Despite taking the lead and dominating for large periods, Northampton Town converted a late winner with just two minutes of normal time remaining to claim a narrow 2-1 win at The County Ground, bringing Town’s run of three straight league wins to an abrupt end.
Jonny Williams opened the scoring and gave Swindon the lead just after the hour mark, only for the visitors, who were second in the standings coming into the tie, to score twice through Ben Fox and Mitch Pinnock to claim all three points.
It was just the two changes to Scott Lindsey’s line-up from their victory at Grimsby last weekend, as Louis Reed and Jonny Williams returned to the fold, with Tyrese Shade dropping to the bench and Saidou Khan suspended.
Mathieu Baudry missed out through injury and was replaced by Ciaran Brennan on the bench.
As many may have expected with two sides on good winning runs, it was a cagey opening first ten minutes as both sets of players looked to take control of the ball for their respective elevens.
However, it was Northampton who created the first opportunity, which Sam Sherring may feel he could have done better with.
A corner from the right side from Pinnock found the head of Harvey Lintott, but his flick to the far post was narrowly missed by the defender.
The game continued to lack chances as we approached the 15-minute mark, but the 614 visiting fans found themselves appealing for a penalty moments later, as Louis Appere capitalised on a loose ball and drove into the Swindon box with only Sol Brynn to beat, only to go down after the stopper stretched to reach the ball.
However play was waved on by referee Alan Young, leaving Northampton frustrated.
We then had to wait until the 35th minute for the games next potential goal threat, although Ryan Haynes curling effort after cutting in from the left was easily gathered by Brynn in the Swindon goal.
A minute later, Scott Lindsey’s side fathomed their first effort of the contest, as Jacob Wakeling, fresh from penning a new long-term contract with the club in the week, took matters into his own hands and went on a mazy run which saw him battle his way into the box, only to be denied by the onrushing Lee Burge in the Northampton goal with pressure from two sliding defenders.
This gave Swindon some fresh impetus, and they came agonizingly close to taking the lead moments later, as Ronan Darcy scooped up the ball after a slip in the Northampton defence, playing the ball to Gladwin and looking for the return, but his dangerous ball across the box just evaded the number ten.
That proved the last real action of the first forty-five in a game of few chances, although Northampton were forced into a stoppage time substitution with Ali Koiki coming off for striker Danny Hylton, and Cobblers boss Jon Brady was shown a yellow card for some protests on the sideline.
Into the second period, and after a short stoppage for an injury to a Northampton player, Town created the first chance of the restart following good build-up play.
The ball was worked out wide on the right to Remeao Hutton whose cut back across the box found Jonny Williams, but the Welshman was unable to make clean contact with his strike and it was cleared to safety.
With Swindon seemingly growing into the game, Jon Brady made a second sub as he took off Louis Appere and replace him with Ben Fox, and the next chance fell to The Cobblers.
Mitch Pinnock will feel he should probably have done better as he found himself unmarked in the box, but dallied too long before firing well over, and the miss was to prove costly as Swindon took the lead on sixty-one minutes.
Lindsey replaced Louis Reed with Ellis Iandolo, and just seconds later, marking his return from international duty, Williams collected the ball on the left, powered into the box before coolly slotting past the helpless Burge.
However, the lead didn’t last long as Northampton forced an equaliser on 68-minutes. Mitch Pinnock crossed to the back post from a free-kick on the right, and Ben Fox flicked the ball into the net from close range, leaving Brynn helpless.
But Swindon bounced back and came close to re-establishing the lead, as a dangerous Frazer Blake-Tracy cross from the left was almost sliced into his own net by Harvey Lintott at the near post.
Tyrese Shade then entered the action in place of Luke Jephcott as Scott Lindsey looked to freshen up his attack, and with ten minutes remaining, Ciaran Brennan came on to replace Tom Clayton at the back, with the second change coming just a minute after Ben Fox threatened Sol Brynn’s goal again with another close range header, but sent this one narrowly wide.
Then came the sucker blow for Swindon with just two minutes left on the clock as Northampton converted to take the lead.
A whipped cross to the back post at pace by Fox was met by the sliding Mitch Pinnock, who beat Brynn at his near post, signaling heart-break for Town.
Five minutes of stoppage time was ordered by referee Alan Young, and there was almost time for Scott Lindsey’s side to snatch a later equaliser, as Ciaran Brennan met a corner from the left with his head, unmarked, but saw his effort bounce off the post with Burge beaten.
That’s how it ended at The County Ground, with Swindon having to settle for defeat on a frustrating afternoon in League Two, with Newport visiting SN1 on Tuesday.
MATCH INFORMATION:
Swindon Town Line-up: 4-3-3
1. Sol Brynn (GK) – 4. Tom Clayton (34. Ciaran Brennan 85mins), 21. Angus MacDonald ©, 20. Frazer Blake-Tracy, 2. Remeao Hutton, 10. Ronan Darcy, 5. Louis Reed (3. Ellis Iandolo 61mins), 7. Ben Gladwin, 8. Jonathan Williams, 24. Jacob Wakeling, 15. Luke Jephcott (28, Tyrese Shade 77mins).
Subs not used: 25. Conor Brann (GK) – 22. Marcel Lavinier, 17. Ricky Aguiar, 33. Morgan Roberts, 28. Tyrese Shade.
Scorers: Williams 61
Yellow Cards: 20. Blake-Tracy 67mins, 5. Reed 57mins
Red Cards: None
Northampton Town Line-up: 4-5-1
1. Lee Burge (GK) – 14. Ali Koiki (10. Danny Hylton 45+5mins), 5. Jon Guthrie ©, 6. Sam Sherring, 20. Harvey Lintott, 19. Kieron Bowie (22. Akinwale Odimayo 90mins), 12. Marc Leonard, 4. Jack Sowerby, 24. Ryan Haynes, 11. Mitchell Pinnock, 9. Louis Appere (8. Ben Fox 54mins).
Subs not used: 23. Jon Maxted (GK) – 34. Liam Cross, 27. Peter Abimbola.
Scorers: Fox 68, Pinnock 88
Yellow Cards: 5. Guthrie 62mins, 6. Sherring 62mins
Red Cards: None
Referee: Alan Young
Assistants: Michael George & Mark Derrien
Fourth Official: Ollie Williams
Attendance: 9,789 (614 away fans)
