Swindon P.S.F.A. vs St. Albans P.S.F.A. ‘B’ 17-9-11 Representative Friendly

Swindon began their season with a 10 goal thriller. The homesters began brightly with the pace of Philips and Benge threatening to unlock the Saints defence and Cremin and Potter defending resolutely. The central midfield pairing of Broadbank and Hopper combined well to enable White to open the scoring for Swindon. Less than five minutes later White doubled his tally. Potter’s tenacity halted a promising move from the visitors before finding Hopper. His clever pass found White who outpaced his marker and drilled a fierce low shot beyond the St. Albans’ ‘keeper. Swindon increased their lead as the match entered the second quarter; the hardworking Broadbank was rewarded with a goal from a finely taken shot. To their credit, the visitors fought back and George was forced to sprint from his line to collect a long ball and then produced a fine save to deny Smith. The lads from Hertfordshire continued to press down the centre and reduced the deficit when some indecisive defending allowed Shepperd to score. The visitors continued to press and scored a second through Shepperd two minutes later. However, Swindon rallied and forced a brace of corners. Cremin drove in a superb corner kick which Saints failed to clear and White swivelled to hook the ball over the visitor’s custodian to secure a first half hat-trick and make the score 4:2 at the interval. St. Albans made a number of changes during the break and began the second period strongly. Both Dearsley and McGinn made important interceptions and brave tackles to deny Hedge and Weaver. Five minutes later George produced another fine save, turning Smith’s goal-bound effort around for a corner. The homesters were unable to clear the resulting flag-kick and Roberts was able to score from close range. Swindon suffered a further setback when Broadbank was forced to leave the field with an injury and Swindon were reduced to 10 men. St. Albans pressed forwards in search of an equaliser but went behind once again to arguably the best goal of the match. The ball ran loose from McGinn ‘s strong challenge in his own penalty area and Potter quickly moved the ball wide to Philips. His clever pass found White who sprinted down the left flank evading the attentions of two Saints players before delivering a brilliant cross to Tyson who skilfully volleyed the ball past Saints’ ‘keeper.  However there was more drama to come and within five minutes of conceding, St. Albans made their advantage of an extra man count and scored through Calas to make it 5:4.  The visitors were then handed a chance to level the scores when they were awarded a penalty following a mis-timed challenge on Smith. But George made a superb save diving low to his left to prevent Sheppard from securing a hat-trick. Swindon pressed forwards and were awarded a free-kick just outside the Saints’ box. Philips’ quick thinking caught out the visitors and Hopper drilled the ball through a crowded box to score Swindon’s sixth of the game and secure the win.

Swindon P.S.F.A. vs St. Albans P.S.F.A. ‘A’ 17-9-11 Representative Friendly

Swindon began their second match of the morning against the lads from Hertfordshire in a confident mood.  Lawrence threatened to open up the visitors defence early on but his final pass was into the box was cleared by Driscoll before it could reach Legge’s late surging run. With Biles and Townsend battling hard in the centre of midfield, the homesters were able to maintain pressure on the visitors’ defence. With barely ten minutes gone, Swindon opened the scoring thorough Lea who coolly converted Lawrence’s pinpoint cross. St. Albans responded vigorously but Brown and Kutassy were not in a charitable mood, both making strong challenges to deny first King then Wilkinson. However the Blue and Yellows continued to press and restored parity before the break when Leach was caught out of position and Byron scored from close range. The homesters started the second period in much the same vein as they did the first. Lawrence was a constant thorn in the visitor’s side. Merchant pressed forwards on the left to support Legge but Swindon’s biggest threat came from Skinner who twice out-paced his marker down the right only to be ruled off-side. St. Albans weathered this early pressure and took the lead ten minutes after the break through King. Although nobody could fault Swindon’s desire their enthusiasm to press forwards exposed them to a swift counter-attack. It was from one such occasion that Saints scored their third. Barnett’s long kick found Wilkinson and he supplied Byron who skilfully evaded Leach’s challenge to make it 3:1. As the weather conditions worsened Swindon refused to surrender and Lea, Skinner and Lawrence all had chances to reduce the deficit. The visitors would have added a fourth shortly after but Townsend produced a brave stop at the feet of Rahmen before Leach blocked Wilkinson’s cross. Although the homester’s defence were able to clear the resulting corner but only as far as Byron who completed his hat-trick drilling the ball beyond Townsend’s reach. With less than five minutes remaining St. Albans added a fifth through Rahmen to seal only their second win at Ballard’s Ash. As for Swindon, they will have the opportunity to avenge the defeat when the two sides meet again next month in the Berks County League.