Another game, another draw...

Half day at work, pie, chips and beans for lunch and a few tinnies for the journey down to Exeter - I knew this was going to be a great day regardless of the result. But a bucketful of missed chances and a late equaliser put the mockers on an otherwise fun day.

If you read my last blog post you will know that I was quite looking forward to this one. With friends going to Exeter Uni and one of them claiming to support The Grecians, it was a great opportunity to get a few of us to the game and have a good crack. We set off at around 2:30pm, avoiding the M5 after a reliable source of mine informed me of the dreaded "average speed checks" thanks to some roadworks. The A303 was our route of choice and with just one toilet break (precautionary measures after the nightmare of the Wolves trip) and a few tins later we came to a halt at Danes' Road, Exeter.

"Can we get some lamboonas over here please barman?" We had the customary drink and a bit of pre-match banter in JD Wetherspoons' latest devonshire venture, The Chevalier Inn (following the success of THE biggest Wetherspoons' I've ever seen, The Imperial), and The Duke of York, where we met a handful of fellow Swindonians who had made the journey today. And finally onto St. James' Park. Rather unimpressive looking, but certainly not the worst ground I've ever been to.

In my preview, I questioned what Wilson's strategy would be coming into this game. Though we are on a run of 8 games unbeaten, we have drawn the last three 1-1, when we could easily have come away with more points. Wilson didn't disappoint, making two changes to the side that conceded late on against League 1 newboys Wycombe. Youngster Callum Kennedy stepped up to replace Jean-Francois Lescinel, whose performances seem to have dropped compared to those at the start of the season. Kennedy made a handful of appearances at first team level last season and looks to be a hot prospect after becoming a reserve team regular only at the tender age of 19. Striker Alex Revell, who is on-loan from financial strugglers Southend, dropped his place to tricky winger Anthony McNamee, who has struggled to find first team starts this season. Revell took a bit of stick from home fans against Wycombe as he, like most others, failed to convert chance after chance on Saturday afternoon.

A familiar face started on his own up front for Exeter, in the form of 6ft3in striker Barry Corr. Corr was released by Danny Wilson in the summer after an injury stricken spell at the County Ground, and swiftly took up the offer of a contract from Paul Tisdale.

The away side took the initiative and started the brighter of the two teams, much to the delight of myself and my fellow travellers, situated in a small terrace behind fan favourite David Lucas in between the sticks. Jonathan Douglas capitalised on some sloppy defending and won a free kick some 25 yards out. Jon-Paul McGovern stepped up, curled the dead ball around the wall and forced a smart save from 'keeper Oscar Jansson, who is on-loan from Premiership outfit Tottenham Hotspur.

At the other end, Craig Noone tried his luck from an almost identical position to McGovern, after Scott Cuthbert was deemed to have fouled Barry Corr. Noone saw his drive slip just the wrong side of the post.

Following an action-packed opening, the match then turned dull as both teams' performances were riddled with mistakes. The mundane interlude was brightened up as the Town faithful attempted to get "Nobby", the resident Swindon away drunk, to get into the action with chants of "Nobby, give us a song!". The next real opportunity didn't come until around the half hour mark. As goalkeeper Jansson foiled a Swindon attack at one end, his huge clearance bounced over the head of Barry Corr and into the path of the already dangerous looking Craig Noone at the other. Noone, who is on-loan from fierce rivals Plymouth, raced on with the ball, avoiding a challenge from makeshift defender Jonathan Douglas as the rear-guard were caught upfield in the counter-attack. The winger unleashed his shot but was foiled by on-form Lucas who got down well to make a fine parry away, and then pounced on the ball. Exeter fans will feel they should have taken the lead here at a moment which really could have changed the momentum of the rest of the game.

Town hit back at the Grecians almost instantly and were also guilty of not taking a golden opportunity. Kennedy saw his inch-perfect cross flicked on by Tope Obadeyi at the near post who was proving to be a handful for the Exeter backline. Paynter met the flick on the edge of the 6-yard box but could do no more than put his poke wide of the post, failing to trouble Jansson.

The game took a turn for the worst for striker-cum-winger Tope Obadeyi as he pulled up after a hamstring twinge. Wilson made the decision to bring Obadeyi off immediately, so as not to aggravate any potential injury. Obadeyi had looked dangerous for most of the first half and looked frustrated as he hobbled off to be replaced by Ben Hutchinson, who is on loan from SPL boys Celtic.

Despite this set-back, Swindon continued to push for the deadlock breaking goal, and yet another golden opportunity was wasted by Town's attacking force. Anthony McNamee found room on the left wing for a cross after linking well with Hutchinson. Town's other Celtic-loanee Simon Ferry met the cross on the edge of the 6-yard box, headed into the ground but saw his effort bounce over the keeper and onto the bar before being scrambled away by the Exeter defence. Yet another "How did he miss that??!" moment for The Robins.

The half-time whistle sent both sides in for a break from the goalless affair, when either team could have so easily been in the lead if they had taken their chances. Exeter started the 2nd half all guns blazing, forcing 3 consecutive corners from Town. Though it was a backs to the wall job, Swindon looked strong and decisive in defence, weathered the storm and kept the scoreline level. And in a change of momentum, Town managed to force consecutive corners at the other end and clinical finishing proved the difference between the two spells.

Jon-Paul McGovern's corner was met perfectly by Kevin Amankwaah, who has been getting his name into my blog repeatedly this season. Big Kev rose highest at the far post to head home his 2nd goal in as many games for Swindon and send the away supporters behind the goal into exaltation.

And it should have been a two goal lead for the visitors, if it wasn't for that pesky Jansson! The 18 year old Swede pulled of a stunning save to deny Jonathan Douglas. Callum Kennedy's superb cross found the incoming run of Douglas who met the ball with a sweet side-footed volley. Whether Jansson knew much about it or not, he deflected the ball clear with what looked like a fantastic reflex save from where I was standing.

Swindon looked in control of the match as the chances continued to flow in the 2nd half. McGovern at the heart of yet another Swindon attack played an offside-trap beating ball for Ben Hutchinson. Unfortunately his touch was too heavy allowing Jansson to make a grounded deflection, and Hutchinson was penalised for the collission

Tisdale made two changes on the 65th minute in an attempt to inject some energy into his side who were now struggling to keep possession. Barry Corr and Marcus Stewart made way for Adam Stansfield and Stuart Fleetwood to a home ovation. Shortly after, Town won their 8th corner of the match. McGovern's cross was aimed for the onrushing Simon Ferry, who, meeting the ball at speed, struggled to keep his side-footed effort down as it flew towards us behind the goal.

Exeter's chances were now few and far between, and a Swindon goal would surely kill the match. Richard Duffy did have a good chance as Swindon scrambled to try and clear a rare Exeter attack. He pulled his shot wide of the post, failing to test David Lucas.

Billy Paynter, who'd had an unusally quiet game, was then replaced by Alex Revell and Michael Timlin came on for Anthony McNamee as Town looked to shut up shop and head back East with all 3 points.

And Timlin had a chance to make it certain shortly after his introduction to the game as he stood over a dead-ball on the edge of the box. His low free kick sent Jansson sprawling to the opposite side of his goal to make yet another fine save, and deny Swindon an easy end to a hard fought game.

Jansson's class and persistence to repeatedly give Exeter a lifeline finally paid off, much to the cussing and dislike of the travelling few. In the 87th minute. Danny Seaborne's cross found well-travelled substitute Richard Logan who flicked his header into the back of the net. Joy and elation from the home fans but frustration from the visitor's point of view after a solid 80 or so minutes was wasted to such a weak goal, and yet another 1-1 draw.

The travelling 609 Town fans will have left St. James Park disgruntled and unhappy, there is no doubt about that. 2 points have been stolen again after yet another decent performance marred by missed opportunities and a late goal. But keep the faith - if you'd have told me at the start of the season that we would go on a run of 9 games unbeaten, I'd have slapped you in the face for taking the piss. We've got Brentford on Saturday, an opportunity for what should be a healthy away attendance to see the lads put things right and put smiles back on the face of the Swindon faithful, and keep the boo boys quiet. YOU REDS!