Swindon Town began their Bristol Street Motors Trophy campaign with a 2-1 defeat away to League One side Exeter City at St James Park, but the performance had head coach Mark Kennedy purring with pleasure.
After a goalless first half, the game sparked into life in the second period, with Exeter midfielder Ed Francis breaking the deadlock just past the hour mark, slotting home from close range. Swindon quickly responded through Joel Cotterill, who produced a stunning strike to bring his side level and notch his first goal for the club.
However, with less than 10 minutes remaining, Jack Aitchison fired in the winner for the home side, securing all three points for Exeter and leaving Swindon frustrated despite a spirited performance.
The first half saw both sides create chances, but neither could break through. Swindon’s Jake Cain delivered a couple of dangerous crosses, first for Kabongo Tshimanga, whose header was cleared, and then for Aaron Drinan, who nodded wide. Exeter also threatened, but Tunmise Sobowale produced a key block to deny Ben Purrington.
Swindon came closest to scoring late in the first half when Drinan’s break was intercepted as he attempted to square the ball to Danny Butterworth, ending a promising counter-attack. Butterworth also tested Exeter keeper Shaun MacDonald with a long-range effort, but the half ended goalless.
The second half started brightly for Swindon, with Tshimanga and Butterworth both coming close to opening the scoring. However, it was Exeter who struck first in the 64th minute when Francis finished from close range to put the Grecians ahead.
Swindon didn’t take long to respond, with Cotterill levelling the game just four minutes later. The 19-year-old midfielder struck a powerful, low shot from outside the box that nestled into the bottom corner, giving the visitors hope of taking something from the match.
Dan Barden kept Swindon in the game with a crucial save to deny Millenic Alli, but Exeter found the winner in the 81st minute. Aitchison’s powerful shot found the top corner, leaving Barden with no chance and Swindon with little time to mount a comeback.
It leaves the Robins without a win in six, second from bottom in the division and still winless under the new manager. Still, Swindon boss Kennedy was quizzed as to how he felt after the game, and his response may surprise some Robins’ fans.
“Really pleased, but we’ve lost, admittedly against a very good side,” said the former Lincoln City man. “I said to the guys after the game, it’s great coming in saying, ‘well done, brilliant, really good football.’ I really feel we’ve started to build something positive. We’ll have lots of games, and we’re going to win games.
“We’ll have games where we’re not playing potential favourites for the league or League One opposition in cups. As someone who’s a lot older than the players, if I was watching the game in the stands, I’d remember two things: we didn’t react to a short corner quick enough, and the centre-half tried to step in and win the ball when he shouldn’t have. Both ended up in goals. I said to the guys, those are the things I’d remember if we walked away, which is a shame because I thought some of the football was outstanding.”
Site Opinion
Kennedy was watching a different game to most supporters. Swindon were not excellent, they haven’t been excellent at all this season, and supporters might feel a little worried.
Exeter were hammered by Arsenal U21s and Reading in this competition last season, but they didn’t get out of second gear last night. It’s not an important competition in the grand scheme of things, but the former Lincoln City head coach really needed a decent outing.
Telling people it was a decent outing is not the same as it actually being a good performance. Worrying times at the County Ground, yet again.
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