SWINDON suffered Wembley heartbreak for the second time in three years after losing 2-0 to Chesterfield in the final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy this afternoon.
Oliver Risser’s own goal early in the second half and sub Craig Westcarr’s late effort ultimately proved the difference between the sides, and Town will now focus on completing the task of gaining promotion from League Two.
Here are the key moments from today’s final:
Two mins: Lee Holmes switches flanks and his cross-cum-shot from the right flies a couple of yards over the bar.
Four mins: Decent build-up from Chesterfield and Drew Talbot’s cross is met by Jack Lester at the near post, but goalkeeper Wes Foderingham gathers comfortably.
Seven mins: A Town counter-attack ends with Alan Connell stabbing wastefully over the bar.
Eight mins: Chesterfield think they have scored, but they haven’t. The linesman’s flag rules out a Jack Lester effort from close range after the ball was lofted into the area. The Spireites also hit the bar in the build-up, but it wouldn’t have counted.
14 mins: A Holmes corner is headed well off-target by Joe Devera. An open contest so far.
19 mins: Holmes receives the ball on the left side of the area, cuts inside on his right foot, and sends a curling effort a yard over a bar.
26 mins: Alex Mendy comes inside off the left flank but his shot was never close to troubling Foderingham.
29 mins: A really good chance for Swindon. The ball arrives at Holmes’ feet yet again and his right-footed effort is headed against stopper Tommy Lee by a defender before dribbling to safety.
32 mins: Players from both sides take on water in the heat.
36 mins: Chesterfield captain Lester is forced off through injury and on comes Craig Westcarr.
40 mins: Yet another diagonal ball is played to Holmes on the left. His cross is headed back across goal by Paul Benson but strike partner Connell miscues his scissors kick and the ball goes wide. Another really good chance for the Robins.
45+1 mins: Ritchie's first real moment of the first period. Neat build-up from Town but the former Portsmouth man's low shot is well-held by Lee.
46 mins: Foderingham blocks smartly from Jordan Bowery. The Spireites have started the second period well.
46 mins (GOAL! Swindon 0 Chesterfield 1, Risser og): It’s a nightmare moment for Oliver Risser. Mendy drills over across the six-yard box and in attempting to clear, the Namibian pokes the ball into his own net. Bags of character needed now from Paolo Di Canio’s men.
60 mins: It’s all gone quiet down the Town end of the stadium. On the pitch, matters are a bit flat for the Robins.
60 mins: Westcarr drills past the post for Chesterfield. A half-chance.
62 mins: Di Canio throws caution the wind. Off comes the luckless Risser who is replaced by striker Ronan Murray. Swindon desperately need to regain the impetus.
64 mins: Town’s best bit of play in the second period ends with Ritchie smashing well over the bar from 30 yards. Swindon are trying to force the issue.
65 mins: Foderingham drops a cross and it’s a hearts in mouths moment, but Mendy hooks the loose ball onto the roof of the net.
73 mins: Seconds after John Bostock replaces Jonathan Smith, Alan McCormack slips and Westcarr races through one-on-one. It’s a glorious opportunity, but bearing down on Foderingham, the first-half sub puts his shot the wrong side of the left upright.
75 mins: Devera gets treatment for a bloody nose after taking a hand in the face from Westcarr off-the-ball.
76 mins: Holmes has barely had the ball in the second half but he had a good opportunity there. The wide man is teed up by Simon Ferry, only to shoot weakly at Lee.
78 mins: Last throw of the dice from Di Canio as Alessandro Cibocchi replaces debutant McEveley.
89 mins: Holmes’ free kick is met by sub Cibocchi and his header has to be turned over the bar by Lee.
90+1 mins: Ritchie goes down under a crunching challenge from Nathan Smith on the right edge of the area. The wide man comes back on but does not look in the best of health.
90+4 mins (GOAL! Swindon 0 Chesterfield 2, Westcarr): As Town push for an equaliser, Westcarr races clean through on goal and shoots home at Foderingham’s near post
TOWN (4-4-2): Wes Foderingham; Joe Devera, Alan McCormack (c), Oliver Risser (Ronan Murray, 62), Jay McEveley (Alessandro Cibocchi, 78); Matt Ritchie, Simon Ferry, Jonathan Smith (John Bostock, 72), Lee Holmes; Paul Benson, Alan Connell.
Substitutes not used: Phil Smith, Raffa De Vita.
CHESTERFIELD (4-4-2): Tommy Lee; James Hurst, Simon Ford, Josh Thompson, Nathan Smith; Alex Mendy, Mark Allott, Franck Moussa (Mark Randall, 81), Drew Talbot; Jordan Bowery (Scott Boden, 87), Jack Lester (c) (Craig Westcarr, 36).
Substitutes not used: Greg Fleming, Danny Whitaker.
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