Swindon Town

SWINDON went into the game knowing that three points would give them a boost to see where they would finish at the end of the three-game programme, writes Jeremy Newton.

Their 4-0 win yesterday saw Town jump from 20th to 10th in the table going above Liverpool and Everton. Against County Antrim, Sam Beaumont came in for Jayden Mitchell and this was the only change for Swindon.

The Town youngsters got the perfect start when a Callum Gunner corner was met by Jordan Young to put Swindon 1-0 up. The set piece had been worked on for three weeks beforehand and I was pleased to see it come off. This was after just six minutes and gave us a good start and a platform to build upon. Swindon doubled the lead with another set piece. A corner from Jordan Morris found Scott Twine. Hr turned and was pushed in the back to be awarded a penalty. Twine stepped up and slotted the ball past the 'keeper low to his left hand side. Being 2-0 up, it's a horrible score line: as if we score, then we are in control and hopefully go on to win the game. If the opposition score, they get a lift and then they pick themselves back up. We conceded just a minute after going 2-0 up. Defender Jack Stanley gave a free kick away and then Sam Beaumont lost his marker for Antrim to get a goal back. We then panicked and allowed Antrim to score again when their left winger was allowed to drop a ball in over centre back Mason Hathaway to equalise. By this stage after being 2-0 up we were not in control and made more mistakes. This proved the turning point because then, 'keeper Declan Lehman's mis-placed pass was picked off and punished to go into the interval 3-2 down.

In the second half we knew that as time went out, we had to change the system and personnel. With 10 minutes gone, we went to a 3-4-3 and it proved difficult to breakdown the Antrim defence. We then went 3-3-4 but with no luck and the Antrim 'keeper made a great save following a Sol Pryce shot. Pryce went again close but his shot went over as Swindon struggled to get the equaliser.

Swindon Line-up

Declan Lehmann, Jack Stanley, Mason Hathaway, William Christopher, Sam Beaumont, Callum Gunner, Jordan Young, Albi Hopkins, Scott Twine, Jordan Morris, Harry Hillerby.

Subs: Ullas Akkus, Aaron Holloway, Ollie Rejek, Alex Hallett , Luke Haines, Sol Pryce, Jayden Mitchell.