Adver sport's Harry Abbott pens his report from a battling 1-0 win away to Morecambe for Swindon Town

After dropping down a division for the 2017-18 campaign, Swindon Town supporters will have to get used to matches that are not quite so easy on the eye this term.

Their latest match at Morecambe was largely a scrappy affair, with blood and thunder in the middle of the park and the ball in the air as much as it was on the ground.

This was an altogether different test to the ones they have so far faced in the league against Carlisle United and Exeter City – two of the more fancied sides in the division.

Travelling Swindon Town fans

But just as they had done in those previous two matches, Town were more than equal to the challenge with another display that will warm the hearts of those fans that made the trip to a chilly Globe Arena.

The reward for the team and its supporters? Three more points and David Flitcroft’s side sitting proudly at the top of the table, a sight worth savouring even in this early stage of the season.

In a game not graced by gilt-edged chances or sustained quality in front of goal, the one real moment of magic was enough to settle it at Morecambe.

Town bolted out of the blocks and had the Shrimps all at sea in a devastating opening spell and held a deserved lead after 13 minutes.

Paul Mullin caught his old colleagues napping with a quick free-kick on halfway, sending Ben Purkiss into acres of space on the right-hand side. He shifted the ball onto Donal McDermott, who cut inside Alex Kenyon before sending in a swerving, dipping strike from the edge of the box that Shrimps stopper Barry Roche could not keep out.

Donal McDermott celebrates his opener with James Dunne

Morecambe came back into it but Town remained resolute up to the break and after the contest began to fizzle out in the second half, the visitors again proved they have heart and soul in abundance to ensure no late lapses cost them their hard-earned points.

After racking up the miles in the opening fortnight of the campaign, Town’s next two tests are home matches against Crawley and Barnet and there is no reason to believe they can’t still be sitting pretty well into September.

Swindon boss Flitcroft made just two changes to the side that suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat at home to West Ham United U21s in their opening Checkatrade Trophy contest in midweek, with the most notable of those coming in goal.

Number one Lawrence Vigouroux was deemed fit enough to shake off an ankle injury and reclaim his place between the posts from Will Henry, with Mullin coming in for Ellis Iandolo in midfield as Flitcroft fielded a 4-4-2 formation.

Lawrence Vigouroux called into action

Mullin was clearly keen to make an impression upon his return to the club he left over the summer and was involved in all of the visitors’ early attacks.

Swindon had strong claims for a penalty waved away inside five minutes when Mullin was pushed over in box following a McDermott cross before the same player flung himself to meet Chris Hussey’s corner from left and headed just wide.

Mullin was prominent again as Town took the lead after 13 minutes, taking a quick free-kick after being chopped down on halfway. He quickly sent the ball wide to Purkiss on the right, who skipped forward before laying off for McDermott to cut inside Kenyon and send a curling effort into the top corner from outside box.

Paul Mullin in action against his former club

Having dictated the opening quarter of the game, Town’s form suddenly went off the rails as Morecambe were on top for the remainder of the half.

Their first sight of goal came just before the 20-minute mark when Garry Thompson’s snap-shot after a long throw into the box was snuffed out by an Olly Lancashire block.

Swindon keeper Vigouroux was almost caught out after half-an-hour, taking too long to make a clearance, allowing Aaron Wildig to close him down, with the loose ball bobbling narrowly wide of the open goal.

From the ensuing corner, Vigouroux made a smart if somewhat fortunate save from Fleming’s drilled effort from the edge of the box.

Town looked shaken and a deep ball from Vadaine Oliver was cut back by Patrick Brough, with James Dunne slicing over his own crossbar.

The home side were appealing for a penalty two minutes before the break when Vigouroux rushed from his line to dive at the feet of Thompson and although the Morecambe man went down, the linesman’s flag went up for offside to save the referee making a crucial call.

Swindon Town scramble the ball clear

Vigouroux had to be on his toes again in first-half stoppage time as Dion Conroy misjudged a ball over the top in the swirling wind, with the Town keeper reacting quickly to save at the feet of Wildig before Lancashire thwarted Thompson on the follow-up.

Town were much improved after the restart, although clear-cut chances were at a premium as they were restricted to long-range efforts from Hussey, McDermott and then Mullin, none of which truly threatened Roche’s goal.

Flitcroft introduced James Brophy for Kaiyne Woolery with 25 minutes to go and the winger should have doubled the visitors’ lead instantly after his arrival but he headed Hussey’s neat cross over the top when left unmarked in the box.

Michael Rose has a shot blocked late on

The contest petered out for a while but Morecambe knew they had to throw numbers forward and Steve Old pounced in a crowded box following a Michael Rose free-kick but could not keep his effort on-target.

Rose sent another set-piece into the box shortly afterwards – this time a corner – and the ball dropped nicely to Thompson at the back post but he blazed over the top.

Sensing the danger, Flitcroft made additional personnel and tactical changes as first Chris Robertson and then Harry Smith were sent on in place of goalscorer McDermott and Luke Norris.

Town fans celebrate at the final whistle

The reshuffle did Town no harm whatsoever and they calmly saw out the closing minutes without much alarm to keep their unbeaten league record intact, with the sight of their name at the top of their table upon their return to the dressing room a satisfying reward.