Matchday Memories: On This Day 2017 – See Sky Blues Success At Swindon (Ta Doyler & The Duck)!
CCFC Manager Mark Robins
On this evening (26th September) in 2017 the Sky Blues under current ‘gaffer’ Mark Robins were visiting the County Ground home of Swindon Town in a League Two fixture. There was a modest gate of 6,340 to watch proceedings including 702 members of the Sky Blue Army! Both sides played a similar 4-2-3-1 system.
Worryingly, the home side started the game poorly but in the twentieth minute took the lead through a spectacular goal by forward Luke Norris who neatly controlled Kellan Gordon‘s cross before spinning and then smashing it into the top corner to net his sixth goal of the season. The Robins might have doubled their lead two minutes later when Gordon was involved again – this time finding Keshi Anderson who failed to slot home from close range.
Michael Doyle in the Sky Blue
More encouragingly, the Sky Blues found an equaliser within another quarter of an hour thanks to inspirationa midfielder (and CCFPA member) Michael Doyle who capitalised on poor Swindon defending to tap-in a cross from Jodi Jones from the right two minutes after the half hour mark. The two teams went in at 1-1 at the break with everything to play for.
Duckens in the Sky Blue
Perhaps the turning point was when the home side found themselves reduced to ten men in the 72nd minute when James Dunne was given his marching orders for a foul on ‘Doyler’. The Sky Blues took full advantage of the extra man just five minutes later when Duckens Nazon drilled an effort into the back of the net to give Robins men all three points against the Robins!
Thanks to former CCFPA committee man Dean Nelson you can watch some match highlights by clicking on the link or image below:-
The two teams lined up as follows (subs in brackets):-
Sky Blues (CCFPA members underlined)
Lee Burge, Jack Grimmer, Jordan Willis, Rod McDonald, Chris Stokes (Tom Davies -89); Michael Doyle (c), Liam Kelly, Devon Kelly-Evans, Duckens Nazon, Jodi Jones (Jordan Shipley -81) and Max Biamou (Marc McNulty -90).
Unused subs. Dion Kelly-Evans, Callum Maycock, Jordan Ponticelli and Liam O’Brien (gk)
Swindon Town
Reice in the Sky Blue
Lawrence Vigouroux; Ben Purkiss, Chris Robertson, Ollie Lancashire (c), Matthew Taylor; James Dunne (s.o.-72), Timi Elsnik (Amine Linganzi -65); Paul Mullin (Donal McDermott -58), Keshi Anderson, Kellan Gordon (Harry Smith -81) and Luke Norris. Unused subs. Kyle Knoyle, Kaylyne Woolery, Matt Preston and Reice Charles-Cook (gk). Referee: Charles Brakespeare
Now a CCFPA member, young Sky Blue ‘keeper Reice C-C had signed a two year contract with the Robins after leaving CCFC in August.
As is well known to Sky Blues fans the Sky Blues squeezed into the League Two play-off positions in sixth spot and, in two heady legs, won through to the League Two final by beating Notts County 4-1 at Meadow Lane (after a 1-1 Ricoh draw) in a stunning victory.
This was followed by them carrying off the Play-Off Cup at Wembley 3-1 against today’s opponents, Exeter City on an emotional day in front of nearly 38,000 Sky Blue fans (out of a crowd of 50,196). A successful ‘March to the Arch’ for the second successive season for Mark’s men ensured our stay in the bottom tier was as brief as possible just as nearly fifty years previously!
The unlucky Grecians finished fourth whilst Champions Accrington Stanley, Luton Town and Wycombe Wanderers got the automatic promotion spots and went up with CCFC whilst Barnet and Chesterfield were relegated to the National League.
