MATCH REPORT: SWINDON TOWN 1-2 Bury

SWINDON TOWN suffered their first home defeat of the season as Bury won by two goals to one at The County Ground to secure their first away win of the season. TotalSport Swindon’s Ryan Walker gives his match report following the defeat.

Two Byron Moore’s goal’s either side of half-time were enough to cancel out Luke Woolfenden’s first goal for the club as Swindon endured a difficult afternoon of football against an impressive opposition. 

Ryan Lowe’s Bury endured the better first half with quick flowing attacking football from the kick-off seeing his side have two shots on goal within the opening two minutes. Chris Dagnall forced McCormick into an instinctive save down to his left in the game’s opening moments, whilst Jay O’Shea stung the hands of the Town keeper just seconds later.

Bury continued to gain confidence, whilst Town struggled to keep possession with a midfield trio of McCourt, Iandolo, and McGlashan too often giving the ball away. Marc Richards, starting his second consecutive league game for the first time this season, gave Town their first chance of the match as the striker was put through on goal in the 9th minute, only to be let down by a poor first touch.

A frantic opening ten minutes saw the rest of the half continue in the same fashion as the visitors continued to gain in confidence whilst Swindon were penned back in their own half. Attacking football from Bury continued to test Town’s defence, and it wasn’t long before the game had its opening goal in the 19th minute. 

Byron Moore isolated Matty Taylor down the left flank, pressing the defender back into his own box with some great footwork before powering a fierce shot into the top of the goal from a tight angle to give the visitors a deserved lead.

No Michael Doughty in the squad left Town struggling to make an impact and with the clock ticking on Phil Brown had decided he had seen enough, bringing on Toumani Diagouraga to replace Iandolo just ten minutes later. 

Appearing disjointed in both attack and defence left Swindon struggling to respond after going a goal down, whilst their opponents continued to press for a second. 

James Dunne and Matty Taylor continued to put crosses into the box as Phil Brown urged his team forward, but Bury’s staunch defence easily defended their poor deliveries.

Chris Dagnall could’ve doubled his team’s advantage in the 38th minute after being found unmarked in the box but could only put his header over the bar of McCormick’s goal. 

The half-time whistle blew minutes later as Swindon left the pitch lacking quality and deservedly losing the match.

Play resumed and just five minutes had passed before Swindon got their equaliser. Steven Alzate whipping his corner into the box which dropped to Woolfenden on the half-volley for the centre-back to shoot past Murphy and score his first goal for the club. 

Goals change games but unfortunately not in Swindon’s favour. Bury stayed calm after conceding and their ability to work the ball down the wings continued to cause problems for Town. 

James Dunne starting his first game back following suspension was too often caught out of position playing at right back, as Byron Moore scored his second goal of the game in the 55th minute. 

Jay O’Shea cutting into the box from the left-hand side had his shot rebound off the post into the path of Moore who tapped in from five yards out as Bury again took the lead. 

With the visitors tightening their grip on the match, Brown introduced Keshi Anderson into the fray in the 60th minute before using his final substitution just ten minutes later as Joe Romanski replaced Jak McCourt.

A change in formation saw Town top heavy in attack as they attempted to avoid a first home defeat of the season. Keshi Anderson threatened from 35 yards out with a ferocious shot that whistled past the post in 76th minute, whilst at the opposite end, last-ditch defending from Sid Nelson kept the deficit at just one goal. 

Excellent defending from Bury left Swindon frustrated with ideas as the game entered it’s dying moments, with Town throwing everything forward in attack but to no avail. Frustration in the crowd reflected in the on-pitch performances as frantic attacking lacked quality in the final third.

Bury’s time wasting resulted in seven minutes added on time, but a defensive change from Ryan Lowe suffocated Swindon’s attackers as they sought to fashion another last-minute goal at The County Ground. Bury held on to the final whistle as Swindon Town suffered their first home defeat of the season.