Swindon P.S.F.A. vs Vale of White Horse P.S.F.A. 5-11-11 Berkshire League

Swindon recorded their second Berkshire League win with a well-earned 3:1 victory over Vale of White Horse to move into third place in the table. Both sides started in confident mood but it was the homesters who threatened early on, Webb testing Townsend who palmed the effort away for a corner. Swindon’s custodian was called into action moments later, diving low to his right to collect a well struck effort. Swindon responded with a brace of chances, either of which could have found the back of Vale’s net. A fine move begun by Cremin ended with Lea cutting inside the full back. His cross found Merchant who lost his footing just as he was about to strike and unfortunately steered his shot wide. Four minutes later Skinner was denied by fine save from Crowther in the Vale goal. Midway through the half Swindon opened the scoring. Lea pounced on a misjudged clearance and fired past Crowther. The homesters responded with a fine move down the right initiated by Brinkley who fed Wallace. He played a neat one-two with Farmer before supplying Masters who outpaced McGinn. A splendid cross somehow evaded Ormrod and Webb with the Swindon’s defence caught at sixes and sevens. The visitors went on the attack and only a brave save from Crowther prevented them doubling their lead before Tyson headed over the bar. Swindon began the second period in a far more assertive manner, playing some delightfully controlled football especially in midfield. Lawrence linked well with Lea down the right whilst Merchant’s excellent reading of the game enabled Swindon to quickly turn defence into attack. The Vale looked dangerous on the counter. A brilliant cross by Masters eluded both Chedzey and Sykes at the far post with Swindon’s defence caught square before a similar move found Webb who mistimed his shot on the edge of the six yard box. The homesters levelled the scores with sixteen minutes remaining. Some quick passing between Wallace, Sewell, Standbridge and Webb ended with the Webb being clumsily brought down close to the edge of the penalty area. Webb’s pin-point free kick cleared the wall and squeezed between Brown’s diving   challenging and the upright. Swindon showed the resilience displayed the previous week and stepped up a gear. Hopper exploited space left by a somewhat sluggish Vale defence to supply Benge whose shot was blocked by Farmer. The visitors re-took the lead just three minutes later. Tyson bulldozed his way into the Vale box, flattening Woodall in the process. Inexplicably, the Vale defence froze, expecting a free kick – as did some of the Swindon players. Lawrence realised the whistle hadn’t gone and slipped the ball wide to Lea who rounded the statue-like full back to cross to Skinner who volleyed home. The homesters tried to respond but were thwarted by some determined defending from Swindon’s back four with Philips and Kutassy showing great awareness to halt promising Vale attacks. Brown led his teammates with his usual passion whilst Leach and McGinn resilience enabled Cremin and Merchant to push forwards. The Vale’s defence struggled to cope with further pressure from Swindon and  only a brilliant last-ditch tackle by Blackwell prevented Skinner scoring his second. Crowther brought off another terrific save three minutes later from Lea’s free kick just outside the penalty area. But the visitors were not to be denied for long and when the Vale’s defence failed to clear the ball, Tyson fired home close range. At the final whistle Swindon’s hard work in every department was rewarded and their joy at avenging their Witney Cup exit was plain for all to see.