Cheltenham 2 Swindon 0

Last updated : 18 September 2002 By Footymad Previewer

Cheltenham Town carved out their first win of the Nationwide Division Two season in this hurry scurry local derby against Swindon Town at Whaddon Road.

In so doing the Robins doubled their points tally for the season to six but the result increases the pressure on Swindon boss Andy King, whose team have now suffered a club record six straight League defeats.

King was assisted for the first time by new coach Steve Coppell, and the pair look to have their work cut out to lift a Swindon side low on confidence.

Their cause was not helped by the sending off of striker Sam Parkin two minutes after the break for an ugly two-footed lunge at goalkeeper Steve Book, but in truth the home side had been on top for much of the first half when both sides had the full compliment of players.

Cheltenham created a handful of chances before the lead arrived on the half-hour mark. Swindon conceded a free-kick on the corner of the penalty area, which Hugh McAuley whipped across the area. The ball appeared to take a deflection off Swindon player Matt Hewlett on its way past goalkeeper Bart Griemink.

Defender Michael Duff almost added to the lead from another McAuley set piece shortly afterwards but Swindon had their best spell of the game shortly after the dismissal of Parkin.

Eric Sabin and David Duke both went close for the Wiltshire side but their revival was ended 20 minutes into the second half by a second Cheltenham goal.

Big striker Julian Alsop headed a crossfield ball into the path of Tony Naylor, who switched the play wide to the left. Russell Milton collected the ball and raced into the area before blasting a deflected shot past Griemink.

"I thought we played some good stuff in the first half but second half it was all about scrapping for a result and we needed that," said Cheltenham manager Graham Allner.

"We've been close to it a few times but it's still a relief to get the first win on the board."

Swindon boss Andy King said: "I thought we played much better with ten men in the last 20 minutes. We didn't play at all well in the first half and gave away a silly goal which set us right back."