Williams pleased with latest outing as players adapt to altitude (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Williams pleased with latest outing as players adapt to altitude

6:20am Thursday 12th July 2012 in News By Sam Morshead

ALTITUDE played a major factor in Swindon Town’s 1-1 draw with Bayern Munich II in Andalo yesterday, according to striker Andy Williams.

Williams, who started up front alongside Paul Benson, admitted that the Robins were forced to adapt to unusual conditions 1,500 metres above sea level.

But he was pleased with his own personal performance, despite striking a post with four minutes remaining of the opening period, and stressed that the tough physical test would only benefit him in the weeks to come.

“The altitude was higher than what we’ve been training in and it was a big test for us,” he told the Advertiser.

“I didn’t notice it when we first got here to be honest but once we started getting going yes.

“I think it’s general pre-season stuff, that after 20 minutes you start to feel it in your heart and lungs, but it’s all good and a step in the right direction.”

Having played with James Collins up top for 45 minutes of the 9-1 thrashing of a select XI at Town’s hotel training camp last week, Williams has now enjoyed game time alongside each of Swindon’s two other senior striking options during the tour of Italy.

And he has come to the conclusion that the trio aren’t that different at all.

“I think we’re all quite similar in a way and they’re two very good players and it’s great to play with them both really,” he said. “Hopefully I can strike up a partnership with both of them and see how things go.”

Meanwhile Benson, who netted Town’s only goal after three minutes against the German side, also conceded that he struggled a little with the altitude at Andalo.

“It was probably a little bit tougher because we’re up as high as we are,” he said. “I felt that was a bit of a problem so after 45 minutes I was starting to fatigue quicker than I thought I was going to.

“It was tough and me and Willo did a lot of chasing in the first half. It was a tough game to play in.

“It was hard to get any oxygen into those lungs so I did struggle a little bit. But it’s only going to make us fitter when we go back to normal level and we’ll feel the benefit.”

The former Charlton man was full of praise for his striking colleague, saying: “I thought Willo did brilliantly. He ran the channels, chased down the defenders when he needed to and he was a pleasure to play alongside.”