Swindon Town U18s took the Youth Alliance League South West title to the final game away to Plymouth this Saturday, with a 1-0 home victory over Portsmouth U18s on Tuesday morning.
It was an early close-range strike from George Alston which secured Town the three points and left them with the opportunity to finish top of their Youth Alliance League table this weekend.
Victory against Plymouth this Saturday will see Town finish as champions as they will look to continue their impressive form going into their final game of the YAL season.
Town made seven changes to the side which defeated Bristol Rovers, with Sonny Hart, Harry Chard, Ali Stewart, Joel McGregor, Josh Keyes, George Alston and Botan Ameen replacing Liam Hutt, Anthony McCormick, Conor Britchford-Stanley, Finn Adams, Dani Gonzalez, Miles Obodo and Logan Coles.
It was a positive start for Swindon's U18s and after seeing a chance in the first minute through midfielder Ali Stewart, after initial good work from full-back Harry Chard was unfortunately held by Pompey's keeper just seconds into the game.
But, three minutes later, Town opened the scoring and it was a more impressive build-up that created the close-range finish for Alston to prove his worth on his return to the side.
After some great movement from full-back Joel McGregor, he released the free-roaming Josh Keyes down the right side and allowed him to drive into the box, before seeing the rebounded effort fall kindly to Alston at the back post to smash home from just a couple of yards out.
Following this, the game tilted back and forth in terms of chances but after confident defending from Town's defenders to deny the threatening Pompey forwards, and unfortunate finishing from Swindon's attackers, the game saw Town hold onto their goal's advantage going into the midway point.
Half-time: Swindon Town U18s 1 Portsmouth U18s 0
The second half started in a similar combative fashion and with Swindon looking to hold out the lead and extend their lead to ensure the win, Pompey began to add pressure on themselves.
There were moments for both sides, with Jaxon Brown trying his luck from a direct free-kick that whistled over the bar, and Harley Hunt heading over narrowly from a corner for Swindon.
Pompey had chances of their own and as the game began to reach its latter stages, an important save from captain Redman Evans late on denied the Blues' forward one-on-one, before the ball was eventually cleared and Town left to show impressive game management to see out the remaining few minutes l
Swindon were able to hold out the victory and late Pompey pressure and left everything to play for in their final game of the current Youth Alliance League fixture this weekend against Plymouth.
Victory this Saturday will see Town finish as champions before looking ahead to their Merit League fixtures which will take place in the latter stages of the current 23/24 season.
Swindon Town U18s: Evans (C), McGregor, Chard, Stewart, Hart, Hunt, Hubbard, Brown, Ameen (Obodo 72), Keyes (Gonzalez 70), Alston (Britchford-Stanley 80)
Goal: Alston 4
