NICKY Ajose and Michael Doughty were both at the double as Swindon Town ended their goal drought and got back to winning ways in League One away at bottom side Colchester United this afternoon.

Town had not found the net in their last three matches – and also failed to win any of the last four – but took full advantage of the U’s low confidence at the Colchester Community Stadium.

Striker Ajose struck either side of half-time before on-loan midfielder Doughty got his first goal for the club to make it 3-0 on the hour.

The home side threatened a comeback when Joe Edwards found the net to give them a glimmer of hope but that was quashed when Doughty struck again to wrap up the points for Luke Williams’ side.

Colchester had the first sight of goal, with Town keeper Lawrence Vigouroux smothering a deflected effort from Gavin Massey after only three minutes.

Swindon then produced their first attack, with Ellis Iandolo feeding James Brophy on the right and he skipped into the box before seeing a shot palmed away for a corner by keeper Elliott Parish.

Brad Barry was the next visiting player to go close as he chested down an Anton Rodgers pass on the edge of a box but could only volley over.

The action continued to come at both ends, with Elliot Lee drilling the ball across the Town six-yard box, although no one was there to tap home, while Vigourouux was at full stretch to tip wide a header from Chris Porter soon afterwards.

Town almost created a headache for themselves when Nathan Thompson sent a short back-pass to Vigouroux but the keeper got his captain out of jail by getting to the ball ahead of Porter.

The Town stopper continued to be in the action as he did well to keep out an effort from George Moncur from 25 yards.

Just as Colchester seemed to be getting on top, Town stung them with a goal. Thompson sent a lofted ball over the top and Ajose beat the offside trap to tuck home.

The hosts went close to an instant reply as Lee skipped down the right and bore down on Vigouroux but could only poke his effort into the side netting.

Lee was in the action again soon afterwards as he pulled the ball back to Porter but he was denied by the legs of Vigouroux.

Town perhaps should have gone two goals to the good on the stroke of half-time when Doughty sent Jonathan Obika in one-on-one with the keeper but he shot straight at Parish.

Swindon were on the front foot again as the second half got under way, with Jordan Turnbull the first to see a sight of goal but shooting straight at the keeper.

They did not have to wait long for their second, though, as Turnbull was again involved in an attack, sending in a cross from the left for Ajose to drill home and double the lead.

That signalled for the floodgates to open for Town, with Doughty making it 3-0 on the hour, lashing home his first goal for the club with a cracker from the edge of the box.

Colchester were not going to go down without a fight, though, and Edwards reduced the deficit to keep the visitors on their toes.

The home side then threatened to come within one goal with 20 minutes to go as Vigouroux spilled another Edwards effort, but Thompson scrambled the ball away.

Any nerves the home side had were soon calmed when Doughty also got his second of the game, with the on-loan QPR man again beating Parish from the edge of the box.

Town threatened more goals before the final whistle, with substitute Jermaine Hylton and Obika both blazing over the top in the dying minutes but Town were more than comfortable winners anyway.

COLCHESTER UNITED: Parish, Brindley, Kent, Eastman, Shorey, Edwards, Moncur, Ambrose (Garvan 59), Massey, (Wright 60), Porter (Bonne 60), Lee. Subs not used: Barnes, Elokobi, Vincent-Young, Lapslie.

SWINDON TOWN: Vigouroux, Barry, N Thompson (capt), Branco, Turnbull, Brophy, Rodgers (Traore 67), Doughty, Iandolo (L Thompson 62), Obika, Ajose (Hylton 77). Subs not used: Belford, Marshall, Young, Cooke.

Referee: Steve Martin

Attendance: 3,269