3:50pm Wednesday 10th March 2010
TWO goals from Billy Bodin helped Town's reserves to a 3-0 win over Swansea City at the County Ground this afternoon.
The teenage forward struck once in each half, with a Mark Marshall penalty sandwiched in betweeen to see off the Welsh visitors in a largely dour contest.
A very slow start from both teams saw neither keeper tested in the opening exchanges, with Mark Marshall's rising 25-yard shot which cleared the bar the best on offer.
With five minutes of the half remaining, Town were fortunate to escape as Besion Idrizaj raced away from Lecsinel Jean-Francois, only to be dragged down by the defender right on the edge of the area.
Swansea were appealing for a penalty, but referee Dermot Gallagher was certain it was outside the box, and Chad Bond struck the resulting free-kick well over.
However in the 43rd minute Swindon finally made the breakthrough. Marshall broke the offside trap a strode clear of the Swansea defence down the left.
It looked like the chance had gone when he checked back onto his right foot, but instead he teed up Billy Bodin for a thunderous strike into the top corner.
Within two minutes of the restart, home keeper Phil Smith was called into action for the first time, doing well to keep out Idrizaj's low drive.
In the 66th minute Michael Timlin went close with a curling free-kick from 30 yards, which was well tipped over by Swans stopper David Cornell, but from the resulting corner they did beat the keeper.
Daniel Sheehan was adjudged to have handled Jean-Francois' shot, and referee Gallagher had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, where Marshall duly dispatched.
Town made it three on 75 minutes through Bodin's second of the game.
Michael Timlin's through ball was perfectly weighted and the Welsh Under 21 international made no mistake with a clinical finish fom just inside the area.
Swansea forged a rare attack through Casey Thomas with time running out, but Smith was well placed to deal with his shot.
TOWN (4-3-2-1): Phil Smith; Nathan Thompson, Will Evans, Lecsinel Jean-Francois, James Richards; Craig Easton, Mark Hartmann (Abdul Said 87), Michael Timlin; Matt Barnes, Billy Bodin (Seb Broomfield 87); Mark Marshall
Subs: Jakub Jesionkowski, Dan Evans, Elliott Knight
SWANSEA: David Cornell; Daniel Sheehan, Dan Alfel, Joe Walsh, James Burgin; Adam Orme (Thomas Gregg 87), Lee Lucas, Anthony Finselbach (Curtis March 57), Casey Thomas; Chad Bond, Besion Idrizaj (Jordan Smith 74)
Subs: Matthew Whatley, Jordan Smith, Ben Davies
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/trade_directory/