Swindon 3 Barnsley 1

Last updated : 10 August 2002 By Footymad Previewer

Swindon striker Sam Parkin kick-started his County Ground career with a debut hat-trick as the revamped Robins came from behind to beat below par Barnsley.

Parkin completed his on-off £50,000 move from Premiership Chelsea on Thursday and made an instant impression on the home fans with a debut to remember.

It didn't look like a homecoming to remember when Barnsley midfielder Chris Lumsdon put the visitors ahead with a 30th minute penalty after Kevin Betsy had been bundled over by Swindon midfielder Stefani Miglioranzi.

Parkin drew the sides level with the first goal of his opening day treble just two minutes later, neatly turning experienced Tykes defender Mike Flynn before curling the ball past helpless goalkeeper Andy Marriott.

Parkin put the home side ahead five minutes into the second half when he bundled the ball over the line from close range after Marriott had pushed Danny Invincibile's 20-yard shot into the striker's path.

Parkin rounded off his fantastic day three minutes from time when he beat Marriott with a well taken penalty after fellow debutant Gareth Edds had been fouled by Flynn.

Defender Edds, a pre-season signing from First Division Nottingham Forest, afterwards paid tribute to matchwinner Parkin, saying "Sam was absolutely unstoppable.

"You could see right from the start he was going to have one of those days that everything he hit went in. It was a fantastic performance."

Barnsley manager Steve Parkin was not so ecstatic about his side's sloppy performance, admitting "Our performance was absolutely awful. Our big players did not perform and we must improve if we are going to make any impact on this division."