Match Report

Only a controversial last-minute penalty decided a drab encounter between Swindon Town and Hartlepool United at the County Ground.

The referee gave the spot-kick apparently for dangerous kicking and, although Petr Brezovan got his hands to Ben Clark's spot kick it squirmed into the corner of the net.

There was little in the way of constructive football throughout the game and in the early stages Simon Cox worked a good opening for Kevin Amankwaah but he failed to connect properly.

But it was Amankwaah who created the best chance with a teasing cross which ripped through the visitors' penalty area with no one able to grab the vital final touch.

Cox should have opened the scoring in the 44th minute when Michael Timlin's cross to the far post found him with a clear chance but his header was off target.

Although Swindon started the second half brightly and a Timlin free-kick was fumbled by Arran Lee-Barrett, the goalkeeper made a good recovery.

At the other end Richie Humphreys' free-kick from a good position was fired into the defensive wall.

Daniel Nardiello put in one storming run from the halfway line which might have given the visitors a lead but he fired over from 20 yards.

This was a game that many will wish to forget with just the one real shot on target from the penalty spot.

Hartlepool's injury list continues to lengthen though. Nardiello picked up a groin strain which could keep him out of action for up to six weeks at a particularly busy time of the season.

Corners

Fouls

Goal attempts

Shots off target

Offsides