Full time Saturday September 15th (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Full time Saturday September 15th

7:57pm Saturday 15th September 2007 in Football By Dave Wallis

Match report from the Victoria Ground, Hartlepool

Coca Cola League One

Fulltime Hartlepool 1 Swindon Town 1

Swindon manager Paul Sturrock chose to start the match with the new strike pairing of Billy Paynter and Simon Cox for the first time. Miguel Comminges slotted back into the right side of defence in place of Jack Smith and Christian Roberts began the game on the bench.

Simon Cox drove just the first chance of the game wide of the left hand post in the fifth minute, and just a minute later the game's shape changed when Hasney Ajofree was stretchered off with a knee injury, to be replaced by Chris Blackburn.

The first chance for Hartlepool fell to ex-Town midfielder Andy Monkhouse whose shot was blocked by Phil Smith, and on nine minutes a low Billy Paynter shot was parried by Jan Budtz, then fellow striker Simon Cox's follow up was again denied by the goalkeeper.

At the other end of the pitch, Phil Smith made a good save from Ian Moore after a good run by Monkhouse.

In the 19th minute, Paynter produced a good shot after fine work from Jon-Paul McGovern, but his goal-bound shot was blocked by Michael Nelson for the home side.

Cox and Paynter combined well to create danger after 25 minutes, but the threat was snuffed out before a shot could be produced. Town were looking more threatening than in the last week against Yeovil Town as the new strike force familarised themselves which each others game.

Then on the half hour, Billy Paynter pulled back a ball from the left hand side to Jon Paul McGovern who chipped the goalkeeper with an exquisite lob to give Town the lead.

Five minutes later it was Hartlepool's turn to look dangerous when Elliott's corner found Nelson, and his downward header was parried away by Smith low to his left.

With four minutes of the half remaining Craig Easton released McGovern who looked to replicate his early success, but this time his attempt was blocked. Cox, Zaaboub and Easton all had chances to increase the lead before the interval, as Swindon finished the half strongly.

Halftime Hartlepool 0 Swindon Town 1

Changes at halftime by Hartlepool boss Danny Wilson reshuffled the home side, and the second half begun with Pools pressurising the better of the two teams.

A right-hand corner from Humphreys was well claimed by Smith in Town's goal 12 minutes into the second period, but Swindon were coping well with whatever Hartlepool could muster.

But half way through the second half, the dangerous looking Joel Porter held off a Jamie Vincent challenge, turned well and beat Smith to level the scoring.

Seventy seven minutes into the game Zaaboub played through substitute Roberts, and he placed his shot wide across goal as the keeper came out to narrow the angle.

With just six minutes to go, Jerel Ifil fouled Brown for a free kick on the right of Town's penalty box. The set piece was blocked, allowing Roberts to run the length of the pitch to feed Zaaboub, but from seven yards out he shot across goal when a second Town goal looked odds on.

Budtz palmed the ball over the bar from a Blackburn header following a Roberts' corner as the game entered its last minutes. Town were pressing hard for the goal that would win the match right to the death.

With the game in added time Ifil again challenged Brown in the penalty box, and Town fans held their breath until referee Drysdale indicated that he was unimpressed.

Town had sometimes dropped a little deep in the second half, but Sturrock was pleased with the endeavour shown by his side for this hard won point, that left Town 12th in the table after six games.

Fulltime Hartlepool 1 Swindon Town 1

Hartlepool: Jan Budtz, Jamie McCunnie, Michael Nelson, Godwin Antwi, Robbie Elliott (Ali Gibb), Gary Liddle, Ritchie Humphreys, Richard Barker, Andy Monkhouse, James Brown, Ian Moore (Joel Porter).

Swindon Town: Phil Smith, Miguel Comminges, Jerel Ifil, Hasney Aljofree (Blackburn), Jamie Vincent, Jon-Paul McGovern (Michael Pook), Lee Peacock, Craig Easton, Sofiene Zaaboub, Billy Paynter, Simon Cox (Roberts).

Attendance: 4,943

Referee: Darren Drysdale