Bashley were ultimately denied an unlikely point in added time when they had vehement penalty appeals rejected after a Supermarine player handled in the area. Bash had twice fought back to within striking range but in the end they came up just short against their promotion chasing opponents.

 

It took only five minutes for Swindon to take the lead after a long clearance was flicked on and JOE HARRIS was allowed time and space to beat David Elm from inside the penalty area. Desperate attempts to clear the ball off the line failed. Alan Griffin had a shot blocked, while Harris diverted a Nick Stanley cross narrowly over. Matt Finlay picked up a knock and was replaced by Justin Keeler inside the first twenty minutes, while Griffin saw his shot take a huge deflection and drop just wide.

 

At the other end Ryan Moss forced Matt Bulman into a good block at his near post after the ball dropped to him following a corner, while Richard Gillespie curled a shot just wide after the ball was not properly cleared. Stanley lashed a shot over the bar before Dave Allen was cautioned for persistent fouling. A minute after the interval a fine cross from Chris Ferrett was met by Moss at the far post but he could only head the ball wide. Elm made a good save to deny Harris, but three minutes into the second period Swindon doubled their advantage when a corner was met by the unmarked LEIGH HENRY to leave Elm with no chance.

 

Bash introduced Jeremy Tarr for Gary Middleton and changed their formation, but almost conceded a third when a shot from the edge of the area was deflected just wide. Matt Parnell was also booked for tugging back Griffin. Midway through the second half Gillespie latched on to a Moss flick and lifted the ball cleverly over Bulman only to be denied by a very harsh offside flag. Griffin was also unfortunate to be booked for kicking the ball away when he seemed to be trying to keep it in play, but inside the final twenty minutes Stanley met a Harris cross but fired his shot against the post.

 

This let off seemed to give Bash new hope and with sixteen minutes left they pulled a goal back. Gillespie found Keeler on the left and his driven cross was only cleared to DAVE ALLEN on the edge of the box, who chested the ball down before lashing it into the corner of the net despite Bulman getting a touch. Elm made a fine save to tip away a shot from Justyn McKay, but Swindon restored their two goal cushion with six minutes left. McKay beat Keeler on the right flank and played the ball into the path of ALAN GRIFFIN who finished clinically.

 

Duncan Bray replaced Pete Castle late on, and with a minute of added time played Bash gave themselves a glimmer of hope when Tarr beat his man and found Moss, who picked out RICHARD GILLESPIE to head the ball home from three yards out. Suddenly, an unlikely point seemed on, and when a Ferrett free kick caused havoc and Swindon’s Gary Horgan handled in the area, a potential lifeline looked certain. Tarr was cautioned for his protests after the referee waved away the appeals and Bash went home empty handed.