MATCH REPORT | Swindon Town 0-3 Barrow

Swindon took on Barrow hoping to start the festive season with a win.

First Half

The game started with Barrow creating the early chances and the visitors challenged the Swindon goal just six minutes in. Udoka Gowdin-Malife lost the ball under his feet and allowed Dominic Telford to shoot with the forward's chance flashing past the post.

It took 18 minutes for Swindon's first chance to come but Dan Kemp went closest to opening the scoring. His free kick from 30 yards out clipped the top of the wall and just skimmed over the bar. 

Following some early chances the game devolved into Barrow allowing Swindon the ball and the hosts not being able to unlock the Barrow defence. 

Sadiou Kahn tried to create a chance in the 31st minute, he found Jake Young on the edge of the area before almost receiving the ball back from the forward but Barrow keeper Paul Farman was quick to smother.

Just three minutes later we had the first goal of the game. Some poor defending from Swindon allowed a free kick out in the corner. The ball was played low to Kian Spence who had all the time in the world to fire into the bottom corner making it 1-0 to Barrow.  

Barrow make it 1-0. (Photo Credit - Robert Noyes)

Swindon had no immediate response to going behind and the already flat atmosphere was now a frosty environment. 

Despite a couple of chances from Remeao Hutton and another strong move from Kemp being denied, Swindon went into the half-time break 1-0 down and didn’t seem to have the energy to reply. 

Second Half

Swindon started the second half the same way they ended the first, slow messy passes, too many touches resulting in the ball being turned over. The atmosphere at the County Ground was a deathly silence. 

A silent County Ground watches on. (Photo Credit - Robert Noyes) 

In the 55th minute, the first signs of life came from the men in red. George McEachran swung a ball in finding Charlie Austin who forced Farman into action to save a certain equaliser. 

Not long after the Austin chance Barrow doubled their lead, once again capitalising on a lapse in the Swindon defence. A ball crossed in from deep found Sam Foley who arrived at the far post to power a header home making it 2-0 and putting the game almost certainly to bed before the hour mark.

Other than the Barrow goal absolutely nothing of note was happening in the second half. The Swindon faithful were dejected and the players were struggling to string anything together. The bench was so lacking in quality that I think everybody in the ground already knew the game was over.

As if to compound the misery the fans in the stands witnessed James Chester put Barrow 3-0 up in the 73rd minute. A free-kick went long to the back post where Chester had acres of space to head home. 

James Chester makes it 3-0. (Photo Credit - Robert Noyes)

All three goals had come from terrible marking and the Swindon defence was being punished every time Barrow got a set piece. With one shot on target in 75 minutes, the forward line had not even come close to bailing out the lacklustre defence. 

A frustrating day in front of goal. (Photo Credit - Robert Noyes)

There had been no real action since the third goal and as the game approached full-time Barrow just slowed the pace and were definitely cruising to a 3-0 victory. 

After the sides had played the five added minutes the referee put Swindon out of their misery as Barrow ran out deserved winners. 

Summary

Swindon showed nothing in 90 minutes, not once did they look like scoring and Barrow made sure to punish any slip-ups in defence.