SWINDON men started the new year with a win after strolling to a comfortable 7-1 success against Exter University B on Saturday.

Swindon dominated the Championship fixture with Phil Scarisbrick setting the tone for his team by bagging an impressive four-goal haul.

Chris Parsons opened the scoring before further well worked goals from Tom Wickens and Scarisbrick saw the hosts take a commanding 3-0 lead into half-time.

The second half saw Scarisbrick add his second early on when the ball dropped to him and he flicked it home on the reverse.

Scarisbrick then completed his hat-trick, batting a ball home after the first shot was saved.

The visitors netted their consolation goal after being awarded a fortuitous short corner which managed to find its way beyond Jonathan Griffiths in the Swindon goal.

Undeterred, Swindon continued to dominate, with Scarisbrick drilling home his fourth and Tom Sewell deflecting home a Luke Cejer pass.

Meanwhile, Swindon men 2s fell 5-3 away to North Wilts in Central Two.

Despite being 2-0 up early on, following a neat short-corner routine and a quickfire second, the visitors soon ran out of steam and found themselves 3-2 down at the break.

Swindon rallied after the break and hauled themselves level through Daniel Bruce, though the lead did not last as North Wilts netted twice more before the full-time whistle.

Swindon men 3s also lost in their first game after the Christmas break – going down 4-1 away to Chippenham B in East Central One.

The thirds took the lead on their travels after a swift counter-attack was turned in by Andy Birnieup early on.

A missed foot foul led to a Chippenham goal later in the half, and when the umpires’ decisions were questioned a short while later, a green card was shown to a Swindon player before the break.

Things went from bad to worse for the visitors once the second half commenced as Chippenham struck three more times to take the points.

Meanwhile, Swindon ladies returned to action with a 2-0 friendly defeat against Westberries.

Despite a few excellent saves from goalkeeper Alexis Hogarth, the visitors nudged ahead during the first half.

Rebecca Lightbody had a couple of chances to equalise in the circle, but it was to no avail as her accuracy deserted her.

Swindon dominated the second half with some patient play, but were unable to put the ball in the back of the net.

And the hosts’ lack of cutting edge finally cost them late on after a turnover in midfield led to a breakaway second goal for the away side.