Hepburn-Murphy brace earns Swindon Town win over Tranmere

Sean McGurk opened the scoring before Rob Apter lashed home the equaliser shortly after, but the very dangerous Hepburn-Murphy cooly slotted Swindon into the lead at the break.

Hepburn-Murphy’s speed could not be contained and he used it again to set up his second goal of the evening to wrap up the points.

Having begun the day behind the visitors on goal difference, Swindon leapfrogged Tranmere into 17th place in League Two and recorded victory over them for the first time in five years.

Gavin Gunning made four changes to the side that had managed a goalless draw at Stockport County three days ago. George McEachran missed out through injury, with Williams Kokolo, Zac Elbouzedi, and Jake Cain also dropping to the bench. Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, Sean McGurk, and Udoka Godwin-Malife came in to replace them, along with Ricky Aguiar making his first start of the season.

Bycroft claims the ball (Image: Andy Crook)

After a chilly day, once kick-off finally arrived the heavens began to open over the County Ground, and rain cascaded sideways across the field in heavy opaque clouds. This helped to contribute to a messy opening to the match, with neither side demonstrating that they were any better than their league position would indicate. Long balls that were struggling to stick were combined with loose passes and lazy control that saw the ball skid well away from its target.

It took 21 minutes for the first shot to arrive and it fell the way of the visitors. The returning Luke Norris flicked on a header that Paul Lewis chased after. He clipped the ball back into the area, where the striker got to the header first, but he didn’t get enough contact and it went well wide.

Then at the other end of the field, the first real moment of quality saw the ball in the back of the net. McGurk received a pass in the area, and with a defender in front of him, he dummied wonderfully to send Tom Davies flying one way as the ball went the other before tucking his shot in at the near post.

McGurk celebrates the opener (Image: Andy Crook)

That header seemed to have sparked something as within minutes Tranmere were level. Conor McCarthy got his leg in front of a speculative effort from 30 yards out, but the ricochet went straight to Rob Apter. The winger took the shot on first time and arrowed a low shot that kissed the near post as it went into the back of the net.

Another period of minimal excitement was once again cut through with real quality like a knife. Godwin-Malife drove into midfield off the right flank and spotted the run of Hepburn-Murphy. He dissected the defence with a wonderful pass. Hepburn-Murphy took it in stride and went around the goalkeeper before slotting into the back of the net.

Hepburn-Murphy rounds the goalkeeper (Image: Andy Crook)

Hepburn-Murphy, who has so often lacked composure in the key areas, could have had another a minute later as he took down a floated pass magnificently and whipped a shot narrowly wide of the far post.

Town had another big chance before the break as Harrison Minturn wriggled free on the right by-line and cut back into a crowd of red shirts. Aguiar took the ball off the toes of Charlie Austin, but a white shirt got between him and a goal.

Hepburn-Murphy was proving very tough to stop late in the first period and he again burned beyond James Norris on the right before firing at goal, but McGee flicked his shot over the crossbar.

Austin tries a long pass (Image: Andy Crook)

Tranmere seemed to find a new gear in first-half stoppage time and nearly levelled after pinball in the box broke to Josh Hawkes, but he curled over the top.

Shortly after the break, Godwin-Malife’s rampaging runs were still causing problems. Now moved to the right flank, he drove inside to the edge of the area and fed McGurk. He steadied himself and curled a shot narrowly wide of the far post.

Godwin-Malife running with the ball (Image: Andy Crook)

But with the score as it was and Swindon haunted by the ghosts of their season, the game was still in the balance. Apter always looked the most likely for the Birkenhead club and he got away from substitute Williams Kokolo on the right and forced a good save out of Bycroft at his near post.

Town had another big chance as McGurk broke away from a Tranmere free-kick and clipped a perfect pass into Kokolo, but his shot came off the back of the goalkeeper.

But Town were irrepressible and had their third goal after 64 minutes when a pass from McGurk went behind the Tranmere back line. This time his precise passing was not to be wasted as Hepburn-Murphy galloped onto the end of it and finished with aplomb.

Swindon celebrate their third goal (Image: Andy Crook)

STFC starting XI: Bycroft, Blake-Tracy, Glatzel, Hepburn-Murphy, McGurk, Devoy, Godwin-Malife, McCarthy, Aguiar, Minturn, Austin.

STFC substitutes: Brann, Elbouzedi, McKirdy, Brewitt, Cain, Kokolo, Drinan.

TRFC starting XI: McGee, O’Connor, Davies, Turnbull, Hendry, L. Norris, Hawkes, Lewis, McAlear, Apter, J. Norris.

TRFC substitutes: Jolley, Murphy, Merrie, Saunders, Taylor, Pike, Belehouan.

Attendance: 7,245 (292 away).