SWINDON Men's first XI moved up to fifth in the Verde Recreo Premiership after a last-minute winner away at Truro last weekend.

Swindon - who compete in the second highest tier of men’s hockey - battled through a tough encounter in Cornwall and appeared set to travel home with a point before late heroics dragged the result the way of the visitors.

The first half saw Swindon create several good chances, but the away side could not find a way past the Truro goalkeeper.

The home side was only causing the Swindon defence the occasional issue on the break, but they almost took the lead when a controversial short corner cracked the post and bounced away just before half-time.

Swindon made the perfect start to the second half and scored following some quick build-up play along the left.

While the opening goal helped to energise the game, no further goals came until 15 minutes to play. A long ball up front wasn’t cleared by Swindon, and the Truro striker clinically found the far corner of the goal to equalise.

In the dying minutes, Truro were denied what would have been the winner after a superb piece of defending by Swindon. And the visitors’ heroics were almost immediately repaid up the other end when a short corner in the final minute resulted in a close-range goal that saw Swindon take all three points.

Meanwhile, Swindon Ladies first XI lost 2-1 to Howardians in their West Women’s Hockey League Premier Division clash.

After a hectic first five minutes that required Swindon’s defence to be organised, the visitors’ midfield took charge by creating several counter-attacks in a bid to turn the tide in their favour.

Midway through the first half, Swindon made their dominance count as they muscled a short corner over the Welsh side’s line to take the lead.

However, Howardians converted a contested penalty flick to make it 1-1 before half-time, and the Welsh outfit converted a second penalty flick after the break to take the lead.

Despite strong pressure from Swindon, the visitors could not find a way past Howardians goalkeeper to take a point.

In other matches, Swindon Men’s second XI beat Chippenham, the Men’s third XI won against Shepton Mallet, and the Ladies second XI lost to local rivals, North Wilts.