REPORT | SWINDON TOWN 3 ARGYLE 1
Swindon Town 3
Kemp 57
Hepburn-Murphy 59
Wakeling 86
Argyle 1
Whittaker 69
Two goals in the space of three minutes gave Swindon Town the platform for a 3-1 victory in Argyle’s final friendly of a long pre-season campaign.
Dan Kemp and Rushian Hepburn-Murphy struck for the Robins just before the hour, with Morgan Whittaker halving the deficit in another decent work-out ahead of the Championship opener at home to Huddersfield next weekend. Jacob Wakeling grabbed a late third for Swindon.
The Greens started the game with a terrific tempo, conjuring an early chance for Bali Mumba, latching on to a clever pass from Whittaker before unleashing a goalbound shot that was blocked by Remeao Hutton.
The game lulled into a quiet period before Charlie Austin fired narrowly wide for the hosts, who then went a lot closer with some wicked deliveries into the danger areas, fielded expertly by Argyle goalkeeper Conor Hazard.
Kaine Kesler-Hayden had an effort deflected wide for the Pilgrims and Mumba then fizzed a shot into the side-netting from an incisive break. Gradually, the Greens were exerting an element of control over a bright Swindon side.
Callum Wright and Whittaker somehow manufactured a cross into the penalty box for Adam Randell to nod a bouncing ball into the arms of home custodian Murphy Mahoney, as a fairly quiet first period came to a close.
Joe Edwards replaced Mickel Miller at the interval but the first chance came from the opposite flank, Kesler-Hayden lashing over the bar from a Whittaker cross.
From nowhere, Argyle fell behind on 57 minutes and huge credit to Kemp for a sumptuous strike on the volley that gave Hazard no chance. One became two almost immediately, Hepburn-Murphy steering an assured finish into the corner.
The quickfire double understandably rocked Argyle for a short while, with Hazard producing his best to deny Kemp another goal before the Greens rallied to get back into the game with a customary left-foot fizzer from Whittaker.
A raft of Pilgrim changes prompted another decent effort from the impressive Kemp and the scoring was completed by a goal from Wakeling on the counter. Ryan Hardie did have a shot cleared off the line but there was no avoiding a first defeat of pre-season.
Now on to Huddersfield.
Swindon: 1 Murphy Mahoney, 2 Remeao Hutton, 5 Frazer Blake-Tracey, 6 George McEachran, 8 Saidou Khan, 10 Dan Kemp, 11 Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, 12 Tom Brewitt, 14 Trialist A, 31 Harrison Minturn, 32 Charlie Austin (c). Substitutes: 9 Trialist C, 16 Jake Cain, 17 Trialist D, 19 Harvey Fox, 21 Jaxon Brown, 23 Liam Kinsella, 24 Jacob Wakeling, 25 Conor Brann, 44 Trialist B.
Argyle: 21 Conor Hazard, 2 Bali Mumba (35 Freddie Issaka 70), 6 Dan Scarr (3 Jack Matthews 82), 10 Morgan Whittaker (19 Tyreik Wright 70), 11 Callum Wright (34 Caleb Roberts 82), 14 Mickel Miller (8 Joe Edwards H-T), 16 Lewis Warrington (4 Jordan Houghton 70), 17 Lewis Gibson (5 Julio Pleguezuelo 70), 20 Adam Randell (c) (7 Matt Butcher 70), 23 Ben Waine (9 Ryan Hardie 82), 29 Kaine Kesler-Hayden. Substitutes: 22 Kieran Edworthy, 25 Callum Burton (gk), 33 Zak Baker (gk).