SWINDON Town development fielded a side made up almost entirely of first-team players but suffered late heartbreak at the hands of Bristol Rovers this afternoon.

Town’s starting line-up for their 10th Central League fixture of the season wouldn’t have included a single academy product but Anton Rodgers pulled out before kick-off at the Cribbs Sports and Social Club – Rovers’ training ground – with a tight back and had to be replaced by Scott Twine.

When the action got under way, Swindon starved their opponents of the ball as they dominated possession and striker Twine opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, the youngster stooping low to get a head on Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill’s inswinging cross and managing to loop his effort into the net over goalie Kieran Hodges.

However, Rovers levelled almost a quarter-of-an-hour later on the counter-attack, with Jermaine Easter sent clear down the right flank and crossing for youngster Lewis Ellington to bundle home at the far post.

Before the half was through, Jermaine Hylton managed to spin away from home defender Sam Hedges and race into the area but the Town man opted to ignore fellow forward Twine and instead looked to score himself at the near post, with Hedges and another despairing Rovers team-mate just about managing to get in a vital block between them.

The home side grew in belief after the break and after Will Henry was called into action to tip Ryan Broom’s attempted chip over the bar, an error at the back led to Rovers making it 2-1.

Lloyd Jones back-pass was weak enough to allow veteran striker Easter to seize upon it and the 35-year-old wasted no time accepting the gift, rounding an onrushing Henry and tucking away into an empty net.

In the 70th minute, Rovers passed up the opportunity to double their lead as a quick free-kick caught Swindon unawares but, with just Henry and the goal to aim at, triallist midfielder Cam Hargreaves blasted wide from inside the box.

The hosts were made to pay as, from a corner kick, the ball dropped kindly for James Brophy and, despite Rovers’ protestations for a foul to be awarded, the full-back was able to blast home from close-range to make it 2-2.

Ormonde-Ottewill had a driven effort saved by goalie Hodges as the contest drew to a close but the killer blow came in the final minute as Henry’s pass forward gifted the ball to Broom.

Rovers found themselves three-on-two and Broom fed Tyrone Tucker-Dixon, who in turn set up James Spruce to calmly tuck away the winner.

SWINDON TOWN DEVELOPMENT: Will Henry, Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill, Conor Thomas, Lloyd Jones, James Brophy, Yaser Kasim, Jesse Starkey, Jermaine Hylton, Ellis Iandolo (Will Christoper 70), Scott Twine (Jordan Simpson 85), Jordan Stewart.