Swindon Town completed their League One programme with a solid 2-1 victory over Millwall after the visitors had taken a 6th minute lead but goals by Simon Cox and Anthony McNamee earned all three points for Maurice Malpas's team, writes Adrian Smith
The win means that Swindon completed the double over their London rivals having already beaten the Lions in their own Den back in September with an identical scoreline.
The Robins faced Millwall with a young line-up having included Chris Allen and Sean Morrison on his full debut for the Robins and there were places on the substitutes bench for youth team players Ben Joyce, Nathan Thompson and Kurt Hammonds.
Millwall kicked off the match with former Swindon keeper Rhys Evans in goal and made a bright start with several attacks before Danny Senda scored with a free header in the 6th minute when he found himself totally unmarked from a free-kick taken from the Lions left wing.
Swindon responded with some determined attacking to earn two corners and also Billy Paynter almost pulled Swindon level when he outpaced the visitors defence before firing in a goalbound effort from 10 yards but his shot was cleared off the line by Marcus Bignot in the 12th minute.
Sean Morrison did well shortly afterwards when he stood up to Jay Simpson who was threatening to home in on Swindon's goal and the young Swindon defender managed to smother the ball with his body to prevent Simpson getting a shot on goal.
The Robins continued to apply pressure on the visitors and Billy Paynter went close with a header from close range which Rhys Evans did well to push away at the expense of a corner in the 20th minute but the Millwall defence cleared the resulting cross and eventually Jamie Vincent tried his luck from 25 yards but his effort flew well over the crossbar into the visiting supporters on the Stratton Bank.
Swindon were awarded a penalty in the 29th minute when Michael Timlin was clumsily bundled over by a defender from a cross by Easton and after a two minute break while a Millwall defender received treatment, up stepped leading scorer Simon Cox to send Rhys Evans the wrong way and score his 16th goal of the season.
The visitors responded immediately with a vicious dipping volley from Laird which Brezovan did well to gather but Maurice Malpas appeared very agitated on the touchline clearly urging his side to get closer to the visiting players.
The first yellow yellow card of the afternoon was shown to Zoumana Bakayogo in the 35th minute for a late challenge on Simon Cox near the halfway line and when Swindon attacked, Easton was fouled about 20 yards from goal which led to JP McGovern went close wih a trademark dipping free-kick to give Rhys Evans a scare but the ball went narrowly over the bar.
Millwall had loud appeals for a penalty turned down in the 40th minute when Bas Savage tumbled in the penalty area but the referee had already a free-kick further back for an earlier infringement and when the ball was crossed, Marc Laird flashed a header narrowly wide of goal. The goalscorer Senda wasted a glorious opportunity shortly afterwards with a first time angled shot from 10 yards but the ball fizzed wide of the far post.
Swindon had a chance through Billy Paynter just as the match entered added time but his header from close range flew over the crossbar. At the other end Neil Harris also headed narrowly wide from a free-kick although Danny Senda had sustained a knee injury in the attack and was carried off to generous applause from the home fans and he was replaced by Richard Shaw. There was just time for Billy Paynter to put the ball in the net from a Swindon attack but he was adjudged offside with a late flag from the assistant referee and that was the last main action of the half.
H/T: Swindon Town 1 Millwall 1
The Supporters Club 50/50 winning numbers were drawn at half time with the lucky numbers being: 461, 281 and 854
Swindon kicked off the second half in bright sunshine and after withstanding some early Millwall pressure, the Robins took the lead in the 51st minute through Anthony McNamee after he had received a pass from Paynter and advanced several yards before curling the ball which took a slight deflection past the stranded Rhys Evans for the popular winger's second goal in Swindon colours
Millwall made their second substitution in the 55th minute replacing Savage with Ryan Smith
Swindon almost went further ahead in the 61st minute when Billy Paynter did well to trap a shot by Timlin on the edge of the yard box before spirallig and firing in an angled shot which Rhys Evans did well to push away at the expense of a corner and Maurice Malpas used the break in play to replace Chris Allen with Patrick Kanyuka making a welcome return to first team action. Unfortunately the corner was wasted with no Swindon player able to challenge for the ball and it went harmlessly out for a goal kick.
The game was being interrupted by a series of marginal offside decisions mostly against the home side which was stifling any attacking play in front of goal much to the crowd's frustration.
Millwall made their last substitution in the 67th minute introducing Ali Fuseini in place of Bignot and the visitors had a corner shortly afterwards but the ball was headed away by Aljofree before being sent long downfield by McGovern.
Millwall's tricky midfield player Ryan Smith was doing his best to inject some urgency into the Lions play by pressurising the Swindon defence and his persistence almost paid off when he picked up the ball in midfield before firing a shot which was always rising and went past Brezovan's far post.
Most of the play was being concentrated in midfield with Swindon happy to sit on their lead and soak up the Millwall pressure although Petr Brezovan did well to save a powerful close range header by Laird with the big Czech keeper parrying the ball before gathering it under the crossbar in the 82nd minute.
Patrick Kanyuke was harshly adjudged to have impeded Fuesini as they both challenged for the ball as it was running towards goal and the Swindon substitute was shown a yellow card by referee M Haywood and when the resulting free-kick was taken, Paul Robinson amazingly headed right across the goal from three yards under no pressure from the Swindon defence.
Millwall continued to look for an equaliser as the match entered the four minutes of added time with Jay Simpson going agonisingly close to scoring after tricking his way to the edge of the Swindon area before firing a shot inches wide of the post and that was the last action of season 2007/8.
The Swindon Town squad took to the pitch at the end of the match to receive congratulations for their efforts over the last season from the Swindon fans in the crowd of 7781.
The win takes Swindon Town onto 61 points from the 46 games played to finish 13th in the League and now look forward to recharging their batteries ready for another campaign in League One for season 2008/9 but they will not be facing Bournemouth, Gillingham, Port Vale or Luton Town who have all been relegated.
F/T: Swindon Town 2 Millwall 1
