Swindon Town 3 v Port Vale 0

By Peter Mitchell

It didn’t take long for Swindon to recover from their rugby-type mauling at Newport last week. With the extra hammer blow of losing Jerry Yates (recalled to Rotherham), fans now had to face up to life without the two top strikers in League Two.

They didn’t need to worry on this occasion. Kaiyne Woolery was lively and kept the visitors busy and Diallang Jaiyesimi once again showed he is a really potent asset in attack.

In fairness Port Vale were so poor, managing just one shot on goal, that it was hard to believe they were still nestling in tenth place. Fit again Mathieu Bawdry had the easiest of afternoons against opponents who, threat-wise, offered almost nothing, proving that the missing veteran Tom Pope is still their key player.

With Town passing the ball well and creating chances, the breakthrough still didn’t come until just before the interval, and there was an element of good fortune attached. Jaiyesimi’s speculative shot got such a massive deflection off Leon Legge that it was awarded as an own goal.

Swindon’s second goal was superbly worked. A precision pass through the area from Michael Doughty found Rob Hunt, whose cross was turned in for a debut goal by new boy, Hallam Hope.

The third goal was a sublime trade-mark 20-yard free kick from Doughty. After a weak foul on Lloyd Isgrove, Doughty curled the ball left footed into the top corner.

A word or two about the home debut of Huddersfield loanee, central defended Rarmani Edmonds-Green. He is an out and out footballing centre half, looking very calm and capable on the ball, and even venturing up front when circumstances permitted. Undoubtedly a great prospect and he should serve Swindon well for the second half of the season.

It will be surprising if there are no further squad additions in the last few days of the transfer window. The possibility remains that Jerry Yates will return from Rotherham but, if not, an alternative striker seems to be on Richie Wellens’ shopping list. Jordan Lyden and Zeki Fryers could be back soon and that will help matters considerably.

Two very tough games are coming up in the next seven days. A midweek visit to Colchester followed by second place Exeter City at the County Ground on Saturday. The Us haven’t lost a league game since mid-October, a run of fifteen, and Exeter are unbeaten for eleven - so even a point from each would be excellent results for the Town.