MATCH REPORT | Swindon Town 2-0 Forest Green Rovers

SWINDON TOWN secured their first home win of 2019 as first-half goals from Kaiyne Woolery and Theo Robinson was enough to earn victory over Forest Green Rovers in the midweek derby. Total Sport Swindon’s Ryan Walker gives his match report from the County Ground.

Kaiyne Woolery’s 35th minute wonder strike opened the scoring for Swindon Town as Theo Robinson scored his first goal for the club to wrap up three points for Richie Wellens’ side against playoff chasing Forest Green. 

A lively start saw each side go close to scoring within the games opening ten minutes as both Swindon Town and Forest Green Rovers attempted to take an early advantage in the derby clash. 

Paul Digby was given a golden opportunity to take the lead for Rovers just four minutes in but could only send his lob attempt from inside Town’s six-yard area high over the bar of Lawrence Vigouroux’s goal. 

Whilst just minutes later Swindon centre-back Dion Conroy saw his deflected effort from a free-kick 35 yards out deflect narrowly wide past the post of Lewis Ward. 

After the frantic introduction to the game, Forest Green Rovers maintained their stranglehold on possession but struggled to create opportunities, often panicking under the pressure of Swindon’s high press. 

In contrast, Swindon Town opting to play on the counter-attack utilised their pace down the wings with Keshi Anderson and Kaiyne Woolery carrying the largest threat against a Rovers defence that has conceded just 30 goals all season. 

For all of their time on the ball, Mark Cooper’s team were limited to half-chances, however, Swindon’s defence had to remain alert at all times. 

Michael Doughty, fresh off a weekend brace, tracked back well to deny Reece Brown from close-range in the 20th minute after he looked set to convert the cut-back from George Williams, as Dion Conroy produced an outstanding last-ditch tackle on Williams to stop his shot on goal in the 29th minute. 

Starved of possession meant Richie Wellens’ Swindon would have to make the most of any chance they were given, and Kaiyne Woolery was on hand to provide the games opening goal in fantastic fashion against his former club in the 35th minute. 

Picking the ball up just inside the opposition half, Woolery ran at Rovers backline before stopping on the edge of the area switching the ball onto his left foot and firing an unstoppable shot past Ward that bounced off the post and into the net. 

Out of nothing but sheer brilliance from the 24-year-old, Swindon were in the lead and the goal appeared to have instilled confidence in a Town side that were yet to win at home in 2019, whilst Rovers looked shaken.

Seeking to capitalise on their lead, Town maintained the pressure and started to dominate as sloppy passing from the away side saw Swindon take control. 

Doughty linked up well with Jak McCourt in midfield allowing Town to control the tempo of the game as Robinson pestered the Rovers defence with his runs in behind. 

Half-time looming, Town looked to be heading towards the interval stage with their one goal advantage intact, but Robinson had other ideas. 

Winning the ball back on the halfway line, Keshi Anderson strode deep into the final third of Forest Green’s half playing a neat through ball into the path of Robinson who remained calm under pressure to curl the ball past the onrushing Ward. 

Calm, collective, and effective are not words often associated with Swindon Town’s performances this season, but the home players headed down the tunnel at half-time comfortably in front. 

Play resumed following the break and it was much of the same as Forest Green Rovers dominated possession with little to show for their efforts as Swindon looked comfortable to sit back and defend. 

An early chance saw Brown force Vigouroux into making an impressive save as the Chilean international tipped a close-range curling effort onto his post in the 53rd minute. 

But the biggest opportunities came at the opposite end as Ali Koiki’s driven ball across the six-yard line in the 58th minute avoided the onrushing Woolery with just the slightest of touches needed to convert. 

However, for all of Swindon’s attacking prowess, their defensive partnership of Tom Broadbent and Dion Conroy deserves equal credit. Second half route one football saw Forest Green pepper Town’s penalty with balls into the box at every opportunity whether from set-pieces or free play, but the defenders dealt with the threat posed with ease. 

Little action followed and with twenty minutes left on the clock, it appeared the away side had admitted defeat. Swindon Town ran out deserved winners as the Robins closed the gap to the playoffs in impressive fashion.