THE old Millmoor ground at Rotherham was a venue that Swindon enjoyed relatively good fortune, losing only four times in 13 visits.

And on this day in 1987, Town recorded a fourth victory there, setting them on the way to a run of seven successive league wins that would ultimately see them claim a play-off place.

But the points were not made safe until five minutes from the end. Phil King, making his first start since his arrival from Torquay, gathered pace down the left flank and ran on to Jimmy Quinn’s lay off before delivering a cross to the far post.

Big Dave Bamber beat Steve White to the touch, heading low into the corner past Kelham O’Hanlon for his sixth League goal of the season, but 16th in total.

Town’s task on a difficult surface - and a slight slope - would certainly have been an uphill one had Fraser Digby not been alert early on.

With barely five minutes on the clock he sprang into action, making a one-handed stop from a rising drive from Mick Gooding that looked destined for the top corner.

Thankfully for Swindon, this proved to be an isolated direct attempt on goal by the home side.

The hour was approaching when Quinn opened the scoring with a header from 10 yards. The Northern Irish international, who had earlier seen a header go close but land on the roof of the net, notched his third goal since returning from Blackburn.

Chris Kamara provided the ‘assist’, seizing on a loose clearance from Winston Campbell that followed a long throw on the right from Leigh Barnard.

The visitors had a chance to ease into a two-goal lead on 77 minutes, when Peter Coyne latched on to a Bamber pass and was through on goal until being brought to ground by Colin Douglas.

Coyne dusted himself down before taking the resultant penalty kick but, after a long run up, saw his effort cannon off the outside of the keeper’s right-hand post.

And so it was left for Bamber to settle matters, finding the target for the fourth game in succession.

But the hosts had the last word when the pacey Gareth Evans muscled past Colin Calderwood, who was adjudged to have impeded the home striker close to the line. And Gooding showed how it should be done from 12 yards.