AN impressive away win that moved Town back into the playoffs, a debut goal from Wes Thomas, the return of Nicky Ajose, drawing Oxford in the JPT and most importantly, a stunning goal from a youth team player.

Now that’s a good Saturday.

After the departure of Nathan Byrne and Michael Smith the chairman had to deliver Town fans some new faces to be optimistic going into the season, and he gratefully obliged with Wes Thomas and Nicky Ajose.

Sealing the return of Ajose was a great bit of business from the chairman, and by giving the winger a three-year-deal shows the faith the club have in the former Manchester Utd trainee.

He’s an ideal replacement for the outgoing Byrne, and will become a key player throughout the season.

In the past week we’ve also seen the arrival of Estonian forward Henrik Ojamaa after his release from Legia Warsaw.

Like you my knowledge of the former Motherwell player is a carefully edited YouTube video, but from many people who saw him in Scotland they’re adamant Town have pulled of another great piece of business, lets hope he’s more Danny Invincible and less Lukas Magara.

Also on Saturday we witnessed Charlie Austin on Soccer AM draw Town against Oxfo*d in the next round of the Johnstones Paint Trophy.

Ideally it would have been at the County Ground, so I could get the taste of the last derby game at SN1 out of my mouth, but we will be traveling to stadium soulless in early October.

After suffering back-to-back defeats to the former non-league side in recent years, it’s about time we put that run to an end, and I’m confident we can brush aside our League Two opponents.

But the pick of the bunch from last Saturday was by far a superb goal from young midfielder Tom Smith.

The 17-year-olds touch and finish was something you’d expect to see from a seasoned professional, not someone in their third ever game.

Smith, who was four months old when Michael Owen danced around the Argentina defensive at the 1998 World Cup, is one of the standout talents in Scott Lindsey’s U18 side, I hope we see more impressive cameos from Smith, and his U18 teammates as the season rolls on.

Before we get too carried away, everyone who was at Crewe last weekend will tell you the first 60 minutes was tough to watch, and Town’s first half performances this season have been a cause for concern.

If Swindon can get that big issue sorted, with this talent squad, maybe repeating last season’s achievements in this campaign isn’t such a crazy idea.

Follow me on Twitter @danwjonson

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