MATCH REPORT: Swindon Town (4) v (0) Cambridge United

SWINDON TOWN secured their biggest home win of the season running riot at the County Ground on Boxing Day to secure a four-nil victory over Cambridge United to stay top of League Two. Total Sport Swindon’s Ryan Walker gives his match report following the action.

Eoin Doyle scored his 22nd goal of the season from the penalty spot just four minutes in as Keshi Anderson doubled his goals tally for the season with a brilliant hat-trick to wrap up an emphatic victory in front of a packed home crowd. 

An emphatic start to festive proceedings saw Eoin Doyle score his 22nd goal of the season just four minutes into kick-off as Keshi Anderson won a penalty for the hosts after being brought down inside the Cambridge box by George Taft. 

Doyle tucked the ball into the bottom right corner to score for the 11th consecutive game. Cambridge responded well with Taft going close to securing an immediate equaliser as his header from a set-piece drifted wide of the Swindon goal just moments later. 

A goal out of nothing seemed to spurn Colin Calderwood;s men on as they threatened with multiple balls into the Swindon box during the opening twenty minutes, however a lack of killer instinct when it mattered most let the hosts off the hook. 

Kaiyne Woolery went close to doubling Swindon’s lead in the 18th minute after a well-worked cross in from the left fell to winger, but an error in judgement saw him miss the ball as it went under his foot and out of play. 

Despite the scoreline, Cambridge continued to attack with intent as Swindon’s difficulty to deal with the long-ball nearly allowed the visitors back into the match. 

A long kick upfield from U’s keeper Mitov found striker Sam Smith, who used his strength well to outmuscle Mathieu Baudry. However he rushed at the shot and Benda was able to get down and save comfortably. 

Cambridge had thrown everything at Swindon during the initial twenty minutes, but the hosts new-look defence of Baudry and Gabriel Zakuani dealt with the opposing threat well to stop the opposition creating any clear-cut chances. 

Having frustrated the visitors, Swindon were able to dominate in the latter stages of the first-half with Keshi Anderson and Michael Doughty’s runs from midfield slicing open Cambridge’s defensive unit. 

Having already won a penalty, Anderson almost earned another for his side in the 21st minute after Taft hacked down the 24-year-old on the edge of the Cambridge box. 

However the resulting free-kick failed to trouble the keeper as Doughty hit the ball into the wall and behind for a corner. 

Ten minutes later, Doughty again had the chance to test shot stopper Mitov after Ellis Iandolo found the playmaker with a low-cross towards the edge of the D, only for Doughty to misjudge the speed of the ball as it went under his foot and the chance was spurned. 

As half-time approached, Swindon looked happy to settle for a one-goal advantage but brilliant play down the left-wing saw the hosts double their advantage on the stroke of half-time. 

Bursting forward from right-back, Paul Caddis delivered a diagonal ball into the box with Woolery rising highest to beat his man as he headed the ball into the path on the on-rushing Anderson as he shot first time to fire past Mitov from close-range. 

Having established a two-goal lead, Swindon continued to attack in the closing moments of the half as Cambridge sat deep looking to close out the half. 

But their lack of pressing allowed Swindon too much time in possession and as Anderson picked up the ball from 25 yards out he was able to set himself and strike the ball with power as his shot sailed past the helpless Mitov into the top left corner. 

The half-time whistle blew seconds later as quick-fire goals from Keshi Anderson had turned the tie on its head as Swindon left the field with a deserved three-nil lead in tact. 

Play resumed and the home side nearly had a fourth goal within minutes as Doughty was found with a floated cross into the box, but after rising well he connected with the ball on the way down from his jump and couldn’t generate the power needed to test the keeper. 

Swindon continued to bring the ball forward in wave after wave of attack, whereas in contrast Cambridge cut a deflated and frustrated outfit struggling to string together simple passes and offering little threat in attack. 

Quick football from the hosts continued to create chances and with 25 minutes left, Anderson got his hattrick. 

Doyle’s low-cross into the box for Yates was cleared by the sliding Greg Taylor but he could only as far as Anderson with the midfielder left to tap into an open net to make it four-nil Swindon. 

Colin Calderwood attempted to spark a reaction from his side making a triple substitution in the 70th minute but his side could do nothing to repair the damage as Swindon remained tight at the back to deny Cambridge of any goalscoring opportunities. 

Lloyd Isgrove, Danny Rose, and Taylor Curran were all introduced into the fray as time ticked on with Swindon manager Richie Wellens trying to give players rest where possible over a congested winter fixture list. 

Little action in the closing stages of the match saw Swindon pass the ball around with ease as the final whistle blew to conclude proceedings at the County Ground after a dominant performance saw Swindon earn a deserved four-nil win to extend their stay at the top of the League Two table.