The County Ground, home of Swindon Town based in Wiltshire and play their trade in League 2! Nicknamed the “Robins” after the club’s red and white club colours. A former Premier League ground fir one season back in 1994 before they went straight back down… And down again! Saturday away days are back!! The first away game on a Saturday this season for Mansfield! Off we go!!!
It’s 9am and off we go!! 3 hours later and here we are!! Not a happy place for Mansfield… Not a good record we have against this team… We’re here with 3 hours to go before kick off, time to sample the locals!
A trip through Swindon town centre to see Manchester City against Arsenal and Derby County against Nottingham Forest to kill time always helps! The games are over and now it’s time for our game!! £10 to get in here! Have that!
Kick Off! “YELLOWS! YELLOWS!” Mansfield fans in fine voice her so far! 8 minutes in and Mansfield win the ball back in the Swindon half, it comes to Ollie Clarke on the edge of the box who shoots… Wide.
“Blue & Yellow Barmy Army!” And “Everywhere we go! We’re the Mansfield Boys making all the noise everywhere we go!!!” “Come on Swindon!” Who’s the better fan base today do you think?
19th minute and Mansfield have a free kick on the left hand side, “She fell over!” From the Swindon fans, not sure why… Mansfield fans not happy with that… In comes the free kick… It’s pulled back to George Maris… Blocked! It’s whipped back into the box… The keeper collects.
27th minute and Swindon have a free kick on the left hand side in a crossing position, In it comes… Mansfield head away but Swindon play it back forward, here’s Dion Conroy… He’s offside… Referee blows and Mansfield have a free kick.
33rd minute and Mansfield win the ball back, they play it down the left, it’s crossed into the box low… Here’s Ollie Clarke! Good block by the Swindon defence! And they clear! 42 minutes now and Mansfield have a corner, in it comes… Ollie Hawkins is there… it’s over! 0-0 is how it would remain at half time.
Second half, “Swindon’s a s***hole! I wanna go home! Mansfield fans making their feelings clear on Swindon… 49 minutes and Swindon come down the right, the ball is crossed in… Rob Hunt is there at the far post… Good save by Nathan Bishop! 52 minutes on the clock, Mansfield break forward down the left, Ollie Hawkins gets it, he beats his man and he passes it across the box to Danny Johnson, he takes his time and shoots… It’s blocked! Corner, in it comes… Cleared by Swindon.
“Who are we? Red army!” Swindon fans going for it now! “Oh when the reds go steaming in! I wanna be in that number!” Swindon fans really going for it now! 58 minutes on the clock and Swindon come forward down the left, it’s crossed in, here’s Tyreece Simpson… He scores!! 1-0! Swindon take the lead here!!
“Take my hand! Take my whole life too! Cause I can’t help falling in love with you! Oh Swindon!” Swindon fans loving it now!
74th minute and Mansfield win a free kick on the left wing, in it comes… OFF THE BAR! It comes down… has it crossed the line? “No!” Says the Referee! Play goes on! Didn’t think it had crossed the line myself.
87th minute and Mansfield have a free kick around 30 yards out, Tyrese Sinclair steps up… Over the bar… “Waaaaayyyyyyy!!” From the Swindon faithful! Into the 90th minute now and 7 minutes are added on! Come on the Stags! Mansfield come forward, ball played out to the right from the left, it’s set up for George Maris on the edge of the box to shoot… Good save by the keeper!
Into stoppage time and Mansfield pile on the pressure! Can they find that equaliser? They break down the left, played to Stephen Mclaughlin to cross, here’s Jordan Bowery at the near post… It’s wide! He could have done better I think!
90+5 minutes and Swindon come forward and win a free kick on the edge of the box, Louis Reed steps up… He’s hit the post! Mansfield clear! Could have finished the job there! Mansfield continue to come forward but Swindon would take the points today… Not good enough Mansfield! Now for the bus back home.
FT: Swindon Town 1-0 Mansfield Town
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 5/10 – Mansfield fans did really well today! Swindon fans not so much I have to say… A good atmosphere anyway on the day!
- The ground: 7/10 – It’s a nice ground! Good stands along the sides! it’s a Championship ground at best I’d say!
- Expense: 8/10 – £10 is good for this level but I did think it was a boring game with little creativity but I did see a goal sadly not the Mansfield way…
- Overall Experience: 6/10 – It was a good day out overall! Mansfield should have done better but not to take away from Swindon they did well!
26/40