Swindon Town

Live blog from Port Vale's League Two play-off semi-final first leg at Swindon, featuring all the build up, team news, action and reaction.

McKirdy gets past Hall before the ball runs to Payne on the right of the area. Argy-bargy between Worrall and Louie Barry as we wait for a Swindon corner. There is almost no angle to shoot, but he has a go anyway, forcing Stone to beat the ball away at his near post. But they face a Swindon side who won four on the spin to earn their own place. I'm The Sentinel and StokeonTrentLive's Port Vale reporter Mike Baggaley and am blogging live from the game. So, how will Darrell Clarke's side get on in the club's first play-off game in 29 years?

The immutable law of the ex came to the fore yet again as two goals by the Swindon forward Harry McKirdy put his side in charge of their League Two play-off ...

Swindon Town 2-1 Port Vale: James Wilson kept the Valiants in play-off contention with a late strike after a double from former Vale striker Harry McKirdy ...

It was almost 3-0 moments later when poor play in the Vale defence allowed Davidson through but fortunately for Vale fans his effort was wide. Vale were mainly reduced to half-chances with a Ben Garrity long-range drive going over early on and Harry Charsley nearly taking advantage of hesitation in the Swindon backline. Vale countered with a shot by Proctor which was comfortably saved.

Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet League Two play-off semi-final first leg between Swindon and Port Vale at the County Ground as Harry ...

Port Vale's Darrell Clarke: "We have to be better in the second leg. Better with the ball, we gave away a sloppy goal from a corner. "We know they're a good team, but we know we're a good team. But we played ever so well, had good opportunities, and now we need to take that on into the second leg." Swindon enjoyed the better of the first half, and it was from a set-piece where they found the breakthrough on 26 minutes. But I'd have taken any win going into the second leg.

Swindon Town head coach Ben Garner has revealed how he has got the best out of Harry McKirdy this campaign following another two goals for the attacker.

Harry McKirdy has been absolutely brilliant at Swindon Town this campaign and a key factor in their bid for the play-offs and promotion. McKirdy scored a brace this afternoon as Swindon Town beat Port Vale 2-1 at the County Ground in the first leg of the League Two play-off semi final’s. Swindon Town head coach Ben Garner has revealed how the key to getting the best out of Harry McKirdy this campaign following another two goals for the attacker.

Swindon Town have named an unchanged team for today's 2021-22 EFL Sky Bet League Two Playoff Semi-Final First-Leg clash against Port Vale.

SUBS - Covolan, Robinson, Benning, Taylor, Amoo, Harratt, Proctor. PORT VALE STARTING XI - Stone; Gibbons, Hall, Smith, Worrall, Garrity, Wilson, Martin, Charsley, Pett, Edmondson. SUBS - Wollacott, Odimayo, Gladwin, O'Brien, Mitchell-Lawson, Aguiar, Parsons.

Harry McKirdy scored twice as Swindon earned a valuable 2-1 victory over Port Vale in the first leg of the League Two play-offs.

Played a useful role in holding the ball up and creating space for Williams and Payne to run into but wasn't at his best on the ball. His hold up play was key but the team needed more in the final third to drag them to a wider lead. His brilliant sliding pass nearly set up McKirdy in the second half, an example of his range of passing and skill to set up attacks from deep. Was the target for most of Vale's direct and bully-like play in the first half. He was able to pass and move, exchanging bounced passes with his defenders and linking well on both sides of midfield to build the play from his own half. His two left footed strikes might have forced Aidan Stone into more trouble had he managed to direct them either side of the keeper but his general attacking play was crucial to most Town attacks. His surges and runs on the ball infield were useful but lacked end product. During the moments under pressure he was decisive with some strong clearances and didn't let anything come about in his left channel with Landolo, shutting down the edge of the box well. He was strong in defence and used his relationship with McKirdy and Payne to overlap and cause trouble high up the field. He also made some key blocks, especially in the first half, jumping out and diving in the way of shots, heroically keeping his team ahead. Perhaps could have pushed his team further forward amidst a tough battle in the second half and given his fellow defenders and keeper some more room to work with and a breather to an onslaught of Vale attacks. Couldn't have done much about the goal as he was left stranded by a shot that rolled through his defence.

Former Carlisle United man Harry McKirdy was the two-goal star for Swindon Town as they claimed the advantage in their League Two play-off…

Nigel Clough's Stags claimed a 2-1 home victory in the first leg meeting. He headed home a corner in the 29th minute before volleying home a second midway through the second half. McKirdy scored both goals in the Robins' 2-1 semi-final first leg win over Port Vale.

SWINDON Town head coach Ben Garner was “delighted” to come away from the League Two play-off semi-final first leg against Port Vale with a 2-1…

But we’re delighted with a win and we look forward to Thursday.” If you set the tone, then it allows the game to flow, and I don’t think that happened. Of Town, Garner said: “I thought we were good in the first half.

James Wilson's late strike halved the deficit as we go into the second-leg just a goal down.

The introduction of Jamie Proctor sharpened up our attacking play and on 83 minutes he was instrumental in pulling a goal back. The resulting free-kick was sent in by Worrall and met by Nathan Smith but his header floated over the bar. On 37 minutes the Valiants looked to draw level and it was Ryan Edmondson’s turn to test Lewis Ward in goal.

It's advantage Swindon Town as they recorded a hard fought 2-1 victory over Port Vale at The County Ground in their 2021-22 EFL Sky Bet League Two Playoff ...

Jamie Proctor shot high and wide, while Wilson forced a good save from Ward at his near post shortly after, but it was the home side who emerged victorious, and will take their narrow advantage to Staffordshire on Thursday. On 68 minutes, great interchange play between him and the impressive Payne saw the latter hit a powerful drive at goal that Stone could only palm into the path of the forward, who kept his composure to volley home from close range. Great work from Louie Barry on the left created space for Ellis Iandolo inside the box, and his low drive across the face of goal was narrowly missed by the outstretched McKirdy - but the inform striker wouldn’t have to wait long to grab his second of the game. A goal down at the break, it was the visitors who came out strongly for the second period, with Nathan Smith heading over from a free kick and James Wilson sending a low drive wide of Ward’s right-hand post. With halftime fast approaching, it was the home side who continued to dominate – Williams struck a well driven strike that was tipped over by Stone, and McKirdy shot high and wide with a half-volley following a poor Vale clearance. The visitors responded immediately with a chance of their own - Ryan Edmondson finding himself in a similar position to Payne at the other end, but his tame effort was easily collected by Ward.

Swindon Town Head Coach Ben Garner was delighted with his team after they drew first blood in their 2021-22 EFL Sky Bet League Two Playoff Semi-Final by ...

"I thought we defended ever so well today from open play and set-pieces. "I expect us to go there and perform well on Thursday. We can play a lot better, I thought we were good but I know there's a lot more in the dressing room to raise that performance on Thursday." "As I said, delighted to win the game and we look ahead to the Second-Leg. "I thought it was a brilliant move, really decisive, their keeper makes a great save from Payney (Jack Payne) and it was a really good finish from Harry because it wasn't easy, it was up and he got his knee up over the ball and controlled it beautifully in the corner. I thought both centre-backs were brilliant today, absolutely brilliant and you know you've got to stand up to the direct balls, the second balls and I thought we really restricted them in the second-half. "I thought good first-half, I thought we allowed it to become a little bit end-to-end, a little bit fight ball in the second-half for a spell of it, and I don't think the officiating helped the game if I'm being honest.