Swindon Town returned to winning ways in style after beating Harrogate Town 4-1 in the EFL Sky Bet League Two this afternoon.

Louie Barry gifted the Reds a first-half lead and he added a second on the half-hour mark, giving his team a deserved advantage at the break.

Josh Davison added two more goals for Town in the second-half, clinching an emphatic win and an even more important three points for the Reds on the road.

There was just the one change for the Reds as Mandela Egbo came in to make his first full start for the club, with Jonny Williams dropping to the bench.

With a huge three points on the line, the Reds looked to start off on the front-foot and they were seeing plenty of the ball early on, but they were struggling to break down a stubborn Harrogate team.

They did come close with 13 minutes played, however, as Jack Payne drove into space before pulling the trigger on a shot on goal, with his effort taking a deflection and coming back off the base of the post.

There was then a lull in play again but Town did take the lead with 23 minutes played, Louie Barry planting a simple header into the back of the net after he was picked out at the back post by Mandela Egbo.

Jojo Wollacott then had to get down low to smother Luke Armstrong's attempt after Alex Pattison had driven through the Swindon midfield, but it wasn't long before the visitors extended their lead thanks to Egbo and Barry who combined well again, with the latter smashing home an easy finish from the former's cross. 

Josh Davison did a superb job of closing down Joseph Cracknell and getting a block on the keeper's attempted clearance but, unfortunately for the frontman, it dropped away of danger and Harrogate was able to clear the danger.

It should have been 3-0 before the first-half came to a close as Joe Tomlinson picked out Davison with a sublime cross but, despite being in acres of space, the No. 9 could only plant a shot wide.

HALF-TIME: HARROGATE TOWN 0-2 SWINDON TOWN

Town started the second-half with a bang as Davison finally found success in-front of goal, slotting home past Cracknell to really put his team in the driving seat.

There was then a lengthy break in play after Harrogate defender Ryan Fallowfield had to be replaced because of an injury, before Town were forced into a change as Jonny Williams replaced Mandela Egbo.

Town were in cruise control and they added to their lead past the hour mark with Davison finishing first time after some lovely build-up play.

There was another change for the Reds with Joe Tomlinson making way for Ben Gladwin, while Harrogate had a couple of chances as Armstrong had a close-range effort blocked before George Thomson drilled a shot inches over the bar.

In what was their third and final change of the game, Town brought on a fresh pair of legs in Harry Parsons, who replaced the excellent Louie Barry on the pitch.

Iandolo nearly added a fifth for Town after showing a sublime first touch to bring the ball down, before smashing a superb shot towards goal which clipped off the bar before going out.

However, that didn't matter despite the fact Armstrong added a late consolation for the hosts, with Town able to see the rest of the game out to kick-off a big Easter weekend with a crucial three points. 

FULL-TIME: HARROGATE TOWN 1-4 SWINDON TOWN

TEAMS & STATS

HARROGATE TOWN STARTING XI - Cracknell; Fallowfield (Rory McArdle 56), Smith, Burrell (C), Thomson, Beck (Simon Power 68), Sheron, Pattison (Joshua Austerfield 45), Muldoon, Diamond, Armstrong.

SUBS NOT USED - Giles, Ilesanmi, O'Boyle. 

SCORERS - Luke Armstrong (90).

SWINDON TOWN STARTING XI - Wollacott; Iandolo, Conroy (C), Baudry, Davison, Payne, Egbo (Jonny Williams 61), Barry (Harry Parsons 74), Tomlinson (Ben Gladwin 66), Hunt, Reed.

SUBS NOT USED - Ward, Odimayo, O'Brien, Aguiar.

SCORERS - Louie Barry (23, 30), Josh Davison (50, 62).

Referee - Scott Oldham.

Attendance - 2,933 (600 Away Fans).