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MATCH REPORT | Swindon Town 2-1 Mansfield Town

Swindon played host to the in-form Mansfield, Town have hosted the top two in back-to-back games, but would be hoping for a better result this time.

In an attempt to shake up the lackadaisical nature that Swindon had settled into Michael Flynn benched Charlie Austin, putting full faith in Jake Young to lead the line, and be an extra man to bulk up the midfield. Hopefully, they would be able to contest with the league's only unbeaten side.

First Half

Mansfield got the game underway and came flying out of the traps, an early chance fell to Louis Reed who had a go from the centre of the Swindon area, leaving the home side to scramble in the way and get the ball away.

The visitors were not allowing Swindon to breathe with their intense pressure being felt in all areas of the pitch. Swindon were being forced to take risks to ensure they kept possession. Mansfield looked every bit the team that had been dominating the league as of late.

Swindon got their first attempt at an attack in the ninth minute. Remeao Hutton was set free and he looked to find Williams Kokolo at the far post but was denied by a perfect interception. The first real chance would follow shortly after, with Dan Kemp finding Hutton again who unleashed a volley that forced Christy Pym into action.

Mansfield would break after winning the ball from an under-hit pass by George McEachran, a disguised pass from Rhys Oates almost found Jordan Bowery but Harrison Minturn did enough to deny the striker a free shot at goal.

Both sides were creating half chances with Young almost getting a chance at an opener, but promptly being denied at the last moment. From the following corner, Frazer Blake-Tracy went close with a powered header.

Despite their early spell of dominance from the visitors, Swindon had grown into the half as it went on and were finding themselves in control as the game began to wind up before the halftime break.

Young had been dangerous all half and created a great chance after finding an overhit Kemp pass and then fired at Pym who saved well. Then, as Swindon broke on the counter, Young was hacked down and from the resulting free-kick, the ball was dinked over the wall finding Young who volleyed home into the goal making it 1-0 to Swindon.

(Young opens the scoring! Photo Credit - Robert Noyes)

Following the goal Swindon pressed for a second, perhaps learning from recent games that a 1-0 lead means absolutely nothing. Kemp had been having a lot of joy when finding Hutton on the right and he found him again, the full-back cut in and had a go but only found a Mansfield body in the way.

Murphy Mahoney hadn’t had much to do in the Swindon goal, but Aaron Lewis gave him a test late on in the opening half, the keeper was comfortable and kept the score at 1-0 at the break.

Second Half

Kemp got the second half underway and Mansfield again immediately went on the full press attack, having a headed chance go narrowly wide just a couple of minutes into the second half.

Swindon tried bringing the ball out from the back but had been completely caught out by the Mansfield press and a wayward pass was snatched up before Lucas Akins broke with the ball and managed to hold off Udoka Godwin-Malife before firing low into the goal and levelling the game at 1-1 just four minutes into the second half.

There was a huge shout for a penalty in the 55th minute. Young found Saidou Kahn whose shot at goal looked to strike the arm of Aden Flint but somehow the referee and linesmen saw nothing.

The visitors had been the better side in the second half and came close to taking the lead when a ball across the box looked destined to find Lewis but Liam Kinsella threw himself in the way to get a vital block. A minute later Mansfield had another great chance, this time the big dangerman, Davis Keillor-Dunn, had a chance but Mahoney saved comfortably.

(Mansfield in control. Photo Credit - Robert Noyes)

With 13 minutes to go Mansfield came closest to finding a winner. The game had died down but a free-kick was launched into the Swindon area and was then headed across goal to Akins who sent a header crashing onto the bar.

Swindon had their chance to take the lead shortly after, Khan found Kemp who danced through the Mansfield defence before firing from the edge of the area. Pym could only palm the ball away to the onrushing Kokolo whose effort just deflected wide.

As the game approached the end of the 90 minutes both sides continued to search for the winner, the visitors took their centre half Flint and let him lead the line upfront, hoping his height and presence would be enough to find a winner.

Mansfield had two chances but Swindon held strong and as the game reached the 93rd minute the County Ground would erupt.

Charlie Austin had come on late into the game and got straight into it as he headed an effort against the bar and initiated a scramble in the box before Jake Young tapped home from a yard out to win Swindon the three points.

(Young taps home to win it! Photo Credit - Robert Noyes)

A massive victory at the County Ground ended Swindon's hunt for a win and handed Mansfield their first loss of the League Two season.

Summary

Swindon deserved the win today, when they conceded early in the second half I think we all thought Mansfield would go on to win. But some solid defending and the ever-present Jake Young was enough to give Swindon their first win since the 14th of October.

An away trip to Accrington Stanley beckons on Tuesday and with a team now full of confidence they should be going there hoping to win.