Summary

  • Harry McKirdy double put Swindon 2-0 up

  • Port Vale pulled one back through James Wilson

  • Robins now on five-match winning run

  • Swindon finished season sixth, one point behind fifth-placed Port Vale

  • Second leg at Vale Park on Thursday (19:45 BST)

  • Mansfield beat Northampton 2-1 in other semi-final first leg

  1. 'Best work Vale have done'published at 12:40 British Summer Time 15 May 2022

    Swindon 1-0 Port Vale

    Phil Sproson
    Former Port Vale captain on BBC Radio Stoke

    That's the best work Vale have done.

    They got Ryan Edmondson into a good position - he got it out of his feet and if it was either side of the keeper, it might've caused problems.

  2. Postpublished at 38 mins

    Swindon 1-0 Port Vale

    End to end stuff here!

    Jack Payne fires goalbound inside the Port Vale box but it's parried away by Aidan Stone and Vale break upfield.

    Ryan Edmondson eventually gets a shot on goal but it's dealt with by Lewis Ward.

  3. Swindon singing in the rainpublished at 12:34 British Summer Time 15 May 2022

    Swindon 1-0 Port Vale

    Sophie Hurcom
    BBC West Sport at the County Ground

    It's pouring with rain over the County Ground but the home fans have really come alive now Swindon have taken the lead.

    Harry McKirdy has been astonishing for Swindon this season, with that his 22nd league goal to make him far and away their top scorer.

    Port Vale keeper Aidan Stone had no chance and could only stand and look as McKirdy's header went flying past him.

    It had been a scrappy start and Swindon really took a while to ease into this match, but that goal has given everyone here in the Robins camp a massive lift.

  4. YELLOW CARDpublished at 33 mins

    Swindon 1-0 Port Vale

    Swindon's Josh Davison goes into the book for a high boot as Aaron Martin runs in.

    Just past half hour and Port Vale could do with a response, now.

  5. Postpublished at 30 mins

    Swindon 1-0 Port Vale

    So then, what have Port Vale got in response to going a goal down against Swindon?

    Well they win two throw-ins deep in the hosts' half of the field, with Connor Hall eventually swinging a high ball into the box but it's punched away by Swindon keeper Lewis Ward.

  6. 'County Ground is rocking'published at 12:27 British Summer Time 15 May 2022

    Swindon 1-0 Port Vale

    Steve Hale
    Goalkeeping coach on BBC Radio Wiltshire

    Brilliant delivery from Jonny Williams, that's what's made the goal.

    Harry McKirdy made a sly little run across the six-yard box to get a little flick.

    The County Ground is rocking now.

  7. goal

    GOAL: Swindon 1-0 Port Valepublished at 25 mins

    Harry McKirdy

    Swindon scoreImage source, Rex Features

    Swindon take the lead!

    Nathan Smith mistakenly puts the ball out for the corner and he'll be kicking himself as Swindon immediately take the lead from it.

    Harry McKirdy heads in from the near post from Jonny Williams' delivery - against his former club - and the hosts are ahead.

  8. Postpublished at 25 mins

    Swindon 0-0 Port Vale

    Jack Payne is proving to be a handful for Port Vale so far.

    He draws a save at the near post from Vale keeper Aidan Stone.

    Swindon looking the better side as it stands.

  9. Postpublished at 23 mins

    Swindon 0-0 Port Vale

    Corner to Swindon following some good build-up play as they camp out in the Port Vale half of the field.

    David Worrall appears to bring down Louie Barry before it's even taken, with both getting a talking to by the referee.

    Eventually it is taken, but soon after, Jack Payne manages to put it out for a goal kick, drawing jeers from the Port Vale fans behind the goal.

  10. Postpublished at 18 mins

    Swindon 0-0 Port Vale

    Just a short stoppage there. We're now back under way at the County Ground.

  11. Postpublished at 16 mins

    Swindon 0-0 Port Vale

    There's a brief stoppage to play as there's a medical emergency in the stands, according to BBC Radio Stoke.

    The players are going for a drinks break while there's a delay.

  12. Postpublished at 15 mins

    Swindon 0-0 Port Vale

    Swindon v Port ValeImage source, PA Media

    This game is getting scrappy, now.

    Maybe it's the rain. Maybe it's the tension, but there's an edgy atmosphere at the minute.

    Neither side have had a realistic effort on goal so far. Certainly feels like a play-off game.

  13. 'Both sides will be pleased'published at 12:13 British Summer Time 15 May 2022

    Swindon 0-0 Port Vale

    Steve Hale
    Goalkeeping coach on BBC Radio Wiltshire

    Swindon v Port ValeImage source, Rex Features

    I think it's been quite an even game - there's certainly been a high tempo to it.

    Both sides will be reasonably pleased with the starts they've had.

  14. Postpublished at 10 mins

    Swindon 0-0 Port Vale

    Good stuff from Port Vale who pass the ball around well after Swindon keeper Lewis Ward cheaply gives the ball away.

    Ben Garrity tries again from long range, this time from just outside the box, but his effort is blocked.

    Meanwhile Swindon break on the counter and Jack Payne also shoots from outside the box, but his attempt goes high and wide.

  15. Postpublished at 7 mins

    Swindon 0-0 Port Vale

    Port Vale are easing into this game, now.

    James Gibbons puts a decent swinging right-footed delivery into the Swindon box but none of his team-mates can work onto it, as it sails out for a goal kick.

  16. 'Garrity wasn't far off'published at 12:06 British Summer Time 15 May 2022

    Swindon 0-0 Port Vale

    Phil Sproson
    Former Port Vale captain on BBC Radio Stoke

    Good work from Ben Garrity there, he's having a great season.

    It wasn't far off.

  17. Postpublished at 5 mins

    Swindon 0-0 Port Vale

    Ben Garrity tries his luck with an audacious strike from about 40 yards out.

    But the Port Vale man's effort swings just wide of the mark.

    Worth a shot, I guess..

  18. Swindon's massive turnaroundpublished at 3 mins

    Swindon 0-0 Port Vale

    Sophie Hurcom
    BBC West Sport, at the County Ground

    The fact that Swindon are even in the play-offs is remarkable when you think of the circumstances at the club less than 12 months ago.

    Last July, Swindon was in the midst of a long, drawn-out legal battle over the club's ownership, had just been relegated from League One, didn't have a manager and had a handful of players on their books.

    Staff at the club didn't even know if they would have a job this year.

    Even at the start of the season, manager Ben Garner and new owner - Australian businessman Clem Morfuni - were talking about giving the club stability, rather than an immediate bounce-back up a division.

    In that context, Swindon have already massively overachieved. But they're also the most prolific team in the league as it stands with 77 goals and have momentum behind them today, having won their last four matches in a row.

    Getting to Wembley really would cap an astonishing turnaround.

  19. KICK-OFFpublished at 1 min

    Swindon 0-0 Port Vale

    Swindon fansImage source, PA Media

    We are under way at the County Ground.

    Let's hope for some goals and action to contrast the miserable weather in Swindon this afternoon.

  20. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:58 British Summer Time 15 May 2022

    Swindon v Port Vale (12:00 BST)

    Last night saw the United Kingdom's Sam Ryder finish second in the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest, not a bad showing given the UK's zero points just last year.

    How about chucking some Eurovision-based football puns our way?

    Fly On The Wings Of (Joachim) Löw? Hard Rock HarryMag-uire?

    You can definitely do better. Send your attempts in via #bbcefl on social media.