WHEN I met up with fellow Swindon Advertiser journalists Gary Rose and Andy Warren at the start of Sunday, it’s fair to say we expected a JPT final outcome somewhat different to what actually transpired.

All of us, without exception, predicted a Town win. Chesterfield, though a division above, were bottom of League One and far from firing on all cylinders.

Swindon, by contrast, were flying in League Two. It seemed a no-brainer.

We discussed this at length while heading over to London in the car with ex-Adver man Sam Morshead and Gazette & Herald reporter Dan Barnes.

Having arrived at Wembley and been ushered into what would generously be described as a car park, we walked the half-mile to the media entrance.

We had our laptop bags searched - for security reasons - and were then allowed into the belly of the national stadium.

Familiar faces such as Steve Claridge and Mark Bright were dotted around the indoor press area - the latter of whom took pains to introduce himself to Gary - and sausage and mash was duly served.

The outside press area was huge, lavish and covered in bright sunshine. It had everything we could have wanted. What it could not provide unfortunately, was a Swindon victory.

It’s fair to say there was a sense of disbelief among us at half time that Town had not scored, and disappointment at the final whistle when Chesterfield wrapped up a 2-0 victory.

This disappointment was probably partly for the reason that covering teams that have lost in major finals can be tricky. Players and managers have no obligation to speak to the press and we have no hard-and-fast handle on them.

This time, though, the Swindon players made it easy. While Gary interviewed boss Paolo Di Canio in the press conference, myself and Andy frantically grabbed players in the Mixed Zone, a standing area between the changing rooms and the exit.

We were not rejected by a single one, even the unfortunate Oliver Risser, who could quite easily have buried himself in a hole and fronted up at a later date, or not at all.

Every player spoke honestly and eloquently about what had transpired, in spite of their downheartedness. None of them made it hard work.

This over, we set about the substantial task of writing the recorded material up. We were booted out of the press room upstairs after just over an hour, so the motorists of London were treated to the bizarre sight of a carful of reporters typing on laptops in the midst of city traffic.

Once back at the office at well past 8pm, we proof-read the supplememt as thoroughly as time allowed before taking a breather for the first time in a number of hours. And while it had been an enjoyable day out for us, I think we all felt slightly disappointed not to have been reporting on a Swindon victory.