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MATCH REPORT | Accrington Stanley 3-4 Swindon Town

Swindon took on Accrington Stanley hoping to find their second away win of the season.

Should they win at Accrington it would also be a second win in a row after they ended their months-long search for a win at home to title battlers Mansfield.

Could Swindon find fortune at the Wham Stadium? Swindon had only won once away at Accrington in their history, so could they find their way to three points and move into the play-offs?

First Half

Tonight's game saw Swindon debuting their beautiful purple third kit. Dan Kemp got the game underway. Town saw plenty of the ball in the opening exchanges having upwards of 80% possession, but the home side had the first shot of the match.

Jack Nolan’s effort was not troubling Murphy Mahoney and Swindon broke up the pitch with Kemp finding Jake Young who had his shot blocked by Brad Hills in the Accrington defence.

The opening ten minutes was seeing both sides create chances and Udoka Godwin-Malife nearly gifted Accrington the opener, allowing Shaun Whalley to easily break away and find Josh Andrews; his shot was driven at goal from range and required Mahoney to be at full stretch to tip it wide.

Despite Accrington having the better chances, Swindon would be awarded a penalty in the 16th minute. A strong run from Godwin-Malife from the edge of his own box saw him find George McEachran in the Stanley area, and the midfielder was then hacked down. Kemp stepped up and dispatched the penalty down the middle of the goal to make it 1-0 to Swindon.

Accrington were enjoying the space behind the Swindon back line but so far the pace of Godwin-Malife and Williams Kokolo had been scooping up any danger, but the warning signs were appearing.

Nolan had a great chance to level the game after a small chance for Jay Rich-Baghuelou, Acrrington quickly recycled the ball and this time Nolan almost chipped Mahoney but the ball landed on the roof of the Swindon goal.

Swindon once again weathered the storm and were rewarded for their efforts. Remeao Hutton's drilled cross was straight to Young who only needed a touch to find the second goal of the game as Swindon looked to put the game to bed in the first half.

As halftime loomed Accrington would have pulled one back had it not been for Kokolo. Harrison Minturn did well under pressure but gave up the ball allowing the visitors in on goal, Nolan had the net gaping but Kokolo dove across at the last minute to block a certain goal.

Halftime came and Swindon would be grateful the half ended when it did with some very questionable defending practically inviting Accrington back into the game.

Second Half

Accrington got the second half underway, Swindon would need to be much stronger at the back in the second half to come away with their two-goal lead intact.

Kokolo would end the half saving the clean sheet and started the second strong breaking down the left before cutting the ball back to Saidou Khan, who tried his luck from the edge of the area but the shot was comfortably saved.

The hosts came inches from finding a goal back. Nolan's deep cross was left by Minturn and was misread by Mahoney who assumed Minturn was dealing with it. The confusion saw the ball strike the post before falling back into play and was eventually scrambled away.

Following the close shave, Young managed to get the ball up the other end but clashed with the Accrington keeper and became the 7th player to be booked on either side.

Mahoney was forced into a big save in the 54th minute after Liam Kinsella completely misjudged a cross and nearly allowed Matt Lowe in on goal, but the Swindon keeper’s fast reactions got in the way of his effort.

A flurry of Accrington dominance could mean only one thing, Young went close after some great work from Kemp but then just over a minute later Khan picked the ball up 25 yards out before rifling a thunderous strike into the top corner and making it 3-0 to Swindon.

It had been a very weird game, the hosts had all but dominated large parts of the game and could have easily scored three of their own. But every time Accrington got on top of the game Swindon would go up the other end and score.

The game had been mad but it almost became insane after Young narrowly missed adding a fourth. Hutton's floated cross was met by the striker who struck with an outrageous volley that went just over the bar.

Accrington finally had the chance to get a goal back after a handball in the box from a corner was awarded a penalty. Tommy Leigh stepped up and went left but so did Mahoney who did enough to push the ball wide and away from danger.

The home side had suffered plenty at the hands of Murphy Mahoney and after a free kick was saved the ball popped up perfectly for Hills to get a goal back, but in an unbelievable moment of comedy his shot at a wide-open goal was blocked - by his teammate's face.

As the game entered the final ten minutes Swindon still looked to be on the back foot, but Accrington just couldn’t finish their dinner. Town were not in any rush but for the fourth time, they answered a spell of Accrington pressure with a goal.

Hutton had been a constant threat in behind for Swindon and his ball to the back post found Charlie Austin who had come on for Jake Young and the veteran tucked home Swindon's fourth.

The hosts found a late consolation through Adedoyin who ran the full length of the box before firing off-balance past Mahoney, The Swindon keeper deserved a clean sheet but the hosts definitely deserved at least one goal.

Accrington were finding all their missed chances suddenly flying in, their first came in the 92nd minute, then in the 97th Hills added a second and palms began to get sweaty. Then in the 100th minute, Hills added a third for the hosts. Accrington almost completed the comeback from kick-off. The ball back to Mahoney saw the keeper take a big touch and lose the ball, if not for a goalline clearance it would have been 4-4.

Fortunately for Swindon, the comeback came too late and they secured a second away win of the season and their second win on the bounce, but boy did they try and throw it away.

Summary

Swindon were four goals to the good in the 90th minute and yet no one felt safe and that about sums up this team. Conceding three in one half is terrible but three in added time is a joke.

What was a positive performance has been completely soured by ten minutes of madness in added time. A second away win of the season is a positive regardless, but the defensive issues that plague the club are becoming tedious to talk about.

Flynn’s late substitutions threw the balance of the team completely and should be a big lesson learned for the manager. Regardless, a couple of weeks ago Swindon would have lost that game so there are positives to take but it’s never easy following this club.