Portsmouth moved further away from the relegation zone thanks to a dramatic
late winner from substitute John Durnin.
Durnin was on hand in the final minute to turn home a Robbie Pethick cross to
give Alan Ball's side three crucial points which gives them breathing space at
the foot of the First Division.
Durnin's goal was just reward for a battling second-half display from Pompey
who had looked the side who were more likely to score throughout a scrappy
game.
Swindon had the first chance to open the scoring after seven minutes when Mark
Walters curled a free-kick high and wide.
But Pompey went close twice in a minute soon after when Steve Claridge screwed
a shot across the face of the goal and Michalis Vlachos fired in a 25 yard shot
which Swindon keeper Frank Talia did well to hold.
Steve McMahon's side had a good chance to take the lead on 17 minutes when
Craig Taylor was left unmarked six yards out but he could only head a Walters
corner straight at Pompey keeper Aaron Flahavan.
Flahavan then produced a superb diving save to his right to save the blushes
of his captain Adrian Whitbread who had miscued a header towards his own goal.
Then on the stroke of half-time Swindon striker Steve Cowe wasted a glorious
chance to the lead when he fired wide from just six yards with only the keeper
to beat.
Walters troubled the Pompey defence early in the second half when he curled an
effort towards goal but Flahavan again dealt comfortably with the shot.
Then Pompey wasted a good move when Claridge sliced his cross out of play with
John Aloisi unmarked at the far post.
Swindon then had a penalty appeal turned down when Pompey defender Matthew
Robinson brought down Mark Robinson in the box much to the anger of the home
crowd.
Swindon keeper Talia then produced a stunning one-handed save to tip over a
30-yard strike from Pethick, and from the corner Whitbread headed wide.
Portsmouth then surged forward in search of the winning goal and a neat one
two between Claridge and Vlachos saw the Greek international fail to trouble
Talia with a tame lob from 25 yards.
Swindon almost snatched the lead with five minutes to go when Steve Finney
struck a shot which was brilliantly turned away by Flahavan, and Pompey made the
home side pay with their late, late strike.
Teams
Swindon: Talia, Robinson, Borrows, Leitch, Taylor, Collins,
Walters, Cuervo, Finney, Cowe, Gooden.
Subs Not Used: Hay, McDonald, Howe.
Booked: Gooden.
Portsmouth: Flahavan, Pethick, Robinson, McLoughlin, Whitbread,
Awford, Vlachos, Claridge, Aloisi (Durnin 75), Hillier, Thomson.
Subs Not Used: Allen, Simpson.
Booked: Robinson, Vlachos.
Goals: Durnin 89.
Att: 9,100
Ref: K A Leach (Wolverhampton).
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