Heroic Clarke holds no fear

FACE OF DETERMINATION . . . Athletic striker Aaron Amadi-Holloway tries to get away from his man

IF ATHLETIC are to again complete a successful climb out of the relegation swamp, it is feasible that there may not be a more important moment in that effort than when Peter Clarke put his safety on the line during this backs-to-the-wall achievement of endurance at the County Ground.

In the third minute of added time, in a contest in which an at-times elegant then desperate Swindon outfit fired in no fewer than 26 shots at goal, the inspirational and fearless captain dived full-length, head-first, in a desperate last-ditch attempt to get something in the way of a dangerous effort from substitute Luke Norris.

Thou shalt not pass. The ball hit Clarke in the chest and the danger passed. The man is a bona fide hero.

Behind him, on an afternoon at the County Ground when recent exertions caught up with the squad, Connor Ripley was sharper than many of his team-mates in repelling every exocet sent arrowing towards his goal.

Swindon, with holding midfielder Rohan Ince in imperious form before Ousmane Fane belatedly got a grip on his talents, looked anything like a side playing with the accumulated fear of five straight defeats behind them.

Athletic were battered in the first half. Seventeen shots rained in as the hosts won the midfield battle, slicing through time and again. With Ripley in goal, though, there is a feeling of serenity when watching even such dominance - as there had been in midweek in the winning cause against Charlton.

John Sheridan's side might even have snuck into a half-time lead. Rob Hunt arrived at the far post to meet a Ryan McLaughlin cross which home goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux could only tip into his path. The volley, played with his right foot in among penalty-area bodies after 45 minutes, was skewed wide.

It was Athletic's big chance. Despite far more control in the second half, the attacking play was not up to muster and this was another example of organisation over and above inspiration gaining a result of substance.

CHANGES

Sheridan made three changes from the midweek win over Charlton. Out banned was Anthony Gerrard and it entailed a change to three at the back, with Josh Law installed as the right-sided centre-back with Clarke and Brian Wilson also forming the rearguard.

Fane was restored to midfield in Paul Green's place and after recovering from injury, Aaron Amadi-Holloway took Lee Erwin's spot with Chris Taylor also operating in a central role, as McLaughlin and Hunt took on jobs as wing-backs.

With on-loan Brighton man Ince back in the hosts' midfield after a recent court case and running the show from deep, Swindon thoroughly dominated the middle third of the pitch and left Ripley as the busiest man on show.

Amadi-Holloway was bright and persistent without too much support and had an early effort well blocked by home skipper Nathan Thompson, before an eventful opening saw Ripley block well at his near post from lively on-loan Charlton striker Nicky Ajose.

Athletic switched to a 4-5-1 formation to try to get a grip on midfield, but Aiden O'Neill could not get in the game and Taylor and to some extent McLaughlin were peripheral figures.

Jon Obika, who came deep to pick up the ball and run at the visitors' defence to some effect, placed a header from an inviting Ben Gladwin cross wastefully wide after 14 minutes and Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill caused a flutter with a low effort that squirmed out of Ripley's grasp only to be cleared by the hassled defenders in front of him.

Clarke went down in the area rather easily after taking a nudge, while Swindon continued the shoot-on-sight policy. Right at the end of the half, Athletic almost took a smash-and-grab advantage through Hunt.

Still, half-time came at an opportune moment with Sheridan able to drill his instructions for getting a grip on the contest.

Athletic duly upped their game and Amadi-Holloway almost created a chance in the 48th minute only to over-run the ball at the vital moment after beating Lloyd Jones to the punch.

Amadi-Holloway also tricked and teased his way to a smart cross that Vigouroux did well to snaffle in the 56th minute as Sheridan's side continued to play on the front foot.

Banks got away with a second power-puff challenge facing his own goal when Gladwin got his shot from 20 yards all wrong and O'Neill did well to race back and block from Obika on the hour as Swindon came back into the contest.

After 66 minutes, Ajose had his best opportunity when a raking ball found Bradley Barry racing down the right. His cross was met on the volley while stretching and Ajose couldn't keep it down.

Gladwin then pulled one wide from 20 yards after exchanging passes neatly with Obika, but Swindon were starting to get edgy and the number of free-kicks conceded was increasing.

WAVE

Still, Athletic had to be stout in defending another wave as full-time approached.

Norris had a far-post header blocked by the diligent Wilson, Gladwin controlled well in the box from a left-wing cut-back before firing over the top from on the penalty spot and Clarke had to be at his selfless best late on.

IN A NUTSHELL: Athletic rode their luck, but there was no shortage of sweat expended.