9:30pm Tuesday 13th January 2009
By Anthony Marshall
DANNY Wilson picked up his first point as Swindon manager in a 1-1 draw with Stockport, but any joy will have been tempered by another serious-looking injury to Barry Corr.
Jack Smith gave Town the lead midway through the second half when he tucked home a rebound from his own saved penalty, following a foul on Simon Cox.
But just minutes later Corr went down following an innocuous-looking challenge, but was carried off on a stretcher with what appeared to be a shoulder problem.
And Town's evening turned from bad to worse when the superb Anthony Pilkington drilled a low shot past Peter Brezovan to seal a point for the play-off chasing Hatters.
Only an amazing double stop from Stockport keeper Owain Fon Williams gave his side a share of the spoils, and Wilson will be happy with a draw.
After a nervous opening spell from both sides, the first chance of the game fell Town's way on 13 minutes.
Jon-Paul McGovern's low drilled corner wasn't dealt with by the Stockport defence and Jack Smith met the ball on the edge of the area, but his shot was blocked.
A couple of minutes later they went close again when Anthony McNamee's deep cross was headed back across goal by Simon Cox. However, with Craig Easton lurking, Jim McNulty managed to put the ball over his own crossbar for a corner.
Stockport called Peter Brezovan into action in the 17th minute.
Anthony Pilkington, by far the brightest player on the park in the opening exchanges, cut inside Michael Timlin and fired a rising drive which Brezovan had to smartly turn over the bar.
The visitors somehow contrived to miss a glorious chance on 22 minutes as a high hanging free-kick was headed back across goal by Carl Baker, with Brezovan in no-man's land.
But, amazingly, David Mooney could only bundle the ball against the near post and out of play from a yard out, under pressure from a couple of Swindon defenders.
As the game flowed from end to end, Town were next to attack and Cox forced a fine diving save from Owain Fon Williams, having latched on to Jon-Paul McGovern's inch-perfect through ball.
With eight minutes of the half remaining, Barry Corr fired wildly over from inside the box after a neat turn, before Brezovan made another save at the other end, turning Mooney's close range effort around the post.
And with the final kick off the half, Cox glanced McGovern's free-kick agonisingly wide.
Within minutes of the restart, Dominic Blizzard dragged a shot wide of Brezovan's goal after Pilkington had pulled it back from the by-line, while Patrick Kanyuka sent an acrobatic overhead kick wide from a Town attack.
After 58 minutes Kanyuka again went close when he headed down McGovern's corner at the far post, but Fon Williams was equal to the effort and turned it round the post.
From the resulting corner referee Steven Cook awarded a penalty on the advice of his linesman following a tussle between Cox and Fon Williams.
Jack Smith's weak spot-kick was parried by Fon Williams down low to his right but it fell kindly back to the full-back who made no mistake with the rebound to notch his fourth goal of the season.
Cox's barren run in front of goal continued when, set free by Corr inside the penalty area in the 67th minute, the striker's shot across goal was pushed away to safety by Fon Williams.
Swindon's joy was soon turned to worry however on 70 minutes when Corr went down in a challenge and had to be stretchered off, seemingly having done some damage to his arm or shoulder again.
And Stockport drew level just three minutes later - McNeil's ball through releasing Pilkington and the wide man made no mistake with a low drive into the far corner.
Swindon almost snatched it in the 85th minute when Kanyuka connected with McGovern's free-kick, but saw his downward header cleared off the line.
And only an outstanding double save prevented Town from taking all three points.
As Cox wriggled clear from two markers on the by-line he pulled the ball back for substitute Blair Sturrock.
The striker's close range effort was superbly stopped by Fon Williams, before the keeper sprung to his feet to somehow keep out McGovern's follow up.
TOWN (4-4-2): Peter Brezovan; Jack Smith, Jerel Ifil, Patrick Kanyuka, Michael Timlin (Kevin Amankwaah 78); Jon-Paul McGovern, Craig Easton, Lee Peacock, Anthony McNamee (Michael Pook 86); Simon Cox, Barry Corr (Blair Sturrock 70).
Subs not used: Phil Smith, Lilian Nalis.
STOCKPORT (4-3-3): Owain Fon Williams; Jonny Mullins, Jim McNulty, James Tunnicliffe, Tommy Rowe; Michael Raynes (Paul Turnball 89), Dominic Blizzard, Matty Mainwaring; Anthony Pilkington, David Mooney (Matty McNeil 70), Carl Baker (Oli Johnson 73).
Subs not used: Gary Dicker, Robbie Threlfall.
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