Swindon Town came from behind to claim all three points in a hard fought derby clash with Bristol Rovers as goals by Jutkiewicz and Weston saw off the challenge from the Gas writes Adrian Smith.
Town started off in lively fashion with Aaron Brown firing in a shot from twenty yards in the 1st minute but his effort went wide. At the other end the referee Mr J Singh overruled one of his assistants to award Rovers a corner and the visitors almost snatched the lead as shots by Elliott and Walker were blocked at close range before Craig Hinton fired over with the goal at his mercy.
The visitors took the lead in the 12th minute after a long free-kick by Steve Philiips was allowed to run unchallenged into the penalty area where Richard Walker gained possession and slotted home with virtually no challenge from the Town defence. However Town showed real character and responded with two goals in three minutes starting with last week's goalscoring hero Lukas Jutkiewicz who picked up the ball on the edge of the area before firing in a shot which took a wicked deflection off a defender wrongfooting Steve Phillips and the ball ended up in the net to level the scores in the 15th minute. The young Town forward was mobbed by his colleagues after scoring for the second week in succession after his elevation to the first team.
Just over a minute later a rocket shot by Curtis Weston from twenty five yards struck the crossbar and although the ball bounced down and straight out, the nearby assistant referee had his flag raised to indicate that the ball had crossed the line although Aaron Brown headed home just in case! Understandably Weston looked delighted to score his first goal in Town colours and the noise levels rocketed around the County Ground as the Town fans celebrated the amazing turnaround in their sides fortunes.
The match settled down after the early drama with much of the play for the next 10 minutes or so concentrated in midfield with Michael Timlin and Curtis Weston featuring heavily although there was a yellow card shown to Richard Walker for a late challenge on Sofiene Zaaboub who was able to continue after treatment.
Former Town midfielder Sammy Igoe had an opportunity to shoot from distance in the 30th minute but his powerful effort was always rising and went over the bar. Three minutes later Lewis Haldane was cautioned for a late challenge on Jack Smith in front of the dugouts and although the Town player did well to get straight back up, the referee brandished the yellow card at Haldane.
Craig Disley wasted a gilt edged opportunity in the 37th minute when a ball from the right wing found him unmarked 10 yards from goal but his first time shot flew left of the upright when it seemed easier to score.
Town were looking solid throughout the team and in attack Jutkiewicz was troubling the Rovers defence with his pace and physical presence.
Three minutes of added time were played with Sammy Igoe's deflected shot being the main attacking move before the whistle was blown.
Half Time:
Swindon Town 2 Bristol Rovers 1
Town went straight on the attack from the start of the second half and Zaaboub was tripped in full flight by Igoe as he charged through midfield and the former Town man was cautioned for his efforts. Up stepped Christian Roberts to fire in a curling free-kick from fully 30 yards but the ball flew wide of the right hand upright.
Rovers were gifted the ball shortly afterwards when Zaaboub's pass back to Jamie Vincent from a throw-in fell short and the ball was passed quickly to Nicholson but his first time effort was easily caught by Phil Smith.
The referee Mr J Singh cautioned Christian Roberts in the 58th minute for kicking the ball away after the Town forward had clearly been fouled and with this being Roberts's 5th yellow card of the season, he will miss next week's game at Macclesfield. One minute later Rovers made the first substitution of the game when Haldane was replaced by Andy Sandell.
The County Ground was rocking with noise as Town pressed forward playing some good passing football and there were even chants of 'Olé' from the Robins faithful although Jerel Ifil's final ball was poor and went straight out of play.
Ricky Lambert replaced Craig Disley in the 62nd minute as Rovers manager Paul Trollope tried to retrieve at least a point from this West Country derby.
The game was held up as the game reached midway through the half when Aaron Brown and Chris Carruthers clashed heads as Rovers attacked and Brown was eventually replaced by Lee Peacock on his return from injury and he took up a place in central midfield.
Town had a corner in the 73rd minute which was taken by Jack Smith but his cross was easily caught by Steve Phillips. Two minutes later Christian Roberts did well to set up a shooting chance for Curtis Weston and he charged into the box before firing a shot straight at Phillips who gathered the ball down low.
Lukas Jutkiewicz continued to trouble Rovers and he tricked his way into the penalty area before firing in shot which was deflected for a corner.
Michael Timlin was cautioned after attempting to tackle Lescott on the right wing which saw Rovers have a couple of minutes attacking play which ended when Ady Williams managed to head away a goalbound shot on the edge of the 6 yard box.
Ricky Shakes replaced Curtis Weston in the 82nd minute and he was straight in the action outpacing the Rovers defence on the right wing to set up a chance for Jutkiewicz who managed to drag the ball wide from 6 yards with the goal at his mercy.
Rovers were pushing hard for an equaliser with time running out although Town were counterattacking strongly through Jutkiewicz and Shakes and Paul Sturrock elected to try and preserve Town's lead by replacing Christian Roberts with Andy Nicholas in the 89th minute.
As the match entered the 90th minute a few seats were thrown from the visiting supporters area in the Arkells Stand but the trouble quickly subsided. On the field Phil Smith made a superb diving save from Sandell who managed to get on the end of a free-kick by Sammy Igoe and and head goalwards but that proved to be the last action of a pulsating derby game.
Paul Sturrock will have been pleased to record his 6th win in 7 games in front of a season's best crowd of 10,010 and the win means that Town have reduced the gap between themselves and the leaders Walsall to just 5 points.
Full Time:
Swindon Town 2 Bristol Rovers 1
