7:10am Thursday 11th March 2010
By Anthony Marshall
RESERVE team manager Dave Byrne believes teenage forward Billy Bodin has a bright future in the game following his eye-catching performance in yesterday’s 3-0 win over Swansea at the County Ground.
The Wales Under 21 international netted either side of half time to help Town’s second string to victory, with a Mark Marshall penalty sandwiched in between.
Bodin, 17, began the game wide on the left of a three-man attack, but it was his move to the centre of the strike force which paid dividends with his brace.
“That’s what Billy’s all about - you give him a chance and he’ll take it,” admitted Byrne after.
“We went with a 4-3-3 and I started with Marshy down the middle, but I wanted more retention so changed it and Billy’s linkage at times was very, very good. That was the difference between the two sides.
“Technically Billy is very gifted. Of course there is a lot of raw edges that need to be polished off, but he’s a talented kid.
“We were comfortable in the end, but we had to work hard for it and had to earn the right to go and play.
“We deserved the victory and showed in spells how good we are when we play with the ball.”
A dour first half saw Marshall’s long range effort, which comfortably cleared the bar, the only chance of note in the opening 25 minutes.
With five minutes of the half remaining, at the other end Lecsinel Jean-Francois was lucky to escape without a card after dragging down Besion Idrizaj right on the edge of the area, with Swansea appealing for a penalty.
However, in the 43rd minute Swindon finally made the breakthrough. Marshall broke the offside trap and raced clear of the Swans defence down the left.
It looked like the chance had gone when he checked back onto his right foot, but instead he teed up Bodin for a thunderous strike into the top corner.
After the break Town took firm control and visiting keeper David Cornell did well to keep out Michael Timlin’s free-kick, but from the resulting corner referee Dermot Gallagher awarded a spot kick for handball against Daniel Sheehan.
Marshall calmly dispatched the penalty, and it was three on 75 minutes when Timlin’s through ball released the youngster, who made no mistake with a clinical finish.
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