SWINDON Town played out a largely uneventful 0-0 draw with Melksham Town in the professional club’s first outing of the season on Friday night.

In a game that barely got going at all, a youthful second-half Swindon XI showed encouraging desire and commitment to the cause, but quality in front of goal was lacking for both sets of players throughout.

As a result, the crowd of 940 – which was dominated by fans of the north Wiltshire outfit – went home with little to talk about aside from the joy of watching their team in the flesh once again.

Swindon’s skeleton squad got off to shaky start at the InfiLED Arena as Melksham hit the post in the third minute. A cross from the hosts’ right was missed by everyone and Jojo Wollacott watched on as the ball struck his right-hand post before bouncing away.

Melksham went close again through Albie Morgan moments later, but his shot could only find the side netting.

Midway through the first 45, Swindon began to pose a bit of a threat too. Winger George Cowmeadow was played in down the left and tried to square the ball back to Town’s trialist striker, but good defending from Greg Tindle ensured nothing would come of the chance.

Shortly before the break, Swindon’s unnamed number nine had the best chance of the first half. Harry Parsons won the ball in midfield straight from a Melksham throw, and he immediately slipped the trialist striker in.

The Town number nine jinked right and then left before unleashing a really tame shot straight at former Highworth Town stopper Connor Johns from the edge of the box.

Only a needless scuffle involving Rob Hunt and Melksham’s Jake Mawford dissected a tame remainder – both of whom were carded – and the game remained goalless at the break.

One of two survivors to Swindon’s starting XI for the second half – Cowmeadow – had a decent early chance to score before the visitors’ trialist goalkeeper made an outstanding double save to deny Phil Ormorod.

A whipped cross came in from the right which Ormorod headed goalwards, and a good save turned the ball out but straight back to the Melksham striker.

The rebound seemed easier to score than not, but somehow Swindon's goalkeeper leapt up to turn the second effort out before number five provided a timely block.

An extremely young Swindon side battled hard in the second half as Melksham tried to find a winner, but chances were few and far between and the visitors never looked like scoring aside from one or two half-chances.

Next up for Swindon is a trip to Hungerford Town on Tuesday night.

STFC starting XI: Jojo Wollacott, Rob Hunt, Mathieu Baudry, Dion Conroy (C), Player A, Jordan Lyden, Harry Parsons, Donny Gordon, George Cowmeadow, Alex Bell, Player B.

STFC second half XI: Player C, Ben Boulder, Minturn, Player A, Taye Weir, Anton Dworzak, Callum Winchcoombe, Francis, Fox, Player B, Cowmeadow.

MTFC starting XI: Connor Johns, Will Christopher (C), Ryan Morgan, Harry Rutty, Greg Tindle, Matt Hurley, Liam Monelle, Albie Hopkins, Phil Ormorod, Sam Hendy, Jake Mawford.

MTFC subs: Sayeed Ibraham, Seth Wain, Jay Malshanski, Jack Ball, Aiden Chainey, Harvey Flippance.