Hockey: Elusive victory finally arrives for Swindon
7:30am Wednesday 18th March 2009 in Sport By Ned Payne
SWINDON recorded their first win of 2009 with a 5-1 victory over league strugglers City of Bath at Isambard Learning Campus on Saturday.
The home side were able to field a near full-strength team for the first time in months and looked good from the start.
Fast attacking as well as good build-up play and possession saw the City of Bath players chasing shadows in the early stages.
It took over 20 minutes for Swindon to break the deadlock, with Mike Gassner putting the hosts one up as he slipped the ball under the advancing goalkeeper.
With the seconds ticking away in the first half, Tom Wickens got on the end of a Jon Scrase pass at the top of the area.
The left midfielder’s first-time shot flew into the corner giving the goalkeeper no chance, and Swindon had relative breathing space going into half time.
In the second period Swindon continued to dominate all over the pitch, with Salmon, Philip and Scrase imperious for the home side.
They were 5-0 within 20 minutes, with Jon Scrase scoring two of them.
First Scrase smashed home a stunning reverse strike and then netted from a well-worked penalty corner.
Tom Gillingham added the fifth following good attacking play from Salmon and Gassner.
The home side lost concentration slightly in the final minutes and allowed the visitors to grab a consolation goal.
Swindon travel to Bristol on Saturday to face Robinsons. On Sunday they take on league basement boys Yeovil at Isambard learning campus.
