Swindon stay in the chase
SWINDON Town manager Ben Garner was delighted after seeing his side maintain their unbeaten run on the road.
The Robins flew into the automatic promotion places in League Two on Tuesday after ending Sutton’s five-game winning streak, which included four wins on the spin at home.
Stunning strikes from Louis Reed and Jonathon Williams put the visitors two goals to the good at Gander Green Lane. Harry Beautyman halved the deficit from the penalty spot, but Garner’s changes held firm for a third straight victory on the road.
“We’ve got a lot of young players in that dressing room and that was a big test for them tonight and they’ve come through it with flying colours,” said Garner. “This is a very, very tough place to come. They’ve been in wonderful form. Teams who have got to come here will be in for a tough game.”
Garner was understandably impressed after downing one of the in-form sides in the division.
Matt Gray’s side may be playing in the Football League for the first time in their 123-year history. But they have punched way above their way since getting promoted.
And Garner, who took the helm at the County Ground this season, added: “The important thing is foundations and doing things the right way. We’ve done that and progressed really quickly and that’s credit to everyone at the football club. We’re really pleased to remain unbeaten away.
“The away form’s been excellent, I think our form in general has been good.”
■ Forest Green retained their four-point lead at the top of League Two as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Leyton Orient on Tuesday.
A compelling contest at Brisbane Road finished with the spoils shared after Matty Stevens had opened the scoring for the visitors before Orient substitute Ruel Sotiriou levelled to record a third-straight draw for the hosts.
Both goals came in the second half after two well-organised defences ensured a first-half deadlock in a lively contest.
The visitors came closest to finding the net when a Stevens effort for the table-toppers in the 16th minute was cleared off the line by O’s midfielder Hector Kyprianou.
Orient midfielder Paul Smyth found the side netting with a volley following a kick by home goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux but it was after the interval when the game really sprung to life.
Stevens notched his seventh league goal of the campaign when, unmarked, he ran onto a Ben Stevenson corner after 68 minutes to power a header into the back of the net.
But the home side responded positively eight minutes later with a counter-attack.
Dan Kemp raced clear and fed a delightful pass through to Sotiriou, who drilled his well-placed shot low into the far corner of the net to earn a deserved point.