‘FRUSTRATED BUT PROUD’ FLYNN APPLAUDS ROBINS’ TEAM SPIRIT

By Paul Rowe

SWINDON T 3

Wright 45+3, Tshimanga 67 (pen), Clarke 88

SWINDON: Ripley 5, McGregor 6 (Ofoborh 86), Clarke 7, Wright 8, Freckleton 7, Kilkenny 6 (Westley 77, 6), Butterworth 6, Ameen 7, Nichols 6 (Cotterill 86), Tshimanga 6 (Glatzel 87), Smith 8. Subs not used: Bycroft, Sobowale, Delaney.

CHELTENHAM T 3

Thomas 8, Dieng 48, Wright 54 (og)

CHELTENHAM: Day 6, Bakare 7, Stubbs 6, Bradbury 4, Adedokun 6, Thomas 8 (Williams 90), Dieng 8, Kinsella 7, Archer 7, Hay 7 (Backwell 68, 7), Miller 7 (Taylor 58, 6). Subs not used: Diallo, Dulson, Bennett, King.

Att: 8,556 Rating: ★★★★★ Ref: Ollie Yates 6/10

MIKE Flynn said he was “frustrated but proud” of his Cheltenham side after they battled to secure a point, despite twice surrendering the lead and being reduced to ten men.

Cheltenham had led 3-1, after Swindon’s Will Wright netted for both teams, but the home side began to fight back when Kabongo Tshimanga converted a penalty following skipper Tom Bradbury’s dismissal. “We shot ourselves in the foot over the penalty and the second yellow because at that point we were in full control and looking very good for the three points,” Flynn said. “But we give them an opportunity to get back into it and Ian [Holloway]’s got them in a very confident mood, believing and playing with a smile on their faces.

“It was a battle. I’m glad we’ve come away with something but I can’t fault our effort, and togetherness. That was some team spirit.”

Jordan Thomas opened the scoring in fine style after eight minutes, leaving two defenders for dead on the edge of the box before curling into the far corner.

Just before half time, Swindon centre-back Wright scored from a stunning free-kick, bending the ball over the wall to give the keeper no chance.

Three minutes after the break Timothee Dieng neatly tucked home a loose ball to restore the visitor’s lead.

Wright then turned villain when he angled Ethon Archer’s low cross into his own net. Bradbury got his second yellow for hauling down Harry Smith in the box and Tshimanga scored from the spot.

Day then parried another dangerous Wright free-kick from 30 yards out.

Swindon levelled when Smith selflessly laid off f to tain Ollie Clarke who cap-hammered home two minutes before full time. Smith almost won it at the death with a touch at the far post but Day was ready for it and the visitors clung on.

Swindon boss Ian Holloway said: “I can’t believe what I was seeing. And if that game has brought six goals, how on earth did it?

Because it looked terrible, like both teams couldn’t get hold of the ball. I’ve raised my voice a bit today. It really annoyed me, because we’re better than that. You can’t expect to have to score four goals to win a game at home. That’s two points dropped.

“I’m having a bit of a grumpy moment because time is ticking.”