Swindon Town striker Aaron Drinan has been shortlisted for the EFL League Two Player of the Month award for August. The nomination was earned for a spectacular strike during a home victory over Cheltenham Town.
Drinan scored the first goal of that match with a powerful shot from distance that found the top corner. Anthony Munda started the attacking play, and Ollie Clarke later added another goal before the visiting side scored a late goal. This win marked the first time Swindon had beaten Cheltenham at home in a league match in over a decade.
A proven goalscorer
This recognition follows a strong period of performance for Drinan, who was previously named the EFL League Two Player of the Season. A statistical review showed he had scored a high number of league goals since the beginning of that successful season. At that time, only two players in England's top four divisions had scored more.
Sports reporter Ian Howard highlighted Drinan's impact. "Aaron Drinan has shown himself to be the spearhead of Swindon’s attack," Howard said. "His pace and direct running into the area leaves defences unsure whether to risk a tackle which could bring him down in the area leading to a penalty. His accuracy in shooting is deadly!"
The competition for the prize
Drinan faces strong competition for the August award. Ched Evans of Fleetwood Town was nominated for a long-range volley. Keenan Appiah-Forson of Oldham Athletic earned his place with a high-arcing effort, and Tom James of Bristol Rovers scored from a set-piece.
Public voting opened on a Friday morning and closed on the following Monday afternoon. Those votes were combined with the choices of Sky Sports EFL experts to decide the winner, which was scheduled for announcement later that week.
Current context for Swindon
Swindon Town currently sit ninth in League Two with 10 points from six matches. Their recent form includes a mix of wins and losses, with the most recent result being a heavy defeat away from home. Drinan, however, scored three goals in the match prior to that defeat.
The nomination is a positive note as the team prepares for its next fixture, looking to recover from a recent loss and continue its push up the table.
