MATCH REPORT | Swindon Town 2-0 Newport County

Swindon looked to get their season back on track with a win over Newport County, Swindon came into the game off the back of three losses in a row in all competitions.

Their opponents had made a slow start to the season struggling to get any sort of form going. 

The game would see the league's two top scorers going head to head but would Jake Young or Will Evans earn their sides the victory?

First Half

The opening exchanges had seen Swindon struggle to keep the ball but in the 8th minute, they had their first chance of the game.

Captain Charlie Austin set Dan Kemp through, Kemp got to the ball before the onrushing Jonathon Maxted in the Newport goal, he managed to round him and then squeezed home from a tight angle making it 1-0 Swindon inside the opening 10 minutes. 

Both sides had scored plenty of goals this season, but the chances weren’t coming thick and fast. As the half went on, Swindon began to gain some control with Austin having a chance that went high over the bar. 

Despite getting a grasp on the game the home side were sloppy in possession and inviting Newport on the counter. Murphy Mahoney was called into action for the first time when the ball was lazily given away allowing Omar Bogle a shot on goal that Mahoney turned over the bar. 

Just before the half-hour mark Swindon had a huge chance to double their advantage. Kemp managed to play Young through on goal, the striker could’ve slid in George McEachran but went himself aiming to the corner but Maxted saved before being called into action again from the ensuing corner. Austin’s near-post header wasn’t enough to make it two to the good. 

The first half had not been the most entertaining half you’ll ever see but Austin was constantly trying to get the attack firing, both sides had been very poor in possession and many misplaced passes were ensuring either side could be next to score. 

The five added minutes saw Newport create a couple of chances but nothing to trouble Mahoney and the halftime whistle would come with Swindon in the lead. 

Second Half:

Newport started the second half by taking off their top goalscorer Evans who seemed to be carrying a knock. Kiban Rai replaced him. 
The second half seemed to be a continuation of the first, both sides really struggled to find their passes and many a sloppy pass was cleaned up by the opposition. Swindon would get the first chance of the half, a quick free-kick saw Remeao Hutton cross into Young whose header was flicked wide. 

Following the Young chance the game settled into a stupor with Newport struggling to create anything despite Swindon being below the level they should be at. Their first real chance of the half came when Bryn Morris played through Bogle but Mahoney was able to reach the ball first and sent the ball out of play. 

In the 69th minute, Austin thought he’d doubled Swindon’s lead when he put the ball in the back of the net from a corner, but Frazer Blake-Tracy had fouled someone in the build-up and the goal was quickly ruled out. 

Tyrese Shade had a chance a couple of minutes later, his run saw him jink inside and shoot but the shot was wide of the near post. 

With 78 minutes gone, Swindon continued in their search for a second goal and came inches from finding it. Rushian Hepburn-Murphy played Saidou Khan through and the Gambian's strike went past Maxted but struck the post. 

Swindon would finally find that vital second goal with just eight minutes to go. Khan’s effort from outside the area could only be parried by Maxted and Hepburn-Murphy was there to poke home making it 2-0 Swindon and surely killing the game off. 

The remainder of the game saw Swindon slow down the final eight minutes securing a vital three points and more importantly, getting back to winning ways.