Swindon Town U18's Manager Alan McLoughlin has declared himself pleased with the way his U18's performed throughout the 2017/18 campaign.
Heading into the new season with a glut of first-years, the young Reds surpassed all expectations and went on to enjoy a fine season, leading to praise from their Gaffer.
"They broke towards the end of the season and we lost the last two games," McLoughlin told swindontownfc.co.uk.
"We were challenging to win the Merit League but we lost the last two games. The second-years did carry the team and play consistently well this season.
"We lost Sol Pryce in February to an injury which kept him out for six-seven weeks and that was a huge blow.
"We finished second in the Youth Alliance League and we are third or fourth in the Merit League, so still very good and we had a lot of first-years in the team - it was very top heavy with first-years.
"There have been some good performances from the first-years, three or four need to be more consistent and they know that.
"They've got a challenging year next season because the current U16's, who will become our new batch of first-year scholars, are a very good group and we've had players from the U16's play regularly in the U18's for the last four or five weeks of the season.
"In most cases they were the most consistent players so it is a challenge to the current first-years to keep pace with the U16's.
"I'm pleased with that.
"We tailed off towards the end but that wasn't due to a lack of effort or commitment, and I can only count on one hand the times where the boys didn't perform to the high standards I expect and they expect."
