MATCH REPORT: Swindon Town (3) v (0) Macclesfield Town

SWINDON TOWN made it three wins on the bounce with an impressive three-nil home victory over Macclesfield Town at the County Ground this afternoon. Total Sport Swindon’s Ryan Walker gives his full-time match report following the action.

Keshi Anderson’s 36th minute strike opened the scoring before a brace from Bradford loanee Eoin Doyle secured all three points as Swindon Town made it three consecutive league victories. 

A relatively quiet start to proceedings saw Swindon dominate possession in the early exchanges as Macclesfield sought to press high up the pitch restricting the Town players space in dangerous areas. 

Lloyd Isgrove registered the games first shot on target with his 25-yard strike in the 8th minute failing to test the Silkmen’s Owen Evans between the sticks, as Swindon spread the ball well with the visitors offering very little in attack. 

Three corners within the opening twenty minutes failed to test the Macclesfield keeper as a series of poor deliveries into the box allowed the away side to clear easily and break up the pitch. 

Despite not enjoying the same frantic start as they did against Morecambe two weeks ago, Swindon stayed calm in their attempts to break down a staunch Macclesfield defence that had only conceded more than one goal on a single occasion so far this season coming into today’s match. 

Anthony Grant wasn’t afraid to get stuck in on what was his first start for the club with some meaty challenges in the middle of the park winning the ball back well for Swindon, whilst Town’s formidable strike partnership of Doyle and Yates - nine goals between them this season - linked up well with the duo running off of each other to varying degrees of effect as the Macclesfield defence struggled to deal with the Swindon attack.

Chances had been coming for Swindon and they eventually got their breakthrough in the 36th minute as a low ball in from Danny Rose was pushed on-target by Doyle as Evans palmed his effort clear, but only into the path of the oncoming Anderson who was left with a simple tap-in to score his third goal of the season, just one short of last years goal tally. 

Having had a stranglehold on the game from kick-off, Richie Wellens would’ve been delighted to see his side take a deserved lead, but a strong response from the visitors almost gifted Theo Archibald with a goal-scoring opportunity, only for Grant’s last-ditch slide tackle inside his own box taking possession away from the striker. 

Macclesfield had offered very little in attack throughout the first-half and as Daryl McMahon urged his players forward as Macclesfield went in search for an equaliser, gaps were left at the back for Swindon to exploit as Eoin Doyle smashed the ball past Evans on the stroke of half-time to double Town’s advantage. 

A Lloyd Isgrove cross into the box was only half-cleared by the Sikmens back-line as Yates used his strength well to win back possession on the edge of the box before sliding an easy ball into the path of Doyle who’s first-time shot from inside the six-yard box found the top scorer, giving Doyle his sixth goal of the season as the half-time whistle followed just moments later. 

As the players emerged from the tunnel for the second-half, the feel-goof factor that Wellens and his current crop of players had managed to create around the club this season was evident for all to see and hear as a packed home crowd made their sentiments heard. 

Play resumed and apart from a couple of opportunistic chances from the away side, Swindon remained firmly in control with the centre-back partnership of Conroy and Baudry enduring a relatively quiet afternoon. 

Chances at the other end of the pitch saw Doyle shoot on target in the 50th minute albeit with a weak effort that was easily saved, with Isgrove then threatening with a half-volley effort just minutes later. 

Town were relentless in their attack however and Anderson looked certain to score his second of the game in the 59th minute after latching onto a Yates cutback, only for his close-range effort to somehow be saved by the scrambling Evans. 

As the clock ticked on and with Macclesfield edging ever nearer towards their third defeat of the season, Swindon put their foot on the gas and were eventually rewarded with their third goal of the game in the 75th minute as Eoin Doyle once again unleashed a ferocious shot in to the roof of the net following some good interposing play between Anderson and Hunt. 

Kaiyne Woolery, Adam May, and Tom Broadbent all made substitute appearances in the closing moments as Wellens attempted to run the clock down and secure Town their first home clean sheet of the season. 

A late long-range free-kick from Macclesfield’s Emmanuel Osadebe gave Macclesfield a glimpse of getting a consolation goal but for Luke McCormick to make an easy save.

The final whistle blew moments later as Swindon rose to second place in the League Two table following another fantastic performance from Richie Wellens’ STFC.