SWINDON Town saw off Forest Green 4-0 in the two sides’ pre-season friendly at the New Lawn this evening.
Town took the lead just after the quarter-hour mark when Troy Archibald-Henville nodded his first goal for his new club and doubled their advantage seven minutes later from the penalty spot.
Andy Williams was brought down in the area by Paul Green and Swindon skipper Paul Caddis made no mistake from 12 yards.
The Robins accelerated through the gears during the opening period and could have been three goals to the good but for a superb save from home keeper Matty Bulman to deny Matt Ritchie.
After the break, Omar Koroma passed up a glorious chance to pull a goal back for Forest Green before Gary Roberts slid home Luke Rooney’s cross for Town’s third.
And with nine minutes remaining Simon Ferry capped the victory as he tucked home following a short corner.
Here are the key moments of today’s match:
Two mins: Paul Caddis has the first shot at goal for Town but he drags his effort well wide of Forest Green goalkeeper Matty Bulman’s right-hand post.
Seven mins: Matt Ritchie takes aim from almost the exact same spot as Caddis but the result is the same, and the ball drifts harmlessly out for a goal kick.
Eight mins: Ritchie’s dangerous low cross almost gives Andy Williams a five-yard tap-in but Paul Green slides in to clear the danger for Forest Green.
10 mins: Yan Klukowski tries to bend a volley over Wes Foderingham from 12 yards but it flies out for a goal kick.
16 mins: GOAL 0-1 (Archibald-Henville) A deep ball to the back post picks out Tommy Miller and the midfielder nods across goal for Troy Archibald-Henville to rise above his marker and find the right-hand corner. A very neat finish from the centre-half.
17 mins: Paul Benson tests Bulman, turning and shooting low from 15 yards out. Neat play in the build-up to that chance, with Swindon moving the ball quickly and accurately.
23 mins: GOAL 0-2 (Caddis, pen) It’s an easy decision for referee Brendan Malone when Williams is scythed down by Green in the area – a clumsy challenge that warrants the penalty awarded.
Caddis steps up and, though Bulman goes the right way, the Forest Green keeper cannot keep the Scot’s effort out.
33 mins: Archibald-Henville twice does well to intercept crosses before they reach their intended targets. The former Exeter man has been hugely impressive again tonight.
36 mins: Jay McEveley’s drilled cross comes within centimetres of finding Williams’ toe, but in the end the ball lands in Bulman’s arms.
37 mins: In three passes Swindon rip the Forest Green defence to pieces, as Alan Navarro, Miller and Roberts exchange possession to tee up Ritchie, but the winger kicks the air when beautifully placed. Would have put money on him making that three.
41 mins: Top save. Ritchie gathers possession in midfield, juggling on the run, and launches a fizzing, dipping, 25-yard effort which ex-Town keeper Bulman does well to turn over.
44 mins: Ben Wright sends an 18-yard free-kick narrowly wide of Foderingham’s right-hand post.
52 mins: A double chance that Town really should have taken. First, Roberts dances effortlessly through three tackles to tee up substitute James Collins but his deflected effort trickles wide.
Moments later, Williams sees his 10-yard header drift past a post.
62 mins: Chances are at a premium as both sides start to make changes, but on several occasions Town tear their opponents to pieces before failing to find that final ball.
66 mins: Forest Green have a golden opportunity to pull a goal back but Omar Koroma, unmarked and six yards out, heads wide.
67 mins: GOAL 0-3 (Roberts) The hosts are made to pay for their profligacy as substitute Luke Rooney’s deep cross picks out the sliding Roberts at the back post and the winger manages to bundle the ball over the line.
69 mins: Collins has another glorious chance to open his account for the evening when he is picked out by a drilled, 40-yard, slide-rule pass from Caddis, but the ex-Shrewsbury frontman can’t hit the target with his left foot.
81 mins: GOAL 0-4 (Ferry) A collector’s item for the travelling Town fans as substitute Simon Ferry receives Raffa De Vita’s short corner and takes aim.
The Scot’s deflected effort beats Bulman and he celebrates with a full-hearted fist pump.
85 mins: Klukowski’s flicked header doesn’t bother Foderingham as Forest Green launch a rare attack into Town territory.
SWINDON TOWN: Wes Foderingham (Leigh Bedwell, 89); Paul Caddis (Nathan Thompson , 85); Alan McCormack (Aden Flint, 81), Troy Archibald-Henville (Joe Devera, 57), Jay McEveley (Chris Smith, 89); Matt Ritchie (Luke Rooney, 56), Alan Navarro (Simon Ferry, 64), Tommy Miller (Oliver Risser, 85), Gary Roberts (Raffa De Vita, 67); Andy Williams (Miles Storey, 82), Paul Benson (James Collins, 46)
FOREST GREEN ROVERS SQUAD: Matt Bulman, Jared Hodgkiss, Chris Stokes, Ali Bangura, Yan Klukowski, Reece Styche, Magno Vieira, Kieron Forbes, Eddie Oshodi, Ben Wright, Paul Green, Sam Russell, Jamie Turley, Chris Todd, Omar Koroma, Jamie Collins, Matty Taylor, Ed Asafu Adjaye, Phil Marsh, James Rowe, James Norwood
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