Swindon Town

TOWN recorded a comfortable 3-0 home win over Shrewsbury thanks to Nicky Ajose’s brace and Jordan Young’s first goal for the Robins, writes Adrian Smith. 

Luke Williams recalled Jamie Sendles-White and Ellis Iandolo in place of Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill and Louis Thompson for the season finale at SN1.

The first main action of the half saw leading scorer Nicky Ajose tumble in the penalty area after being challenged but the referee Gavin Ward waved away his claims for a penalty.

The first shot by Shrewsbury came through James Wesolowski who fired in a powerful rising shot from the angle of the penalty area but the ball flew over the bar.

Ritchie Wellens tried his luck from long range after his initial free kick had been cleared by the Town defence.

Anton Rodgers also tried his luck from 30 yards with a curling free kick awarded after Doughty had been fouled but his effort went just wide of the left hand upright in the 39th minute.

Swindon were awarded a penalty after Rodgers had sent a good ball into the penalty area which was only partly cleared by the defence where it was picked up by Nathan Thompson. He was hacked down by a defender and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot. Up stepped leading scorer, Nicky Ajose to score his 24th goal of the season with a powerful kick.

Town started the half brightly with Jon Obika putting heavy pressure on the defence along with Ellis Iandolo who was denied a goal when his shot rebounded off the post. However the positive start was rewarded in the 48th minute when Nicky Ajose collected the ball just outside the angle of the penalty area and fired home a crisp low shot giving Shrews 'keeper, Burton no chance .

Town continued to press forward in search of a third goal but were almost caught out  by a quick Shrews counterattack that saw Larnell Cole through on goal but Will Henry denied him by saving with his outstretched left foot in the 64th minute. Shrews 'keeper, Burton also made a superb save within a minute to deny Doughty diving low to his right to push away a goalbound shot for a corner.

Yaser Kasim was denied a goal in the 74th minute when his superb curling free kick struck the angle of the crossbar and upright with the 'keeper beaten.

Jordan Young replaced Ellis Iandolo and Jake Evans replaced Jamie Sendles White in the 79th minute and Evans was involved soon after showing a confident approach to fire in a low powerful shot from 35 yards which only just went wide of the goal.

Young linked up well with Jon Obika in the 84th minute exchanging passes leading to Obika firing over from close range.

Shortly afterwards Young opened his goalscoring account for Town after some superb running by James Brophy presented the Town first year scholar with the chance to fire home from 10 yards and he gleefully celebrated in front of the Town End.