Swindon Town got back to winning ways with a professional 2-1 home victory over Notts County at The County Ground on Good Friday.
Aaron Drinan made the visitors pay with an early first-half effort in the 18th minute before Paul Glatzel doubled Town's lead with a clever chip midway through the second half.
Notts' Alassana Jatta scored late on in second-half stoppage time to get his side on the scoresheet this afternoon, but Swindon held out and got that victory that they so desperately craved to start their Easter league fixtures in the best possible way.
Town made some changes that previously played in the league against Doncaster, with the likes of Zach Elbouzedi and Williams Kokolo returning as Harry McKirdy and most recent addition Nnamdi Ofoborh were named on the bench to start this afternoon's game.
It was a promising start for Swindon and 10 minutes in, Town almost found their first effort on goal as Zach Elbouzedi looked for Aaron Drinan with a cross from the right, but his dangerous ball flashed just over the head of the Town forward.
Eight minutes later, Swindon found the opener and it was the clever reactionary play from Aaron Drinan which saw him cooly convert inside the away side's penalty area following a mistake in the Notts County back-line.
After a back-pass from Scott Robertson bounced back off his own goal post, Drinan was on hand to get to the rebound first and find the bottom corner to give Swindon the lead.
Following this goal, Swindon looked more threatening and a series of chances fell Town's way in the 24th and 26th minute.
Another dangerous cross came in from Zach Elbouzedi, who looked for Paul Glatzel at the back post, but Notts keeper Sam Slocombe was, unfortunately, able to gather in time.
Two minutes later, Town saw an effort come off the Notts County crossbar, with a threatening Sean McGurk cross which met Glatzel again at the back post, but the forward's powerful header crashed off the bar and kept Swindon pushing.
Jack Bycroft was forced into a smart double save from Notts' David McGoldrick and Macauley Langstaff, with the away side looking to threaten late on in the first half.
Aaron Drinan had Town's final opportunity to double his side's advantage in the 33rd minute, but a snapshot effort inside the Notts County penalty area, which was blocked and then gathered by Slocombe, leaving Swindon a goal to the good going into the second 45.
Half-time: Swindon 1 Notts County 0
After a promising first half, Town saw out some early Notts County pressure, before creating their first real chance of the second half in the 60th minute.
Dawson Devoy whipped in a corner which was met by the head of defender Conor McCarthy, but unfortunately, the Irishman's header was glanced just over the top of the Magpies' crossbar.
With just over 15 minutes left to play, Town scored their second and again were able to capitalise on a Notts County mistake with Paul Glatzel scoring his third Swindon goal in his last four appearances.
After Sam Slocombe's drilled pass fell to Glatzel 30 yards from goal, the forward showed great composure to control the ball before he clipped an effort over the top of the out-of-position Notts keeper and gave Town a two-goal cushion in the 74th minute.
In the 81st minute, Jack Bycroft was called into action again with another good save to deny Macauley Langstaff, as Notts looked to get themselves back in the game late on, despite Town's solid overall display.
Three changes late on for Swindon saw two positive returns with birthday boy Harry McKirdy returning after a period out and an even more pleasing moment saw recent signing Nnamdi Ofoborh make his long-awaited return too.
McKirdy was next to try his luck for Swindon and a well-struck free-kick saw the forward almost able to find Town's third in the 87th minute, but Slocombe was unfortunately able to hold on to his effort.
Notts were unfortunately able to find themselves on the scoresheet late on in the contest, after second-half substitute Alassana Jatta headed home to halve Swindon's lead, resulting in a cagey final few minutes of stoppage time.
Fortunately, Town were able to see through the victory and will take plenty of positives in their return to winning ways as they now look to their second game over the Easter period, with an away trip to Sutton coming up next on Easter Monday.
Swindon Town: Bycroft (C), Blake-Tracy, Elbouzedi (Brewitt 90), Glatzel (Austin 85), McGurk (Cain 61), Kokolo, Devoy, Godwin-Malife, Drinan (McKirdy 85), McCarthy, Aguiar (Ofoborh 85)
Goals: Drinan 18, Glatzel 74
Subs not used: Brann, McGregor
Notts County: Slocombe, Cameron (C), Crowley, Langstaff, Jones (Randall 77), Nemane, Baldwin, Bostock, McGoldrick (Jatta 77), Robertson, Macari
Goal: Jatta 90+2
Subs not used: Ashby-Hammond, Brindley, Rawlinson, Chicksen, Warner
Attendance: 8,339 (780 away)
