MATCH REPORT: Swindon Town (3) v (1) Morecambe FC

SWINDON TOWN got back to winning ways with a 3-1 victory over Morecambe to round off their most impressive performance of the season so far. Total Sport Swindon’s Ryan Walker gives his match report from the County Ground.

Three first-half goals from Eoin Doyle and Jerry Yates proved to be the difference as Swindon extended their climb up the League Two table with a dominant performance over Jim Bentley’s Morecambe. 

It took just four minutes for Eoin Doyle to send the STFC fans into raucous celebrations as the on-loan striker fired home from close-range to open the scoring against Jim Bentley’s Morecambe.

Good pressing play early on saw Swindon enjoy lots of possession as the visitors struggled to deal with the physicality of Richie Wellens’ side, but momentarily lapses in concentration made Town their own worst enemy. 

After going a goal up early on, Swindon perhaps became a bit complacent as Danny Rose gave the ball away cheaply in midfield allowing Morecambe through on goal in a 3 v 2 situation with Lewis Alessandra eventually tapping home past McCormick to level the game. 

Morecambe continued to push forward following the goal and good chances from both John O’Sullivan and Shaun Miller could’ve given the away side the lead only for McCormick’s intervention to keep the scoreline level. 

Swindon responded well however and the striking partnership of both Eoin Doyle and Jerry Yates caused havoc amongst the Shrimps backline, whilst the pace of both Anderson and Isgrove created openings down both wings as Town attempted to restore their lead. 

Just three minutes had passed since Morecambe levelled the match, as Jerry Yates remained cool and collective to latch onto a reverse through ball from Anderson, eventually firing low into the bottom right corner to make it 2-1, marking his return from a three-match ban in style. 

The goal appeared to deflate the Morecambe team, who have won just one game all season, whilst it had the opposite effect on Swindon as Doyle latched onto a beautiful Isgrove cross to head past Roche with a strong header to score his fifth goal in four matches as STFC made it 3-1. 

Swindon’s resilience to come back in such dominant fashion after conceding early on would’ve delighted the home fans with Richie Wellens’ side showing significant improvements to the Town side that finished last season. 

Morecambe attempted to bounce back once again as Richie Sutton’s 44th minute header narrowly went over the bar of McCormick to conclude the first half action with Swindon deservedly in front after arguably their most impressive first half performance of the season so far. 

Play resumed and Jim Bentley’s half-time team talk seemed to have done very little to alter his team’s on-pitch performance as Swindon remained casual on the ball with very little pressure being applied by the Shrimps. 

Dion Conroy and Mathieu Baudry had very little to do with crosses into the Town box often sailing well over and out of play. The travelling side enjoyed a solid period of possession ten minutes into the second period of play, but failed to make inroads against Swindon as the hosts exerted their dominance. 

Swindon nearly made it four in the 59th minute after Hunt, Isgrove, and Yates combined beautifully to create a goalscoring opportunity with the latter’s cutback avoiding everyone as Morecambe cleared. 

Defender Mathieu Baudry almost got among the goals after his header from Isgrove’s corner went just wide of Roche’s post before some sloppy play from Town allowed Morecambe to clear easily and retain possession. 

Leading by two goals allowed the Swindon players to relax as the away side frantically went in search of a goal, but complacency appeared to have crept into Town’s game as the Robins conceded possession cheaply allowing Morecambe to push players upfield into dangerous positions. 

The introduction of Kaiyne Woolery- on for Yates - restored balance for Swindon as the pacey attacker stretched the tired legs of Morecambe’s defenders with chances for Town in the latter stages of the second half not converted as Swindon’s lead remained in tact. 

Half-cut chances in the closing moments of the match nearly allowed the away side to pull one back but Swindon finished the game having ended their winless streak with their most impressive performance of the season so far.