HIGHWORTH Town Development captain Adam Bartlett reported a ‘routine Saturday’ for his team after their 8-0 victory against Wheatsheaf Stratton at the weekend.

Kieron O’Daly led the scoring with a clinical hat-trick while five other players chipped in with a goal each – Ben Pres, Joe Ouldridge, Alex Crozier, Brandon Fenwick and Kai Scott all netted.

The Highworth skipper felt the tone for the afternoon was set as soon as both teams had arrived at their co-habited Swindon Academy pitch – one team was on time and spritely while the other was apparently late and looking glum.

Bartlett said: “We went into the game knowing they were down the bottom and not doing great, and we pitch share with them.

“They turned up a bit late and didn’t really seem up for it at all.

“We scored within the first minute, and it was a fairly easy game from then on.

“We scored quite a few goals and they didn’t create many chances at all, so it was a nice, routine Saturday.”

Saturday’s straightforward victory was only the development side’s second game since the end of October as the inclement weather has decimated fixtures across the league.

Despite the lengthy break, Highworth have now not conceded in four games and are sitting in fourth place in the Swindon & District Premier Division as a result.

Bartlett said: “We’re flying at the moment – I think it’s four games in a row now where we haven’t conceded.

“The defence has been rock solid, which always helps, and then going forward we’re sharing the goals across the team and everyone is chipping in with goals and assists.

“It was nice to keep the run going, even though we’ve missed quite a few weeks because of the weather.

“Normally when we don’t play for a week or two, we reset and start playing poorly again, but we’ve kept it going and we’re doing well.”

Elsewhere, in the only other game to take place across the Swindon & District League set up, Down Ampney picked up three precious points at home to Marlborough Town Reserves thanks to a 2-0 win in Division One.