By Peter Mitchell

CAMBRIDGE UTD 1

SWINDON TOWN 3

Swindon Town got their new management duo of Phil Brown and Brian Horton off to the perfect winning start and hauled themselves back into the promotion mix.

Against Cambridge the team reverted to a 4-4-2 formation with Matt Taylor being pushed forward into midfield, along with James Dunne, Paul Mullin and Timi Elsnik.

After 15 minutes it was like a play-back from earlier in the season. Chris Hussey, making a welcome first start since September, swung in a superb cross that Luke Norris headed home for his first goal in two months.

Phil Brown had placed an emphasis on working hard and closing players down and Swindon were doing just that.

Close to the break a great overhead kick by Cambridge’s Billy Walters was cleared off the line by Dunne, much to the annoyance of his former club’s supporters.

On the hour mark Swindon won a free kick on the left side and the result was yet another assist from Matt Taylor. His delivery was met by a glancing header from Marc Richards to double Town’s lead.

United needed to do something fast and brought on the formidable Ibehre to add more power and height up front. Success came in the 73rd minute when David Amoo crossed and Uche Ikpeazu pounced on a deflection to pull one back.

New Swindon signing Ryan McGivern replaced the tiring Hussey for the final 12 minutes but, just when the home pressure was building, Swindon got a break. Substitute Kaiyne Woolery was caught late inside the box and Richards stepped up to score from the spot.

That knocked any remaining stuffing out of the hosts and Town easily saw out the remaining ten minutes for a deserved three points. James Dunne had been a terrier in midfield and overall it had been a hard-working display by the whole side.

So once again, as happens so often, a new manager gets off to a flying start. Let’s hope it’s the first of a good run of wins over the final stretch of the season.

Spare a thought for Matt Taylor. On his long journey home, he must have pondered on what might have been. His players just didn’t turn up for him last Saturday and yet produced just the right performance a week later. But what a professional – he brushed aside that disappointment and turned in another 100% committed display for his team.

Town now find themselves on the fringe of the playoff spots, edged out only by their poor goal difference. Next Saturday’s fixture is a key one with Swindon travelling to Exeter City, who lie one place above them.

Marc Richards has now notched up nine goals in just ten starts – a fantastic return from the veteran striker - so at least David Flitcroft did something right when he persuaded him to join the club in January.