STORM Deirdre made playing conditions extremely difficult on Saturday as Swindon Town’s Under 18s slipped to a 2-1 loss against Cheltenham in their latest Youth Alliance fixture.

Harry Drag put the visitors ahead before Cheltenham netted twice to secure their seventh victory of the season, which lifted them into the Championship Round frame.

David Farrell’s Swindon youngsters, meanwhile, missed a golden opportunity to advance into the league’s top six – their latest loss means they now sit seventh, behind sixth-placed – and Championship Round occupants – Bristol Rovers on goal difference only.

Farrell afterwards accepted that individual errors costs his side valuable league points, believing a draw would have been a fair result.

He said: “It was a difficult game, the conditions were absolutely horrendous – probably the worst I’ve coached in.

“The boys played some really good stuff in the first half and perhaps scored more goals. An individual error cost us an equaliser at half-time.

“Cheltenham changed their formation for the second half and had a bit more about them in the second half, but we still had lots of chances – but we didn’t take them.

“We refused to shoot and tried to walk the ball in instead. It was an even game, a draw would’ve been a fair result.”

Swindon are next in action on Saturday when making the trip west to face league strugglers Newport County.

County have won just one of their 16 games this season, and Town defeated them less than two weeks ago when scoring eight times in a thrilling 8-2 win.

Despite his side’s recent domination over County, Farrell insists Swindon face a fresh challenge this weekend – and any signs of complacency will undoubtedly end in a reverse result.

He said: “It’s the last game before a short break before Christmas.

“Our six-goal win the other week wasn’t easy, it will be tougher at their place.

“Any complacency and we will come up short, a professional approach is needed.

“It’s all about development and not results at this level. If they learn, it shows they are developing.

“It’s a good test for them.”