SWINDON Ladies made a flying start to the new year in Premier Division 2A of the West Clubs Women’s Hockey League with a dominant 4-0 win at home to Lansdown at the weekend.

The hosts came out of blocks with determination and it did not take them long to break the deadlock.

Gemma Scrase found Victoria Stokes in the circle and she picked out Chloe Lewis to calmly lift the ball over the advancing goalkeeper.

The Swindon defence was rarely troubled, but when they were called into action, Mary Goldsmith and Ella Caldwell ensured keeper Sarah Anstey had little to do.

Swindon continued to dominate the game, but Lansdown kept their efforts for a second goal at bay until the break.

Early in the second half, Swindon were keen to get the ball rolling again, but chances for Stokes and Lynsey Wall were to no avail.

Swindon maintained the pressure and were finally rewarded via a penalty corner. A strike from Lewis was initially saved, only for Scrase to squeeze the ball over the line.

The score was 3-0 soon afterwards as Adriana Boullosa drove into the D before playing in Stokes, who made no mistake to net her second of the game.

Swindon were growing in confidence and captain Boullosa rounded off the scoring late on, squeezing the ball home after an initial penalty corner was saved.

It was a tough day for Swindon 2nd in Wessex Division One as they were thumped 8-2 away at second-in-the-table Devizes.

Meanwhile, Swindon Men started their 2019 fixtures in the Verde Recreo Hockey League Championship with a 2-1 defeat at home to lowly City of Bath.

The hosts paid the price for only holding a narrow one-goal lead going into the final stages of the match, having earlier taken the lead through Phil Scarisbrick.

City of Bath struck twice late on to turn the game around leaving Swindon with nothing to show for their efforts despite being the better team on the day.

There was also defeat for Swindon A in Central Two as they went down 3-1 away at Clifton Robinsons C, with Elliott Duff getting the visitors’ goal.

There was better news for Swindon B in East Central Two as they kept their place at the top of the table following a 3-0 win at home to Chippenham D.