TOWN maintained their pre-season momentum with a 3-0 win at Salisbury City. First half goals from Gary Roberts and Troy Archibald-Henville put Town in control before Paul Benson scored a late third.
On a dry summer evening, both sides starting brightly but it was Town who had the first real chance of the game. A clever passing move ended with Gary Roberts curling an inviting cross into the box where James Collins’ goal-bound header was tipped over by former Swindon ‘keeper Mark Scott.
Just after the 12 minute mark, Roberts turned goalscorer with a finish of the highest quality. Picking up a loose ball inside the box, he looked up and lifted the ball over Mark Scott into the far corner.
Shortly afterwards, Collins flashed a shot just wide while Andy Williams spurned another opportunity to add to the score-line when he fired straight at Scott after a good initial save from the goalkeeper.
Scott was proving to be a busy man between the sticks for Salisbury as Town looked firmly in control. Collins should perhaps have made it two but blazed over the bar after being found in the middle.
As the clock neared 25 minutes, the visitors did make the most of another opportunity and made it 2-0. Collins was fouled on the left-hand edge of the area and from the resultant free-kick, Simon Ferry floated a deep cross to the far post where Troy Archibald-Henville headed the ball back across goal and into the net.
Trialist Iain Turner replaced Wes Foderingham early in the second half and was soon called into action, denying Salisbury striker Daniel Fitchett with a smart save low to his right.
At the other end, James Collins got on the end of another cross but could only flick it across goal and wide. Luke Rooney came on and was straight in the thick of the action as his jinking run off the right flank was deflected behind for a corner. James Collins saw his thumping drive expertly kept out while Aden Flint’s header was well held by the goalkeeper.
As time ticked closer to the 90 minute mark Town capped their performance with a third. Rooney’s deep corner from the right was met by the rising Paul Benson at the far post and he powered home past Willem Puddy.
Swindon Town - 3 (Roberts '12, Archibald-Henville '27, Benson '89)
Foderingham (Turner '55); Caddis, Archibald-Heville (Flint '60), McCormack (Devera '82), Cibocchi (Thompson N '74); Ritchie (De Vita '74), Ferry, Miller, Roberts (Rooney '74); Collins, Williams (Benson '60)
Subs: Thompson N, Risser, Flint, Devera, Smith, Rooney, Thompson L, Benson, Storey, De Vita, Turner
Salisbury City - 0
Scott; Udoji, Hart, Clark, Dutton, Matthews, Sinclair, McPhee, White, Fitchett, Lewis
Subs: Paul, Puddy, Baggridge, Bowerman, Hough, Uwezu, Bowman
