A battling Swindon Town side were left to settle for a narrow defeat at home to Stevenage in a game that saw them denied at least four potential penalties.
The Robins matched Steve Evans’ physical charges for the entirety of the game, but Jamie Reid’s goal on 25-minutes proved decisive to earn the visitors a much needed three points in their play-off push.
Town were looking to make it three straight league wins for the second time this season having last achieved the feat back in September, while Stevenage knew anything short of a victory would seriously hamper their hopes of closing the gap on Northampton in second to just a point.
Jody Morris made two changes to the side that dismantled AFC Wimbledon last weekend, with Jonny Williams absent through injury and Jacob Wakeling named among the substitutions, paving the way for Tyrese Shade and Rushian Hepburn-Murphy to come in.
Onto the game, and just five minutes had passed when fans witnessed the ties first opportunity, as a mist-timed challenge by Tom Brewitt on the edge of the Swindon area presented Boro with a good opportunity from a free-kick.
A cleverly worked manoeuvre saw the ball rolled across to Jordan Roberts who struck one with venom, but it was always rising and cleared Sol Brynn’s crossbar with the Town stopper diving to his left.
Four minutes later, and Stevenage were presented with another chance, as good work on the right from Kane Smith saw him deliver the perfect cross for Jamie Reid, but under pressure from Brewitt and Tom Clayton, he sent his header wide.
Then at the other end on nine minutes, a probing run from George McEachran saw him drive into the Boro box at pace and go down, but referee Benjamin Speedie was having none of it and waved play on – a decision that became a common theme in the game.
And on 17-minutes, McEachran found himself in a similar situation inside the box once again, this time going down under pressure from Dan Sweeney as he attempted to pull across the Stevenage defender, but referee Speedie ignored the protests much to the home faithful’s annoyance.
Town were to build on their ventures into the Boro box with their next opportunity coming on 19-minutes, as Tyrese Shade worked his magic on the right wing to cut inside and pull the ball back to Luke Jephcott.
But with his back to goal, he could only tee McEachran up to find Rushian Hepburn-Murphy,only for the latter to send his bending first-time effort wide of the target.
Stevenage continued to grow into the game though, and after a period of pressure, were rewarded for their persistence on 25-minutes, as Alex Gilbey rolled his man inside the box and cut the ball back from the left byline for Jamie Reid’s outstretched leg to make contact and knock the ball past Brynn to give the visitors the lead.
Things got worse for Jody Morris as he was forced to make an unplanned sub as we reached the half hour mark, with Tom Brewitt forced off through injury and replaced by Harrison Minturn.
And Stevenage could, and probably should, have doubled their lead on 34-minutes as SaidouKhan was caught in possession just outside his own area with Jordan Roberts taking advantage, but with the goal pretty much at his mercy with just Brynn to beat, he went for power rather than placement and blasted over.
Town responded though on 40-minutes as Marcel Lavinier scooped up the ball in a good area just outside the box before cutting across and drilling one low at goal.
Boro stopper Thimothee Lo-Tutala made the save and then managed to gather the ball in at the second attempt to avert another potential Swindon chance.
Then, as we approached the final few minutes of the first period, Town created their best chance of the game as Hepburn-Murphy turned well to beat his man on the left and drive towards goal before cutting it back to McEachran in space, but his effort lacked direction and Lo-Tutala was able to repel it.
The referee called time on the first half with Stevenage in front leaving Town with work to do in the second.
Just 30-seconds into the restart, Hepburn-Murphy found himself with a good chance to level the scores, as Luke Jephcott capitalised on some lose Boro play to feed the winger in, but after cutting inside, his low shot was easily saved and gathered in by Lo-Tutala.
There was hardly time to blink as the ball went straight down the other end as Jamie Reid was sent clear down the left, but powered his shot wide of the right post with Tom Clayton narrowing the angle to goal.
By now the game was opening up and Stevenage went close to extending their lead on 50-minutes as a dangerous whipped cross from the left was inch perfect for the onrushing Danny Rose at the far post, but with just Brynn to beat, he completed miscued his header and sent it back across goal from where it came when it looked easier to score – a let off for the home side.
The games next chance came just after the hour mark with a third potential penalty shout for The Robins, as the shakey Lo-Tutala misjudged a high Remeao Hutton cross from the right, presenting the ball to Hepburn-Murphy who appeared to be dragged down with the goal gaping, but again, no spot-kick given.
On 69-minutes another defensive lapse in concentration, this time by Harrison Minturn looking to play out in a dangerous area, saw Jordan Roberts slide in Reid, but he shot wildly over the bar.
Jody Morris made three subs shortly after with the introductions of Ronan Darcy, Jacob Wakeling and Charlie Austin, and the latter was straight into the thick of the action with a chance on 71-minutes.
A trademark Hutton cross from the right found the forward positioned cleverly between two Boro defenders, but it was a little too high and he sent his header over.
And with penalty appeals very much the order of the day, Town had a shout for a fourth as a right wing cross found it’s way across the face of goal and into the path of Harrison Minturn,who looked to have been hauled to the ground by Dan Sweeney, but as had been the case previously, play went on.
Town huffed and puffed for the remainder of the match, forcing Steve Evans’ side to defend resolutely to combat a wave of Swindon attacks as the clock ticked down, but the visitors held firm to see out a hard fought win, which on another day, could have been very different.
A frustrating evening for The Robins which brings to an end their three game unbeaten run and now turn their attentions to Crewe Alexandra this coming weekend.
MATCH INFORMATION:
Swindon Town Line-up: 4-3-3
Subs not used: 25. Conor Brann (GK) – 42. Jaxon Brown, 21. Dylan Kadji.
Scorers: None
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Stevenage Line-up: 4-1-2-1-2
29. Thimothee Lo-Tutala (GK) – 5. Carl Piergianni ©, 3. Max Clark, 6. Dan Sweeney, 14. Kane Smith, 17. Alex Gilbey, 11. Jordan Roberts (8. Jake Taylor 82mins), 18. Michael Bostwick (23 Jake Forster-Caskey 82mins), 4. Jake Reeves, 32. Danny Rose (2. Luther Wildin 90+7mins), 19. Jamie Reid (16. Daryl Horgan 86mins).
Subs not used: 25. Adam Przybek (GK) – 22. Jonathan Tomkinson, 39. Makise Evans.
Scorers: Reid 25
Yellow Cards: 3. Clark 90+7mins.
Red Cards: None
HT: 0-1
Referee: Benjamin Speedie
Assistant Referees: Samuel Ogles & Samuel Fudge
Fourth Official : Sunny Singh Gill
Attendance : 8,289 (311 away fans)