrew Madley.

Town kicked off the second half and were soon on the attack looking to get an early equaliser but the first effort in the 49th minute saw Ormonde-Ottewill fire a curling effort over the bar.

Disaster struck in the 52nd minute when Vigoroux’s first touch from a back pass was intercepted by Lee Angol and he prodded home from close range.

Ormonde-Ottewill tried his luck from 20 yards but his shot was deflected for a corner but the Town defence cleared the resulting cross.

Michael Bostwick was cautioned for a late challenge in the 59th minute as Town launched a counterattack but the resulting free kick eventually led to a goal kick when Hylton’s shot went wide.

James Brophy popped up in attack on the left wing  in the 62nd minute to try his luck with a curled effort but the ball went wide of the far upright.

Ben Gladwin then tried his luck in the 64th minute after sidestepping a couple of challenges but his powerful shot went high over the crossbar.

Ellis Iandolo replaced Drissa Traore and Jack Collison replaced Christopher Forester during a break in play in the 70th minute.

James Brophy saw yellow for a late challenge in the 71st minute and the resulting free kick saw Posh go close with a shot but the ball went just wide.

Swindon pulled one back through an own goal in the 73rd minute when Rodgers’s free kick from the left wing was headed home by a Peterborough defender and the home crowd responded with as they sensed a recovery for the Robins.

Peterborough replaced Washington with Souleymane Coulibaly shortly afterwards.

Ormonde-Ottewill earned a corner for Town in the 79th minute which led to a good attack but the Posh defence charged down a shot by Brophy and he also did well to cut out a dangerous ball forward shortly afterwards.

Will Randall replaced Hylton shortly afterwards as Mark Cooper tried to inject fresh impetus into Town’s attack.

The referee eventually cautioned Posh keeper Alnwick for further time wasting at a goal kick in the 82nd minute.

Henrik Ojamaa replaced Ormonde-Ottewill in the 83rd minute for the Robins.

Ben Gladwin earned a corner for Town in the 86th minute when his shot was deflected but the resulting cross was headed clear.

Not surprisingly, Gladwin was named as the Sponsors Man of the Match for a strong performance on his return to the Robins on loan.

Jermaine Anderson was cautioned for a late challenge early in the 5 minutes of added time which broke up a Town counterattack and that proved to be the last significant action to report so Town slipped to a narrow 2-1 home defeat.