Swindon Town Women suffered a blow in their quest to make up some ground on the sides above them in the Women’s National League South-West promotion hunt, as four first half goals saw them succumb to Moneyfields at The Cams Alders Stadium.
Coming up against a side that had recorded three straight league wins and scoring 15 goals in the process, Town knew they’d have to put in a gutsy performance to overcome the in-form Hampshire side in what was their third away fixture on the bounce.
Town boss James Lally made two changes to the side that lost to AFC Bournemouth last weekend, with Kelly Nightingale and Kat Bach coming in, with Steph Bent and Becky Donnelly making way.
The tie didn’t start well for Town, as they conceded an early penalty after just eight minutes, which was converted to give the hosts the lead.
But Lally got the ideal response from his charges, as Helena Diaz-Butcher teed up Kat Bach four minutes later to get Swindon back on level terms.
However, Town were unable to build on their equaliser and found themselves a goal down for a second time on 16-minutes, as Moneyfields retook the lead with a headed goal following a dangerous deep cross.
Two soon became three, and then four, as Moneys hit a quickfire double, striking twice in the space of two minutes as the tie reached the half-hour mark.
A hefty deficit to overturn at the interval, with Town 4-1 down.
A resurgent Robins would emerge in the second half with a little more endeavour, and they gave themselves hope by netting their second of the afternoon less than five minutes in.
Annie Colston would claim it to reduce the arrears, but a further two goals would prove a hurdle too far.
Lucy Durham, Elle Scott and Emison Evans would all be given some minutes in the second forty-five, with the latter making her first-team tier four debut, having impressed with four goals in three appearances for the development side.
With just one point claimed from their last three games on the road, Town journey to Portishead for their fourth straight away clash next, before they complete a fifth with a midweek trip to Maidenhead on Thursday 23 February.
