SWINDON Ladies brought the curtain down on their 2018 fixtures in style with a magnificent 7-0 win at home to Hereford in Premier Division 2A of the West Clubs Women’s Hockey League.

The hosts started strongly and were unlucky not to take the lead in the first minute when Vic Stokes forced a good save, and although the rebound fell to Gemma Scrase, she was unable to capitalise.

Swindon continued to dominate and an interception from Chloe Lewis at the top of the D allowed her to break the deadlock with a superb strike.

Vic Stokes was unlucky not to double the lead shortly afterwards when she was found in the D by Lynsey Wall as although the shot beat the keeper, a diving defender hooked it off the line.

Swindon did not have to wait long for their second goal, though, as Scrase drove up the right before finding Chloe Lewis in the D to calmly slot the ball home.

Lewis was then able to complete her hat-trick before half-time after being picked out by Issy Harding.

Swindon made a fast start to the second half and only six minutes had passed before Wall added her name to the scoresheet.

Just a minute later, Stokes then got in on the act when she slapped home an effort from close range.

Swindon’s defence did not have a great deal to contend with on the day, but on the odd occasion Hereford did go on the attack, the hosts could rely on goalkeeper Alexis Hogarth and defenders Harding, Mary Goldsmith, Claire Sage and Nat Moore to stifle them.

In the closing stages, Swindon went back on the hunt for more goals and a long corner from Linda Brouwers allowed Stokes to get her second of the game.

Lewis then rounded off the scoring with her fourth of the day with a reverse-stick strike.

However, there was no pre-Christmas cheer for Swindon Ladies 2nd in Wessex Division 1 as they went down 3-2 away at bottom side Salisbury 3rd.

n TOM Wickens got the only goal of the game as Swindon Men signed off the year with a narrow 1-0 win at home to Cheltenham A in the Verde Recreo Hockey League Championship.

Meanwhile, Swindon A endured a tough afternoon in Central 2 as they were thumped 10-0 away at leaders Bristol University B.

There was better news for Swindon B, though, as they will start the new year sitting top of the East Central 2 table after a 4-3 win at home to Yate A.