The A420 "El Classico"

Fixture: Swindon Town 1 Oxford United 2
Date 21/8/11

The date is 24th February 1973 and a 13 year old boy has just been told by his Father that he is going to be taken to his first away game. A short journey sees them arrive at the County Ground, home of Swindon Town and local rivals to Oxford United. In a relatively easy fashion United went on to win 3-1 with goals from Roberts, Cassidy and Curran. A satisfying result for an afternoons entertainment and the 13 year old boy went home content in the knowledge that this is how it would always be. If only...

Wind forward to 2011 and that boy, me, has had to endure 38 years of frustration and, at times, humiliation waiting for that event to come round again. Halley's comet is more regular. Nine years after our last meeting (an FA Cup home win) derby day finally arrived with all the usual hope and expectation that maybe, just maybe this time we could finally triumph on the dreaded enemy's back yard.

Wilder made two changes to the starting line-up from the Shrewsbury game bringing in Alfie Potter and Peter Leven whilst dropping Asa Hall and Deane Smalley to the bench. So the starting line-up was Clarke, Whing, Duberry, Wright, Davis, Potter, Heslop, McLaren, Leven, Constable, Guy. Subs: Batt, Smalley, Pittman, Worley, Hall.

After an agonising wait for the teams to come out and being treated to the excruciating sight of the Swindon Robin mascot dancing like a bird whose Trill had been spiked with ecstacy (to the chorus of "Shoot The Bastard" echoing from the Oxford end), all the pre-match hype could be forgotten as the game got under way. Like a formula one car the game went from 0 to 60 in seconds. Potter had an early chance when fed a pass on the right hand edge of the box but his shot lacked any power and was easily smothered by the keeper.

Swindon countered immediately and were awarded a free-kick to the left of the area. A dangerous ball was well blocked by Heslop and the danger was cleared. Constable then flicked on a header to Potter who managed to get his cross in towards Guy, but the striker scuffed his shot and the ball trickled into the keepers arms. Then Potter went on an amazing run from the half-way line as he beat one man and then left the next man flailing at thin air as he flew down the right wing. Unfortunately his cross was disappointing and didn't reach Constable in the area.

On the 11th minute Oxford won their only corner of the game and boy did they make it count. Leven delivered a pinpoint cross into the box where James Constable was quickest to react, beating the defender in the air to head the ball downwards and underneath the diving keeper. The Oxford striker sprinted the full length of the pitch to celebrate wildly in front of the U's delirious fans.

Stung, Swindon immediately went on the attack to try and get back into the game. Their recent signing, big centre forward Leon Clarke had two great chances to level but first a shot then a header went wide of the target. The pressure was relentless as the reds sought an equalliser so it was no real surprise when they did so eight minutes later. The defence were being systematically pulled out of position and Potter, trying to halt the progress of their left winger, was unable to stop a cross coming in where Town's Matt Ritchie had a free header inside the 6 yard box giving Clarke no chance whatsoever. Swindon manager Paolo Di Canio showed a distinct lack of class and taste in his celebrations and was censured by the referee.

With Town in the ascendency, Oxford were struggling to pass the ball to each other and every clearance just fell to one of their players who returned the ball with interest. Clarke performed heroics in goal during this period when he firstly saved a close-range header from Leon Clarke and then made a miraculous stop from a rifled Ritchie shot which he managed to somehow put out for a corner.

Half time was getting near and our main hope seemed to be to just get in at half-time on level terms. We were occasionally getting the ball upfield but it just wasn't sticking. On one of our rare forays into their half Oxford won a freekick on the 43rd minute to the right hand side of the area. Leven once again stepped up to take the dead-ball kick and once again delivered a cross with interest. This time the Swindon keeper managed to get a hand to it but only succeeded in palming the ball in front of him where James Constable was again quickest to react to bundle the ball home.

This was particularly sweet as moments before the Swindon fans were taunting us with "James Constable is a Swindon fan". Following the goal the Oxford chant was "2-1 to the Swindon fan". There was time for a mass brawl to break out after Guy was bundled to the ground and a Swindon player was seen to kick at him. Incredibly no card was issued! Half time arrived with us 2-1 up and hoping that Wilder could tighten things out in our midfield.

The second half started where the first had finished with the hosts firmly on top. Five minutes in, Wilder made his first change bringing on Hall for Heslop. Moments later Guy was charging towards the Swindon penalty area when he appeared to be deliberately tripped. The referee had other ideas and inexplicably waved play on. Swindon took advantage of the fact that the U's players had stopped to appeal and broke quickly - too quickly as it turned out as the linesman raised his flag for offside. This was too much for Di Canio who hurled a torrent of abuse towards the official. Already on a warning, the Italian was dismissed to the stands - much to the amusement of the travelling fans.

Wilder shortly made his second change bringing on Smalley for Guy. But the changes had little effect on the game as Swindon continued to dominate the proceedings. Leon Clarke again had a great chance to equalise but blazed his shot over the bar when clean through. Moments later Ryan Clarke made yet another great save after he blocked a near-post shot with his body.

With 15 minutes left, Batt came on for Potter in a bid to shore up the defence with Whing moving into the midfield and it seemed to work as Swindon were limited to long-range shots. In a very rare moment Constable had a chance to seal the points when Hall put him through on goal. The keeper quickly came out forcing Constable to lob him only seeing his shot agonisingly clip the bar and go over.

Five minutes of additional time were signalled and Swindon intensified their efforts in a bid to equalise. Red wave after red wave attacked relentlessly in a scene that resembled the Zulu's attacking the British troops at Rourke's Drift. Again Clarke came to the rescue as he held on well to a long range shot. With the Oxford fans whistling furiously for the referee to blow for time Swindon had one last desperate effort on goal but it went sailing over the bar.

Then the moment came when the referee blew to end 38 years of misery and spark scenes of jubilation amongst the Oxford fans. As Chris Wilder later commented, we were rubbish. But he also put his finger on it when he said that how many times had we played really well last season and came away with nothing? Too many times that I care to remember is the answer.

Were we rubbish? Certainly. Did Swindon deserve a share of the spoils? Absolutely. Do we care? NO! Because the history books will show that on 21st August 2011, the result at the County Ground will read Swindon Town 1 Oxford United 2.

And that's all that matters!