Swindon Town

TOWN opened their pre-season preparations ahead of the 2016/17 campaign with a thumping 6-0 win at near neighbours, Swindon Supermarine.

A brace from Jermaine Hylton in the first half set Luke Williams’ side on their way before a four-goal salvo after the break completed a comprehensive win for the Town.

A blend of Under-18 players, trialists and first team players started the game for the visitors and they went closest to opening the scoring through James Brophy, who rattled a shot across goal and wide from an angle. At the other end, the hosts struck the woodwork before Town took the lead.

Jermaine Hylton picked his spot from the edge of the area before drilling a shot into the bottom corner. The visitors doubled their advantage from the spot after Nathan Thompson had been brought down in the box. Hylton took responsibility and sidefooted home to make it 2-0.

Thompson could have added to the tally before half time but, after some neat work from Yaser Kasim and James Brophy, could only find the hands of the goalkeeper with a low shot.

A new XI took to the field for the second forty-five and spent little time in taking command of proceedings. A cleverly-worked passing move ended with Jon Obika teeing up Brad Barry on the edge of the box. The wing-back had drifted in off the right flank to hit an unstoppable shot into the back of the net to make it three.

His colleague on the other flank, Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill, promptly made it four to the visitors. A deflected cross sat up nicely for him at the far post and with the Marine defence scrambling back to cover, the full-back tucked home the loose ball.

The ex-Arsenal man’s crosses almost brought two goals for Jon Obika before the striker added his name to the scoresheet with a well-taken fifth. Debutant, Conor Thomas played a nicely-weighted through-ball into the path of the forward allowing him to slot home across the goalkeeper and into the far corner.

Anton Rodgers sent a curling effort inches wide then, with the last kick of the game, Ellis Iandolo, the day after penning a contract extension at SN1, added a sixth.