Town lined up with several changes as Luke Garrard made his full League debut alongside Andy Nicholas as they replaced David Duke and the suspended Jerel Ifil. Sammy Igoe had recovered from his back injury and replaced Steve Robinson.

There was early action for Matt Hewlett when he made a last ditch tackle as Greg Blundell prepared to shoot from just 8 yards after Rovers leading scorer McIndoe sent a pass across the box instead of shooting. Shortly afterwards Brian Howard sent in a good looking cross from the left wing towards Christian Roberts but the visitors defence cleared the danger.

Town's best move of the match so far saw Roberts send a useful looking pass in the 9^th minute to Sam Parkin and his jinking run ended with a shot which went just wide of the right hand upright.

Three minutes later Ricky Ravenhill sent a powerful curling shot which flew just wide of the right hand upright with Evans beaten and at the other end Brian Howard wasted a good opportunity just in front of goal when he was penalised for handball with his back to goal.

Sam Parkin and Andy Nicholas linked up well as Parkin sent a measured through ball to Nicholas but he was denied by a last ditch tackle. At the other end O'Hanlon made a desperate last ditch stop as Simon Johnson charged in.

Rovers had a good chance in the 25^th minute when Howard was penalised for a silly foul some 20 yards from goal but Tim Ryan's shot was always rising. Ryan was then cautioned for a foul on Roberts just outside the visitor's goal area and although Igoe's free-kick struck the wall he regained possession and passed to Parkin who sent a fine curling shot just wide of the far upright.

Luke Garrard continued to make a good impression for Town when he chased a lost cause as a shot from Roberts rebounded off a defender and was heading out of play but Garrard charged after the ball and fired in a low shot which flew wide.

Neil Roberts fired in a low shot in the 33^rd minute which struck a Town defender but the referee waved away the visitor's penalty claims.  Two minutes later Parkin and Roberts combined in attack but were unable to get a clear shot on goal and eventually the ball was cleared by Blundell with a bizarre clearance which looked more like a shot at his own goal.

The visitors took the lead in the 39^th minute when Paul Green charged down the right wing and sent a high cross to the back post and Greg Blundell was able to head home with a minimum of pressure from the Town defence.

Town counterattacked briefly but the visitors continued to look dangerous and more determined than Town and they almost went further ahead in added time but Luke Garrard made a fine saving header off the line from Nick Fenton's bullet header. 

There was a brief flurry of attacking by Town which lacked imagination before the referee Mr Graham blew the half time whistle to end a disappointing first half for Swindon.

Halftime:

Swindon Town 0 Doncaster Rovers

Andy King replaced Andy Nicholas with David Duke at halftime and Town started strongly with some early attacking play which saw Christian Roberts only denied by a last ditch tackle by McIndoe who conceded a corner although that was cleared.  This new found urgency lifted the home crowd who were in good voice encouraging Town to pile the pressure on in search of an equaliser as early as possible in the half. 

Brian Howard showed some good footwork to deceive the Rovers defence before sending in a cross to the backpost where David Duke was on hand to fire in shot which was deflected for a corner taken by Howard. The resulting cross was cleared to Igoe but his snap shot went narrowly wide.Soon afterwards Christian Roberts was denied by a fantastic save made by Warrington when he latched onto a pass from Igoe and his goalbound shot from 7 yards was kept out by the keeper's legs and the ball flew over the crossbar for a corner.

Rovers continued to play some good football and a superb passing move saw a cross sent to the backpost which was headed away by Heywood and the ball flew to Simon Johnson but the on-loan player sent a shot high over the bar in the 57^th minute.

Christian Roberts tested Warrington's reflexes with a powerful low shot from 25 yards but the keeper was equal to the task and took a good low catch in the 61^st minute.  Two minutes later Brian Howard was fouled from behind and Roberts stepped up to take the free-kick but the ball struck the defensive wall and rebounded to Luke Garrard and his low shot was deflected for a throw-in.

Moments later David Duke was fouled by Simon Johnson who was cautioned for his efforts and the free-kick was deflected for a corner which was wasted. Matt Hewlett and Ravenhill collided iwhile challenging for the ball in midfield and play was held up for several minutes while the Rovers player received treatment but he was eventually substituted by John Doolan.

Just when it looked like a blank afternoon for Town, Super Sam Parkin restored the spirits of the home supporters when he latched onto a good cross from the left wing made by David Duke and Town's leading scorer sent a header to the right of Warrington from 6 yards with 18 minutes remaining. The crowd sensed that a victory was on the cards for Town and raised the volume around the County Ground as they continued to urge their side forward.

This goal lifted Town and two minutes later Christian Roberts placed the visitors defence under heavy pressure and had a shout for a penalty denied when he fell under pressure from the visitors defence  but the referee waved 'play-on'.

Rovers introduced Jermaine McSporran in the 75^th minute when he replaced Simon Johnson and two minutes later Roberts sent a high looping cross to Parkin at the backpost which was headed to Igoe and his thunderous volley struck a defender and flew out for a corner which was taken by Howard but eventually cleared.

The substitute McSporran found himself with time and space to shoot after a lapse by Jenkins in midfield but the ball flew wide. Play was again held up while Steve Jenkins received treatment for an injury which saw the Town man crumble to the floor with no other players close.

Brian Howard had a good mazy run in the 83^rd minute which saw him beat several players before firing in a low shot from 20 yards although the ball flew past the upright as various Town players stood calling for the ball to be passed.

Christian Roberts lifted the tempo of Town's attacking efforts and was instrumental in several attacks which culminated in another shot by Brian Howard which again flew wide with five minutes remaining.   Roberts also went very close with a shot on the turn in the 87th minute when his fast thinking carved out an opportunity but his shot flew marginally wide of the left hand upright.

Town continued on the attack as the 4^th official indicated 4 minutes of added time but they could not prise the visitors defence open before the referee blew the final whistle and Town will reflect on a game of two halves