SWINDON Ladies closed the gap on Premier 2A leaders Newent to just two points after returning home from Gloucestershire with a 3-0 success.

The game started well for the hosts as early on, Newent pressure kept Swindon, who have a game in hand on the table-toppers, penned in their own half.

With their defence standing firm, the visitors began to build momentum, with the right-hand combination of captain Gemma Scrase and Lynsey Wall linking up well.

The pressure paid off as they took the lead when a cross was pounced on by Vicky Stokes and her first-time shot smashed into the far corner.

After the interval, Swindon had their best spell of the game and regularly tore apart the Newent defence.

With good chances being created, including penalty corners, Swindon should have put the game beyond the league leaders.

With 25 minutes of the game played, it was visiting goalkeeper Sarah Anstey who was involved in the pivotal moment of the game.

Newent created a perfect opportunity and had two players bearing down on the Swindon goal.

With great agility and braveness, Anstey denied what seemed to be a definite goal to safeguard Swindon’s slim advantage.

The visitors started to grow and dominated the latter stages of the game, and it was player-of-the-match Scrase who created Swindon’s second goal.

She skilfully beat two defenders, drew the goalkeeper and her pass found teenager Chloe Lewis, who made no mistake from close range.

With the Newent players becoming more desperate and pushing forward, a third Swindon goal came from Stokes as she smashed another first time shot into the net for her second of the game.

After the game, Scrase was delighted with the result.

She said: “We showed that we can execute a game plan today - I know that our coach will be pleased.” 

  • SWINDON's men recorded an impressive 4-1 win in a tough encounter on the road at Robinsons A.

The visitors, who were missing Tom Lentchner in attack, were strengthened in defence by the return of Sam Monk.

Swindon were were the dominating force in the opening minutes of the game, with a number of chances going begging.

However, on 10 minutes, Henry Cheney had taken his chance on a well-worked penalty corner, smashing home past the outstretched keeper.

With less than 10 minutes of the half remaining, the hosts snatched a goal back, when, following a good save from Alan Gough in the Swindon goal, a Robinsons forward fired home from an acute angle.

Swindon came under sustained pressure at the start of the second half but it was the visitors who broke on the counter and grabbed their second, Lewis Dyer lashing home from the top of the D after a great through ball from Chris Parsons.

The visitors continued to pressurise the Robinsons defence and two goals in the last 15 minutes put the game safe, with Henry Cheney getting his second and Tom Goldsmith also successfully finding the back of the net.

Swindon didn’t have it all their own way and the solid performance of the back four and keeper provided a great platform for an important win.

After the match, vice-captain Tom Hunt said: “This was an important game and three points to keep the pressure on West Wilts, who are currently in second.

“With two games next weekend, we need to get two wins to keep our slim promotion hopes alive.”