TOWN were beaten 1-0 at Peterborough in the 2013/14 season’s curtain-raiser at London Road.
A first half goal from Britt Assombalonga was enough to seal all three points for the home side .
Mark Cooper named six debutants in the starting line-up with Grant Hall, Tijane Freitas-Reis, Ryan Harley, Ryan Mason, Alex Pritchard and Alex Smith all involved. Darren Ward took the captain’s armband with Andy Williams leading the line up front.
After a bright start, during which Pritchard drifted a free-kick wide and saw his snap-shot beaten away by Olejnik, Town fell behind after nine minutes.
A hacked clearance flew downfield and sailed over everyone’s head. In a flash, the Town backline were retreating as Posh debutant Britt Assombalonga latched onto the loose ball, allowing it to bounce before hammering it beyond the advancing Wes Foderingham.
The hosts then seemed to take control of proceedings as Assombalonga lobbed wide and Foderingham got his body behind a drive from Tyrone Barnett.
Massimo Luongo and Ryan Mason both had efforts on goal as Town searched for a way back into the game before the break.
Tijane Reis registered Town’s first effort of the second half, cutting in off the right flank and striking a well-hit drive into the arms of Olejnik. At the other end, Barnett headed over from a corner after a snapshot from the edge of the area had clattered against Foderingham’s left-hand post and gone behind.
As time ticked on, Town began to gain more of a foothold. Mason saw his free-kick pushed away by Olejnik before Luongo’s effort was blocked away. Luongo had another effort claimed by the goalkeeper whilst Mason clattered a shot off the crossbar as Town could not find their way through a resilient Posh backline.
Swindon Town: Wes Foderingham; Nathan Thompson, Grant Hall, Darren Ward (Capt), Alex Smith; Massimo Luongo, Ryan Mason, Ryan Harley; Tijane Freitas-Reis, Andy Williams, Alex Pritchard
Substitutes: Leigh Bedwell, Louis Thompson, Miles Storey, Yaser Kasim, Jay McEveley, Troy Archibald-Henville, Jack Barthram.
