Swindon Town

GOALS from Jon Obika and Andy Williams secured a 2-1 win for Town at Newport County to book their place in round two of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

Mark Cooper made a number of changes to the starting line-up. In came Tyrell Belford for Wes Foderingham, while there were also starts for Andy Williams, Jake Reeves, Josh Lelan and Jack Barthram.

The visitors had the better of the first half chances and Andy Williams spurned a chance early on when he couldn’t quite react quickly enough to a low ball across the face of the six yard box.

The striker continued to work and fashioned a chance for himself midway through the half. Turning away from the defender, he tried to replicate his effort against Oldham a week ago but this time could only skew his effort over the crossbar.

At the other end, Belford was largely untroubled but Christian Jolley could only drag his effort wide after good work by his teammate on the touchline.

Jake Reeves thundered a shot off the crossbar while George Barker’s effort was heading in before it was hacked clear off the line as the Town continued to probe for the opening goal.

The breakthrough eventually arrived right on half time. Andy Williams’ run took him from left to right across the edge of the area. He then checked his run, looked up and lifted the ball into the danger zone where Jon Obika was perfectly-placed to head home from six yards.

After the break, the striker almost picked up where he had left off, turning his man on the edge of the area before sending a low drive narrowly wide of the right-hand post.

Shortly afterwards, the hosts missed their best chance of the night when a deep cross from the County right found Aaron O’Connor unmarked at the far post. The striker made a firm contact with his head but steered his effort just the wrong side of Belford’s left-hand post.

On 62 minutes, Andy Williams grabbed the Town’s second of the evening. A delightful lofted through-ball by Jack Barthram picked out the striker as he burst into the area. With Joe Day racing off his line to confront him, Williams lifted the ball over the goalkeeper and watched as it landed in the back of the net.

George Barker blazed over while substitute Anton Rodgers saw his effort kept out by Joe Day.

With nine minutes to play, the hosts gained a foot-hold thanks to Yan Klukowski. Town couldn’t deal with a cross into the box and when the ball was fed back into the area, Klukowski was in the right place to tap home from close range.

Moments later, Town raced away on the break and after Andy Williams had played him in on the left, Barker thundered a shot off the woodwork before it was cleared to safety.

In injury time, Belford twice had to save late on to book Town’s place in the next round.