MATCH REPORT: Doyle strikes late as Town beat Stevenage

SWINDON TOWN ran out 1-0 winners against strugglers Stevenage courtesy of a late strike from Eoin Doyle to grab their first win of the month. Total Sport Swindon's Rajan Hothi gives his match report from SN1.

Swindon came into the clash in need of a boost following a poor run of form that saw Wellens' side pick up just one point from their last four league games, and a late Doyle goal saw Swindon claim their first win since Cambridge in September. 

Zeki Fryers, Michael Doughty and Kaiyne Woolery were the only additions to the starting XI that suffered defeat to Crewe last time out.

The opening exchanges saw both sides struggle to settle or create any real chances, and it took Emmanuel Sonupe's audacious effort, that sailed over Steven Benda's bar, for the first shot to be registered after 15 minutes.  

Town's first chance came after 23 minutes. Lloyd Isgrove did well to work an opening down the right and found the head of Eoin Doyle, but his header was straight down the throat of Paul Farman.

Despite the lack of opportunities, Swindon were close to getting themselves ahead with their best chance of the half. 

Doughty's well-timed pass split the Boro defence open and allowed Donohue to play an inviting cross into the box for Jerry Yates, but the Rotherham loanee could only fire over from close-range. ?

Boro had a glorious chance of their own to take the lead with just five minutes remaining of the half. Scott Cuthbert was left unmarked from a corner, but the former Town defender could only head wide the visitors best opening of the first-half. 

The sides went into the half-time interval locked at 0-0 with chances proving to be at a premium. Swindon had the majority of the ball but were failing to test a Stevenage back-line that looked susceptible to a mistake. 

Swindon had a penalty shout turned down by Referee Alan Young early in the second-half. Isgrove did well to win the ball in his own half, before going on a solo run which saw him fall in the box, but he was judged to have gone down too easily. 

Just minutes later, another chance presented itself for Swindon to take the lead. Woolery found Yates in the box and the latter saw his effort go wide when he probably should've scored, as Town pressed to break the deadlock. 

Another penalty appeal was turned down just before the hour-mark. Rob Hunt found Isgrove out wide, and despite his cross looking like it hit Chris Stokes' hand, Swindon were forced to settle for a corner. 

Kaiyne Woolery made way for Diallang Jaiyesimi as Town looked for an alternative route to break down their so far resolute opponents, but Stevenage were proving to be a threat on the counter.

Substitute Dean Parrett did well to fashion an opening but saw his curling effort easily saved by Benda. 

Parrett was then presented with the best chance of the second-half as he raced through on goal, but he made a hash of his attempted chip and let Swindon off the hook. 

A late winner for Swindon almost came courtesy of Jaiyesimi. The Norwich-loanee entered the box and saw his shot ricochet off a Boro defender, but Farman did well to keep Town at bay, before saving another goal-bound Jaiyesimi effort as well as Donohue's strike in a frantic scramble in the visitors' box. 

Just as it looked like Swindon would extend their winless run to six games, the breakthrough finally came in the 90th minute. A cross came into the path of Doyle who did well to chest the ball in the box before unleashing a half-volley into the bottom corner to break Boro hearts. 

It wasn't a classic performance from Town, who struggled to break down Stevenage at times, but it is a crucial win for the Robins who put an end to their five-game winless run.