SWINDON Town’s development team fell to a late defeat at home to their Bristol Rovers counterparts in the Central Development League South West.

Rhys Sharpe’s 40th minute header cancelled out Jamie Lucas’ opener to leave the two sides level at the break but with the game deep into stoppage time, James Spruce capitalised on a defensive error to snatch the 2-1 victory.

Swindon started the game with a mix of experience and youth as first-team regulars Anton Rodgers, Nathan Deflouneso and Sean Murray all started at the Webbswood Stadium.

The hosts started brightly, with Jordan Stewart, returning from a knee injury, firing in an early shot from the edge of the box but it was the visitors who had the clearer cut chances.

In the ninth minute, central defender Christian Frimpong sold goalkeeper Will Henry short with his back pass, allowing Lucas to sneak in but his shot for the far corner was well saved by Henry before Sharpe cleared.

It was Lucas again minutes later who was firing over the bar for Bristol from the edge of the box as Swindon struggled going forward.

Swindon’s first real chance fell to Delfouneso when Rodgers split the defence with his pass but with just the Rovers keeper to beat, the 26-year-old saw his effort cannon off the on-rushing Kieran Hodges.

The breakthrough came the way of the visitors in the 26th minute when Lucas showed some fine individual skill in the box to control the ball in the box before flicking over Frimpong and drilling his shot home.

Bristol came close to doubling their advantage when Sharpe was caught in possession on the left-side of his own box but Lucas could only fire over the bar.

Swindon were back on level terms five minutes before the break when Sharpe scooped low to head home Sean Murray’s corner from the right.

In a scrappy second half of few opportunities, Henry had to be alert shortly after the hour-mark as he was off his line quickly to deny Lucas.

Murray tried his luck from distance with 15 minutes left on the clock but Hodges was rather untroubled and it was the visitors who nicked it late on.

Murray’s pass at the back was cut out by Spruce’s sliding challenge and the Bristol substitute picked himself up to run onto the ball and fire past Henry.

SWINDON TOWN XI: Will Henry; Jake Evans, Christian Frimpong, Rhys Sharpe, Louis Spalding; Anton Rodgers (Tom Ouldridge 67’), Sean Murray, Tom Smith, Jordan Stewart (Sebastian Martinez 73’); Nathan Delfouneso, Scott Twine

Unused subs: Jack Stanley, Mason Hathaway