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Matches of Yesteryear 12:39 - Aug 16 with 602 views

Swindon Town v Colchester United
Saturday 13th November 2010
League 1 (3rd tier)
Attendance 7,679

For match #4 we dip into the John Ward era, and at a time when the U’s were riding high in the league — before kick-off, we were 3rd behind Brighton and Huddersfield, with Peterborough, Charlton, Southampton and Bournemouth close behind. Quite remarkable really, when you stop and think about what pretty much all of them (apart from the U’s) went on to achieve — heyho. Swindon were managed at the time by Danny Wilson — someone I’ve never really warmed to if I’m honest.

This was the weekend before my then partner Emma’s 40th birthday, so she had headed over to Bristol for a boozy overnighter with her mates, whilst I took the train to the match with my youngest. Without the constraints of driving, this also included some pre-match beers in the Merlin — another excellent football pub, usually very welcoming to away fans, and with a good atmosphere as a result. Alfie enjoyed some sausage and chips, whilst I had a liquid lunch.

The U’s lined up:
1….Ben Williams
4….Magnus Okuonghae
6….Paul Reid
20..Brian Wilson
23..Marc Tierney
10..Kem Izzet (Anthony Wordsworth 61’)
14..Andy Bond
17..David Perkins (Ian Henderson 70’)
7….Ashley Vincent (Liam Henderson ’84)
15..Kayode Odejayi
19..David Mooney

As usual, we were housed at the far end of the Arkells Stand, next to the empty open terrace, but with the U’s riding high in the league, there was a decent turn out, with nearly 300 of the faithful in attendance, and in good voice too. They needed to be, because the U’s were very slow out of the blocks, Magnus in particular, who gave the ball away on the edge of the box with his first touch, requiring an excellent save from Ben Williams to prevent an immediate first goal for the Robins.

Nevertheless, the U’s looked ragged, and definitely lacking match fitness, and were under the cosh for most of the first half, with Swindon taking a deserved lead with a shot from Dosseni that Williams’ despairing dive couldn’t quite reach. However, very much against the run of play, on the stroke of half-time Mooney put an excellent cross into the box, and Vincent stealed in for a point blank headed conversion (though he nearly missed that!) — and all with the home crowd incensed that it wasn’t called offside. I couldn’t tell from my viewpoint, but heyho, the goal stood, that was what counted.

Always an excellent time to score, so the half-time refreshments tasted all the better for it, and it filled us all with hope that the U’s would push on and win the game, or at the very least hold on for the point. Sadly, Swindon hadn’t read the script, and continued to press the U’s in the second half, and barely 10 minutes later had restored their lead after an excellent through ball from Douglas converted by the goal machine that was Charlie Austin, though it could be argued that Williams might have actually kept it out.

…and that’s how it stayed through to full-time.

The U’s did certainly put more effort in in the final quarter to try and get something from the game, but it was very much one of those huffing and puffing performances, that never looked that likely to unlock a resolute Swindon defence. Magnus particularly just didn’t look fit, nor Tierney, and the midfield were outfought and outthought for most of the match. Special mention for Odejayi though, he at least battled throughout, his pace and strength clearly a constant worry to the Swindon defence.

Swindon Town 2 (Dossevi 29’; Austin 54’) Colchester United 1 (Vincent 45’)

To put this match into context, at the end of the season Swindon were relegated, finishing bottom of the league, with Danny Wilson leaving for Sheffield United. Pretty much all of those around as at the top in November were still there in May, with Brighton and Southampton promoted, and Peterborough via the play-offs — we finished 10th. This was John Ward’s first season as manager, following Aidy Boothroyd’s departure to Coventry City. Although Ward was much maligned, with the benefit of hindsight finishing 10th two seasons running in League 1 (we did it again in 2011/12) really wasn’t too shabby, given our gradual slip down the leagues to where we are now. Charlie Austin went on to play in the Premier League, for both QPR and Southampton, is currently playing for Championship WBA, and scored on his debut last Tuesday night.

[Post edited 16 Aug 2019 13:15]

	Up the U's
Poll:	How will we do in 2016/17
Blog:	Knees-up Mother Brown #24

Matches of Yesteryear on 17:02 - Aug 16 with 574 views

GOSBTS

Great post Wessex. Reading it made my mind flick back to that season for Albion with many fond memories. Of course, the highlight was promotion with a 4-3 win against Dagenham to secure promotion. My dad went with his friend but they had to leave at half-time before the celebrations began. It also was the end of an era as it was the last season at Withdean before we moved to the Amex, and my favourite Brighton player and childhood hero Gary Hart also retired at the end of the season. We had also developed a short friendly rivalry with Southampton, with the ever smug Nigel Adkins making some choice comments about our chances at the beginning of the season, which fanned a few flames.

I hadn't realised the U's had been in the promotion race at the start of the season. Certainly agree that 10th place in League One two years in a row is very good in hindsight and something we'd now bite hands off for!

Matches of Yesteryear on 04:16 - Aug 20 with 516 views

ghughes11

I had already moved to NZ by this game.
However, the Swindon away match that stands out for me was again in the 2005/06 promotion season.
Boxing Day - Col U flying on all cylinders in the league only to be beaten by a Rory Fallon diving header!
Rory Fallon an All Whites legend - so every time he pops up on tv over here I am reminded of that game - however, I always follow up the story with the promotion at Yeovil!

Back to the game you mentioned Wessex. Is it me or does the Col U team look pretty poor on paper? Then again, the team we have now looks good on paper but are not currently getting the results to match the performances.

David Prutton on the cover - must have been just before he signed for us?

Did Charlie Austin play for them all season? If so that would be a surprise considering how many goals he scores.

Poll:

What was the main reason for the Col U win versus Carlisle?

Matches of Yesteryear on 10:02 - Aug 20 with 500 views

wessex_exile

Matches of Yesteryear on 04:16 - Aug 20 by ghughes11

Prutton had already had his time at Col U by this match - he joined us in Jan 2010 I think. Boothroyd offered him a new contract at the end of the previous season, which Ward also stood by when he took over, but Prutton rejected it and was signed by Swindon. You’re right though, the association is undoubtedly why he’s on the programme cover.

Charlie Austin scored 17 in 27 matches for Swindon, who rejected several offers from higher leagues for him in the January 2011 transfer window. Austin wasn’t happy about this, put in a transfer request and eventually signed for Burnley just as the window closed (after failing to agree terms with our Poorman Road friends).

That’s an interesting point about the squad, because you’re right, it doesn’t really look ‘all that’ on paper. There are some stand-out exceptions, Perkins particularly as far as I am concerned, but given they finished in a respectable 10th place in League 1, maybe this was a case of the team being greater than the sum of its parts?

	Up the U's
Poll:	How will we do in 2016/17
Blog:	Knees-up Mother Brown #24

Matches of Yesteryear on 12:07 - Aug 20 with 490 views

mfb_cufc

I attended this game, and your report is an excellent assessment of the game. That was probably the worst game Magnus had in his time with us. Our lofty position in the table at the time was down to going undefeated in our first nine games at the beginning of that season.

mfb

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