IT WAS a case of better late than never for James Brophy, who felt Swindon Town got back to producing their usual brand of progressive football as they saw off Shrewsbury Town on Sunday.

The 21-year-old impressed as Luke Williams’ side ran out 3-0 winners at the County Ground on final day of the season, with Brophy setting up 16-year-old Jordan Young for Town’s third goal of the afternoon.

Swindon dominated possession and allowed their opponents just two shots on target as they strolled to victory, which left full-back Brophy satisfied after a turbulent campaign.

“It’s a new group of boys (this season). It’s been up and down and like Luke said in his (programme notes), we’ve had to deal with relegation at the start of the season, then potential play-offs, then relegation,” the Town man told the local media.

“We’ve finished the season well, I think – seven points out of nine – and we’ve started playing our kind of Swindon football again, so it’s nice to go out with a bang.”

Former non-league player Brophy was snapped up by Town in the summer after a successful trial and the ex-Broadfields United and Edgeware Town man believes that he has come on leaps and bounds during his time in a Swindon shirt.

When asked how much he has learned during his first season as a professional footballer, the pacy defender said: “Definitely a lot. Ninety minutes definitely feels a lot longer in professional football than it does in non-league football – that’s for sure.

“I’ve learned a lot over the season. It’s boded well for me that there is a cycle of new players every so often because the boys that have been here previously have been great to me, to help me settle down really quickly.

“I think I’ve been able to settle down quite quickly. I’m still learning things but my game’s definitely improved over the season.

“I think I’m one of the faster boys in the squad, which is nice, but I think the way we play, not everyone is a fast player; we don’t rely on pace.

“We try and move players out of position, so it’s about finding that balance between when I need to use my pace and when I need to try and move players out of position to play our kind of football.”