MATCH REPORT: Swindon Town 1-2 Ipswich Town

SWINDON TOWN suffered another defeat in their final home game of the season as Ipswich Town ran out 1-2 winners at SN1. A James Norwood brace put the visitors ahead before a mistake by the Ipswich keeper David Cornell saw Brett Pitman pull one back. Norwood missed a chance for his hat-trick from the penalty spot but was left unpunished as Swindon could not find an equaliser. Total Sport Swindon’s Rajan Hothi gives his match report.

Christopher Missilou and Rob Hunt replaced the duo of Jordan Garrick and Mathieu Baudry as relegated-Town looked to restore some pride after their sorry showing away at MK Dons last weekend.  

The first chance fell to the visitors who ought to have taken an early lead. Swindon were found open down the left, and a teasing cross was met by Ted Bishop who could only fluff his lines and put it wide from 10 yards out.  

Paul Cook’s side were finding it light work to breeze past the Swindon midfield and create openings. James Norwood was next to have a chance, as he headed wide from a corner as Town looked nervous at the back.  

However, Swindon could have easily found themselves a goal ahead. Enthusiastic pressing from Jack Payne saw him rob Luke Woolfenden, and he threaded a nicely-timed pass to Brett Pitman who could only roll the ball past the post against his former club.  

More sloppiness from Ipswich was on show as Armando Dobra lost the ball to Matt Palmer inside their own-half. Palmer found Twine who had a well-struck effort palmed out at the near-post by David Cornell, before Tyler Smith and Palmer had their respective efforts blocked as Swindon looked to get their noses in front.  

In a game where both defences looked vulnerable, Bishop was presented with another glorious chance to put Cook’s side ahead. A clever dummy from James Norwood allowed Bishop to race through on goal, but he could only fire straight at Camp as Swindon were let off the hook.  

However, the chances kept coming for the visitors. This time Dobra allowed time and space on the ball, roughly 10 yards out from goal, but like Bishop, could not convert as he saw his effort go wide. A minute later, Camp was on hand to pull-off a sharp stop to prevent Norwood from scoring at his near-post as Ipswich somehow did not break the deadlock.  

Camp had to be alert again, five minutes before half-time, as Vincent-Young stayed onside, and was positioned perfectly at the back-post to head home, but Camp’s right-foot kept Ipswich at bay.  

Though, the resistance from Camp did not last much longer. A clumsy challenge by Jonathan Grounds on Bishop gave Ipswich a golden chance to end their goal-drought from the penalty spot. Norwood took responsibility and sent Camp the wrong way to give the visitors a deserved lead. 

Tommy Wright made one change at half-time with Grounds coming off for Tom Broadbent as Swindon looked to mount a fightback in the second-half. 

Ipswich started the second-half on the front-foot with the visitors almost toying with Town. Gwion Edwards’ cross was missed by Bishop, but Dobra was able to pull the ball back to Flynn Downes on the edge of the box, but he could only see his effort sail over the bar.  

Swindon proved to be masters of their own demise again before the hour-mark as Twine gifted possession to Norwood with a poor back-pass to send the Ipswich striker through on goal, where he slotted home past Camp to bag his brace, and Ipswich’s second.  

However, Swindon got themselves back into the contest against the run of play with 20 minutes remaining. A tame Pitman shot from inside the box somehow squeezed its way through the gloves of Cornell at his near post to give Town a lifeline. 

Though just a minute later, substitute Taylor Curran fouled Troy Parrott to give Norwood a golden chance at a hat-trick. The former-Tranmere striker could only send the penalty wide, however, as the hat-trick chance went begging.  

The miss did not prove to be costly, however, as Paul Cook’s side held on relatively comfortably for all three points.