THE STFC under-14s have taken the opportunity in the school half-term week to jet off on a sponsored trip to the Cayman Islands for some warm weather training and to play some exhibition games.
The 16 players and the six staff will have coaching sessions with local clubs, will train everyday and will have two games against Academy SC and a West Bay select XI.
Academy coaches have also been running coaching clinics for the local clubs and this has gone down really well with the local community.
Academy Manager Jeremy Newton, said: "It's a great experience to return to the Cayman Islands and appreciate the hard work that's gone into the trip from the sponsors to make sure that the players and the staff benefit from being together all week.
"It's a fantastic opportunity to be together. The players will be treated like professionals all week and it will be a fantastic trip for the players to experience."
The Under 14s started their tour with a 2-2 draw played at the Anex arena last night. After the exhibition game, the two sides were greeted on the pitch by the Minister for Sport Mr Mark Scotland, along with members of the government, followed by the national anthems.
A big crowd was in to to sees the game and Swindon started well, got the ball down and started to get a good rhythm to their game. They created some good chances through striker Aiden Compton but it was Tyreke Johnson who scored Swindon's first goal beating two defenders before firing his shot into the bottom corner.
At the start of the second half, Jordan Young had to be replaced with an injury and Scott Twine took his place. It was Twine that scored Town's second goal: when Johnson's strike was cleared, Twine was there to smash the rebound in to make it 2-0. Swindon made changes to allow all players some game time after the heat and humidity started to take effect.
Swindon conceded when a long strike flew past keeper Lehmann into the top corner. Swindon then continued to build pressure and although they couldn't get another goal looked the more dangerous side, with Twine hitting the crossbar. However, Swindon allowed Academy to score another goal, when Lehmann was beaten at his near post.
All the players gave a good account of themselves and gave some of them the invaluable experience of playing in front of crowd and playing in high temperatures.
Swindon Town
Declan Lehmann, Jack Stanley (C), Harry Hillerby, Sam Fletcher, Will Christopher, Jordan Young, Seb Martinez, Callum Gunner, Tommy Ouldridge, Aiden Compton, Tyreke Johnson
Subs, Jordan Morris, Jordan Simpson, Kray Foster, Sam Beaumont, Scott Twine
