Entertainment Swindon

After a relatively uneventful opening few minutes, the Conference League Champions took a bizarre ninth-minute lead after an outstretched leg from Eddie Nketiah deflected a Swindon clearance into the back of Connor Ripley’s goal.

Ian Holloway’s side didn’t let that awkward strike put them down, with Town creating their first chance of the day in the 15th minute after a powerful volley from Aaron Drinan tested Walter Benitez in the Palace goal.

Six minutes later, however, Nketiah doubled his goal tally for the day after he steered home a low cross beyond Ripley from close range.

After going 2-0 behind, Holloway’s men really stepped up the intensity in their press as they began to really get at the Premier League side.

Town had a golden opportunity to pull one back in the 27th minute after Paul Glatzel was tripped inside the area. Sadly, for Swindon, Aaron Drinan smashed his penalty against the post, before Matty Virtue skied the rebound.

Despite the missed opportunity, The Robins managed to pull a goal back six minutes later. After a quick break, Fletcher Holman drove inside the area before powerfully slotting the ball beyond Benitez.

The former Wolves man went on another mazy run in the 40th minute, drifting past a couple of defenders before firing a low effort towards goal; however, it was well saved.

As the half prolonged, Holloway’s side continued to ramp up the pressure on Palace’s goal and Ollie Clarke was the latest player to go close after he flicked a wide free-kick narrowly wide of the post.

After a positive end to the first half, Swindon brought that momentum into the second half, creating a good opportunity to level the score in the 50th minute when Glatzel danced inside the area and drove a powerful effort towards goal, which was blocked behind.

Matheus Franca showed a bit of class in the 56th minute after he cleverly chipped Ripley with a fine volley from outside the area to restore Palace’s two goal lead.

After the goal, Swindon made planned 10 changes, but the new team got off to a sloppy start, with Franca scoring his second of the day from the penalty spot in the 59th minute.

After Palace’s fourth goal, the game quietened down with a lack of clear-cut opportunities at both ends of the field.

Four minutes from time, Franca completed his hat-trick after a powerful finish from close range, following a quick break from the hosts.

That proved to be the final opportunity of the day, with the Conference League Champions claiming victory in their first outing of pre-season.

Swindon Town- First 60: Ripley, Clark, Trialist, Negru, McGregor, Kilkenny, Clarke ©, Virtue, Holman, Drinan, Glatzel.

Swindon Town- Last 30: Ripley, Ball, Kirkman, Mabete, Trialist, Debayo, Middlemas, Trialist, Trialist (Griffiths-Brown 80’), Nichols ©, Millard.