Monday, 24 December 2012

Swindon Town 5 Tranmere Rovers 0


Andy Williams grabbed a brace as Paolo Di Canio's rampant Robins terrorised table toppers Tranmere.

But it was Charlton loanee Danny Hollands who sparked a goal rush that moved Swindon into the play-off places.

Midfielder Hollands was snapped up on a two month deal in early November by manager Di Canio and he netted his first goal for the club in the fourth minute.

Hollands low shot from the edge of the box took a wicked deflection off hapless midfielder Liam Palmer to leave keeper Owain Fon Williams wrong-footed.

Fon Williams was then the victim of another deflected goal three minutes later as Raffaele De Vita chalked up his seventh goal of the season.

Winger De Vita cut in from the left and his low shot hit full back Danny Holmes to leave Fon Williams helpless again.

In the 21st minute Williams scored his first from twelve yards.

Defender Nathan Thompson cut the ball back from the right and Williams stroked in his fifth league goal since joining Di Canio's County Ground revolution from Yeovil in the summer.

In the 33rd minute winger Matt Ritchie added number four.

Fon Williams did brilliantly to beat away a twelve yard drive from striker Williams, but Swindon's leading scorer Ritchie blasted in the rebound from just inside the box for his ninth of the campaign.

And Williams scored his second six minutes after the break and seal Rovers' second defeat in eleven games.

Ritchie stole the ball in midfield and raced forward before feeding Williams who drilled in a low shot from fourteen yards.

Williams blew the chance of a hat trick when he had a 62nd minute penalty saved brilliantly by Fon Williams after striker Chris Martin was tripped in the box by substitute Donovan Daniels.

Incredibly, Fon Williams was Tranmere's best player and pulled off a string of great saves to prevent Swindon hitting double figures as his team mates were left red-faced.

Di Canio was delighted with the win, but said:

"It was a fantastic game, but we have done nothing and have to keep going. We are only half way thought the season.

I was sure we would win this game, but not in this manner."

Stunned Tranmere manager Ronnie Moore groaned:

"I didn't see that coming. I know it's nearly Christmas, but we were like Santa Claus giving away presents at the back. We were all over the place."
My piece from the morning paper

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