PAOLO Di Canio might be the master of hyperbole but you could forgive him exaggeration after SWINDON TOWN pulled off one of the most impressive results in the club's history.

The County Ground outfit secured an incredible 4-3 win at Premier League Stoke in the League Cup second round, prompting the Italian to remark that his team had played like Barcelona.

A James Collins first-half brace put Town in control before Kenwyne Jones and Mark Walters took the match to extra time.

Aden Flint restored the visitors' lead only for sub Peter Crouch to equalise, before Collins completed the win - and his hat-trick - in the dying seconds.

When SWINDON ROBINS travelled to Lakeside Hammers in June, both sides were vying for second spot in the Elite League.

A close meeting was expected, but what the visitors produced was a sound thrashing.

On a notoriously tight and technical circuit, Swindon blew away their play-off rivals 53-36 in front of the Sky Sports cameras, with Troy Batchelor making an explosive return to form as he collected 14 points.

Swindon darts ace JOHNNY HAINES only earned his PDC tour card in 2012, but in amongst a solid 12 months came the standout win of his career.

Playing at the Dutch Darts Masters in October, Haines defeated five-time world champion and home favourite Raymond van Barneveld.

That included a 13-dart final leg which allowed him to snatch a dramatic 6-5 victory.

There were only a few bright spots in the pool for Team GB at London 2012 this summer.

But one of them was Swindon's very own GRANT TURNER, who raced in the 4x100m freestyle relay.

The ex-Tigershark clocked 48.31 seconds for his leg, a time that had his teammates equalled, GB would have made the final.

Turner was praised by former coach Ben Titley for his performance subsequently, while silver medallist Michael Jamieson tipped him to turn into one of the country’s top sprinters.

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