ON-THE-WHISTLE MATCH REPORT: Salisbury 1-1 Swindon Town

Swindon Town were held to a 1-1 draw by Salisbury at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium on Monday night.

Harry Smith headed Swindon Town into a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute, but Salisbury hit back in the 77th via a tremendous Claudio Herbert free-kick.

The story of the first half largely centred around striker Smith, who recently signed for Town on a season-long loan deal from Championship outfit Millwall.

As early as the third minute, Swindon were awarded a penalty when the gangly forward was brought down in the area, which Smith took himself, but the 22-year-old saw his spot-kick saved as Salisbury stopper Nathan Ball made a diving save to his right.

Smith redeemed himself 20 minutes later though when he connected with a James Brophy cross to nod home the opener when, in reality, he could not really miss.

Despite taking the lead though, it was hosts Salisbury that were on the front foot, and began a flurry of attacking moves just after the half-hour mark when Tom Whelan broke through the Swindon defence and looked set to score, but had his shot denied by the boot of Will Henry.

The Lilywhites were on the attack again soon after, but Mark Francis lashed his shot from range over the bar before the best chance of the first half occurred. 

Six minutes before the half-time break, Whelan whipped in a dangerous-looking free-kick which became an official threat once Marvin Brooks guided a diving header goalwards, but Henry made a superb diving stop to keep it at 1-0.

Henry had to be agile less than a minute later, too, when the young keeper pushed away a long-distance half-volley from Kane O'Keefe that ended in a corner.

Said corner was whipped in and headed towards goal by Whelan, which hit the post after Henry ducked, thinking it was sailing wide. Swindon soon cleared their lines, however.

Salisbury's last effort on goal in the first half was a curled free-kick from Lewis Benson, but just like everything else, Henry was there to keep it from nestling into the bottom corner. 

Henry was no less busy in the second half, as in the 52nd minute O'Keefe was denied again by the Town deputy after a trialist right-back failed to mark O'Keefe adequately.

If it was not for the fingertips of Henry, Salisbury would have been level. 

Salisbury did manage to get the goal their play merited though when substitute Herbert bent a fantastic free-kick into the top corner with 77 minutes played. 

It was the least Steve Claridge's men deserved, as they bossed Town for large periods following Smith's goal.

Swindon nearly had the final say though when Scott Twine was put through on goal, however he and Swindon were prevented from snatching a late win by a top-class low diving save from Nathan Ball.

Swindon arenow set to fly out to Portugal tomorrow for a pre-season training camp for five nights.