DONAL McDermott’s superb first-half strike secured Swindon Town a battling win at Morecambe this afternoon to continue their unbeaten start to the new League Two season and send them to the top of the early table in the process.

McDermott combined nicely with full-back Ben Purkiss on the right before cutting inside Alex Kenyon and sending in a swerving, dipping strike from the edge of the box that Shrimps stopper Barry Roche could not keep out to settle a scrappy encounter after just 13 minutes.

The three points at the Globe Arena takes the tally for David Flitcroft’s side to seven from the opening three games – a return matched only by Exeter City as the two remaining sides still to avoid defeat in the division.

Town’s Paul 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 sent a header 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 send 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 top corner from outside box.

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 Gary Thompson’s snap-shot after a long throw into box was snuffed out by an Olly Lancashire block.

Swindon keeper Lawrence 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 Thompson’s drilled effort from the edge of the box.

Town looked on the ropes 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.

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.

The contest then 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 and Town responded to calmly see out the closing minutes in resolute fashion to keep their unbeaten league record intact.

MORECAMBE: Roche; Winnard, Old, Kenyon; Lund (Turner 60), Fleming (Campbell 88), Rose (capt), Brough; Wildig (Ellison 75); Thompson, Oliver. Subs not used: Nizic, Conlan, Lavelle, Osborne.

SWINDON TOWN: Vigouroux; Purkiss, Lancashire, Conroy, Hussey; McDermott (Robertson 86), Dunne, Linganzi, Mullin; Woolery (Brophy 65), Norris (H Smith 90). Subs not used: Henry, Thomas, Iandolo, T Smith.

Referee: Mark Heywood

Attendance: 1,655