On-loan striker Ronan Murray came on as an 84th minute sub as Swindon secured their place in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final at Wembley with a 1-0 victory over 10-man Barnet at the County Ground last night. Former Blues Academy frontman Alan Connell netted the game’s only goal after 17 minutes to win the two-legged southern area final 2-1 on aggregate.

Murray is on loan with the Robins for the rest of the season, having recently put pen to paper on a Blues contract which will keep him at Portman Road until the end of June 2013.

Manager Paul Jewell told the club site that everyone at Portman Road is pleased for the 20-year-old: "Ronan has benefited from going out on loan at Swindon and we're delighted for him.

"He's playing games that really count, week-in, week-out and that's what he needs at this stage of his career."

Swindon will take on Chesterfield, who beat Shefki Kuqi’s Oldham in the northern area final, in the final on Sunday 25th March.

Photo: Action Images

hampstead_blue added 09:46 - Feb 8 Happy Days!
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spanish_archer added 09:51 - Feb 8 Get used to it Ronan...plenty more of those to come with ITFC!
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spanish_archer added 09:52 - Feb 8 Sorry about that everyone...I had a temporary moment of insanity. COYB!
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forensic_bloo added 10:03 - Feb 8 Git! Up the Bees!!!
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forensic_bloo added 10:08 - Feb 8 Seriously though, he was relatively annonimous in the first leg at Underhill, and is now only on the bench. Not sure if this situation is the norm, but how is sitting on the bench in league two going to progress him to championship standards? Would it be better to loan him (if they want him, of course) to someone like Barnet, nearer the bottom of the league, with no sqaud at all to speak of, where he might get a run of games (him, or anyone else for that matter - Jack Ainsley etc if they are not getting games with us)

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twtd_92 added 10:23 - Feb 8 @forensic bloo well you clearly hadnt watched that match with much attention to know he assisted the goal in that game at Barnet
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Bergholtblue added 10:59 - Feb 8 I partially agree with forensic, 6 minutes is hardly 'benefitting from playing games week in and week out'. Still this will be a fantastic experience for the lad, but I suspect that all it will do is bump his price up for when we sell in the summer.
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forensic_bloo added 11:25 - Feb 8 One cross into the Bees box asaide, he may well have contributed other little bits and pieces, but as I said, he was relatively annonimous. Other players stood out more, so are we perhaps keeping players who should be playing at that level, and not picking up players from that level who would benefit us more? Mind you, one game is hared to judge a player by
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twtd_92 added 14:38 - Feb 8 it has to be said though that he has helped swindon, he has scored a few goals and had a few assists. he scored the winner to get them to the games against barnet also so thats a big contribution. Agreed if you have only seen one game ya cant judge him on that but i have seen a few games and he has done well.
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irishtim added 16:09 - Feb 8 Well done ronan.
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jas0999 added 17:56 - Feb 8 Good for him. Miles better than Ellington.
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Michael11 added 18:26 - Feb 8 Hopefully he'll come back next year and be like a new signing for us! surely a dead camel would be better than Nathan Ellington
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fussysnake added 18:42 - Feb 8 Good experience for him although he doesnt seem to start games.....
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Garv added 03:52 - Feb 9 On what evidence is he better than Ellington?
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Michael11 added 11:45 - Feb 9 On the evidence that Murrays gone on loan and banged goals in, whereas ellington hasn't hit a barn door in 10 years?
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Garv added 13:46 - Feb 9 Banged in? 2 I think he's got, he's only getting substitute appearances in league two and hasn't played a first team game this season, must be quality! Ellington has scored goals in the reserves, which is no worse a level than league two.
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