Swindon Town

A Town development side were beaten 2-1 by Southend United in the Final Third Development League South Cup Final at the County Ground.

The Shrimpers scored either side of the break to lift the cup while Jermaine Hylton got on the scoresheet for the home side.

Scott Lindsey included first-team members Jermaine Hylton, Ellis Iandolo, Drissa Traore, Jeremy Balmy and Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill alongside the likes of Josh Cooke and Lee Marshall against the Shrimpers.
 
The early exchanges were restricted to long-range efforts: Lee Marshall’s half-volley was claimed by Josh Bexon before Balmy’s 25-yard effort was also pouched by the Southend stopper. At the other end, Jason Williams couldn’t stretch to meet Franck Moussa’s mis-hit effort in front of goal.
 
Will Henry was then called into action to deny Loza. The striker’s low effort was bound for the bottom corner but Henry threw himself across to his right to paw it around the post. The stopper also produced a fine double save to deny Loza while Jordan Williams could only pick out the side-netting moments later.
 
It was the visitors who took the lead before the break. Loza’s pace and power manufactured a shooting opportunity inside the box and he calmly lifted the ball over the advancing Henry to nudge the Shrimpers in front.
 
The home side had chances before the interval with Josh Cooke shooting wide and Jermaine Hylton rattling the woodwork. Lee Marshall’s superb cross-field pass was wonderfully taken by the striker who raced towards goal before unleashing a shot that took a layer of paint off the inside of the post.
 
There was still time for Loza to go close once again, taking the ball around Henry but landing his effort on the roof of the net.
 
Town came flying out of the blocks at the start of the second half, with Ellis Iandolo lashing a shot off the post after some neat combination play from the men in red.
 
Moussa curled a shot wide before the visitors doubled their advantage. Loza netted his second of the afternoon, rolling his marker inside the box and drilling an effort into the back of the net.
 
As Scott Lindsey's side searched for a way back into the game, Lee Marshall's piledriver from distance whistled past the post, while Jordan Young and Jermaine Hylton both fired off target.
 
Williams then forced Henry into tipping his shot over the bar. The Town 'keeper was called into action before the end as he stood up well to Loza's thumping shot. The Southend striker could also have claimed a hat-trick but struck the post with an effort from the angle of the six-yard box.

In injury time, Jermaine Hylton reduced the arrears with a low volley from inside the box but it was the Shrimpers who claimed the silverware.