Local rivals beat Crusaders in pre-season showdown

Two goals in either half gave Swindon Town a pre-season win over local side Hungerford Town. It was the first home game of the 2019/20 season at Bulpit lane with a good attendance of 419 people on a warm Tuesday night. The new Hoffmeister beers and Gourmet pies proved a sell out throughout the night for the fans as they enjoyed the football. Their was an early treat as Zidane Akers steered home a corner to give the hosts an early lead inside three minutes, but the early setback galvanised Swindon to go on the attack as George Legg was called into action to save a fierce low volley. However, the league two side were to get their equaliser midway through the first half. Jerry Yates swept home a low cross from the right hand side, and five minutes later Ellis Liandolo was to meet a cross from the right wing to move Swindon into the lead. It was almost a carbon copy of the first goal. Legg then prevented a third being scored before half time as George Newell had an effort from long range.

Ian Herring made changes at the start of the second half to give more minutes to his squad ahead of August 3rd. The visitors attack though was hard to maintain with Keshi Anderson threatening early on to extend the scoreline. Matt Jones came close to equalising with a long range strike but it unfortunately didn't nestle into the net like it did at Bradford Town a week ago. James Constable then squandered his first chance of the evening. Mike Jones nipped it to collect a loose ball in midfield spraying it out wide to Matt Jones. The left back's sublime cross was headed over by the former Oxford United striker. Hungerford were to pay the price as two minutes later Anderson rounded off the victory for the Robins before Ralph Graham made the most of a lucky break to add a fourth. Their were still late chances for the hosts but they didn't reduce the arrears, instead falling to a second pre-season defeat.

Hungerford have the weekend off before heading to Swindon Supermarine next Tuesday. On August 3rd we kick off our national league south season away at Hemel Hempstead town before out first home match on August 6th against Berkshire rivals Slough Town.