JOHN Swift was pleased to help England Under 20s to victory as he scored the first penalty in their shootout win over Mexico at the Hive last night.

Swift was the only Town player to make an appearance at Barnet, getting 20 minutes in the second half, as County Ground colleagues Harry Toffolo, Jordan Turnbull and Jack Stephens remained on the bench.

His introduction, along with Southampton’s Harrison Reed, was key as the Young Lions turned around a 1-0 deficit to take the game to spot kicks.

Mexican keeper Raul Vega brought down Chuba Akpom for a penalty and was sent off, Akpom scoring the kick.

In the shootout Town’s Chelsea loanee looked nerveless as he slotted home the first kick as England went on to win the shootout 4-2.

Afterwards Swift expressed his delight to contribute for his country.

“Yeah it’s nice to score, I’ve been practicing in training and we don’t often get an opportunity to take penalties in front of a crowd like that,” Swift told the Advertiser.

“Aidy (Boothroyd, England boss) said that I was first today and I stayed calm and just put it away.

“When I came on, with (Harrison) Reed it changed the game when they went a man down and we went 1-1.

“Maybe when they went to 10 (men) we could have got another and not had penalties, but that’s the way it went and we ended up winning.”

The Swindon contingent all had to make do with a place on the bench as Boothroyd looked to get the most out of the chance to look his group before the Toulon tournament in the summer.

It was the away side who had the best opportunities in the first half, Diego Garcia hitting the bar on the half hour, but that was the best of the opening period.

After the break Mexico wasted no time in taking the lead, a swift counter and a series of cute passes across the box came to Jose Garcia, who slotted past England stopper Chris Walton.

The Swindon interest picked up as the game ticked into the final quarter when Swift came on for a man he’ll be lining up against on Saturday week, Lewis Baker, of M K Dons.

Shortly after came the second half’s biggest moment of drama.

Arsenal’s Akpom was hauled down by the Mexican keeper who was promptly dismissed. Akpom got up to score the spot-kick past the visitors’ substitute keeper Antonio Carrillo.

With the game a tie it went to penalties. Swift took England’s first and placed it low to the keeper’s right.