A warm, sunny afternoon and a well grassed pitch provided a perfect platform for playing football when the Rovers visited their fellow railway town at Swindon. The Rovers made one change from their win over Leyton Orient last Saturday, with Jason Price starting the game in place of Sean McDaid, who drops to the bench in place of Craig Nelthorpe. The home team, just two places and a point better off than their opponents remained unchanged from the loss at Port Vale last Saturday. The Rovers took the field in their blue & white hoops against the all red strip of Swindon Town. The Rovers defended the Stratton Road end, the 'away' end, which was empty this afternoon, the Rovers supporters being housed at that end of the Main Stand.

The Rovers got off to a flyer, with Brezovan, in the Swindon goal, having to beat out a shot following a free kick from their left. However, the match soon settled down to a midfield game as both teams strived to get some football into the game. The first corner of the match came on 15 minutes, to the home team but it was easily cleared. Three minutes later and the Rovers followed suit, with the referee blowing for a foul to the home team as soon as the ball was kicked. After 21 minutes, a long clearance from the Swindon keeper found Paynter, who gave to Easton, on his own on the right, about 15 yards out but he fired wide. Five minutes later and a good run by Guy down the Rovers left was only halted by a well timed tackle to give the Rovers a corner. On the half-hour mark a free kick to Swindon on their left just outside the Rovers penalty area was placed straight into Sullivan's midriff by McGovern. The Rovers keeper immediately set up an attack down the Rovers left that led to Wellens passing inside to STOCK, in front of goal on the edge of the Swindon penalty area, whose low shot beat the diving Brezovan to put the Rovers in the lead after 31 minutes. Swindon immediately tried to hit back and a cross from the left by Nicholas was put high over the bar by Cox from about 25 yards. Continuing to attack there was a shout by Swindon for a penalty for a tackle by O'Connor on Easton but the referee awarded the corner. Even play followed as the clock ran down to the break, with the Rovers going in holding their one goal lead.

Within two minutes of the restart the Robins were on level terms when a low cross from their left by Zaaboub was fumbled by Sullivan and in the frenzied scramble that followed the ball was eventually forced over the line by COX. A fiercely contested match now developed as the play swung from end to end although the keepers were hardly troubled. Then, on 71 minutes, Stock, for the Rovers, tried a shot from 35 yards that was easily handled by the keeper but a minute later the Rovers came again with a good build-up, the ball was cleared against Price and rebounded to the unmarked GUY on the left, who duly planted the ball into the net to once again give the Rovers the lead. They followed this up minutes later, with Hayter's finish going just wide. The Rovers now had the edge but as the final minutes came up the home team tried desperately to get something from the game but the Rovers were not inclined to oblige them. The final whistle went on a good, hard fought win.

Teams - Swindon Town - Peter Brezovan; Miguel Comminges, Jerel Ifill, Hasney Aljofree, Andy Nicholas, Jon-Paul McGovern, Craig Easton, Lee Peacock, Sofiene Zaaboub, Billy Paynter, Simon Cox

Subs used - Christian Roberts for Zaaboub 75 mins; Barry Corr for Paynter 80 mins; Blair Sturrock for Nicholas 89 mins;

Subs not used - Chris Blackburn, Steve Adams,

ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; James O'Connor, Matt Mills, Adam Lockwood, Gareth Roberts; Jason Price, Richie Wellens, Brian Stock, Mark Wilson; Lewis Guy, James Hayter.

Subs used - Martin Woods for Guy 78 mins; Steve Roberts for Price 85 mins; Paul Green for Wellens 87 mins;

Subs not used - Sean McDaid, James Coppinger

Cautions - Mills,