CITY 1 SWINDON TOWN 1
League Division 2
19th March 1988
attendance 17,022
Scorers
City Stewart(52)
Swindon Bamber(74)
Ref J Rushton
City Stowell, I Brightwell, Hinchcliffe, Lake, Morley, Redmond, White, Stewart, Varadi, McNab, Simpson – subs Moulden(unused), Seagraves(unused)
Swindon Digby, Hockaday, King, Henry, Parkin, White, Bamber, Foley, O’Regan, Quinn, Bodin – subs Barnes(67), McLoughlin
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS FOOTBALL PINK FINAL 19TH MARCH 1988
Paul Stewart finally crashed through the 20 League goals barrier at Maine Road this afternoon.
He gave Manchester City a 52nd minute lead against a gritty Swindon Town side to become the first City player since Brian Kidd 10 years ago hit that mark.
With Cup ties it took Stewart’s tally for the season to 24 with his transfer value zooming past the £1M mark, although City have no intention of selling their prize asset.
Earlier, Steve Redmond had become City’s Captain Courageous with an early goal-line clearance, although the Blues created the better chances with Swindon goalkeeper Fraser Digby constantly denying them until Stewart made the breakthrough.
… Swindon’s one-time Manchester United goalkeeper Digby twice denied the Blues in a fast and furious opening spell.
In the first minute he dived full length to smother a rasping 18 yarder from Morley after McNab had pulled the ball in from the right.
Then, in the eighth minute Digby made a superb save to turn over a White header from close range after Stewart had crossed accurately.
Two minutes earlier, City’s goalkeeper Stowell had been left grasping in the mud as Steve White went round him. But as he shot at the open goal the Swindon man could not believe his eyes as new City skipper Redmond made a courageous goal-line clearance at the expense of a corner.
… In the 35th minute Bamber headed over following a corner and the same player saw his shot from the edge of the area cannon clear off the legs of the falling Stowell.
Half-time: Manchester City 0, Swindon Town 0.
… City were still setting the pace, although neither side could satisfactorily settle in the exhausting and testing conditions.
Lake traded passes with Brightwell and Stewart took over on the right, only for King to head his cross behind.
From Simpson’s cross on the right, City finally broke the deadlock. Stewart climbed majestically to power in a header that slipped from Digby’s grasp and though Hockaday made a desperate attempt on the line, the ball had already crossed over and the referee instantly gave the goal.
… Swindon made a 67th minute substitution, Barnes replacing Bodmin.
And seven minutes later Town forced their way back with Bamber climaxing a highly-effective stint by solidly heading the equaliser from a cross by King…