SOL Pryce marked his first Swindon Town start with a brace of goals to fire them to victory at home to Stevenage in League Two this evening.

The 18-year-old striker, whose solitary previous first-team appearance was off the bench in a Checkatrade Trophy group game earlier this season, was only involved due to a lack of options up front following Marc Richards’ persistent injury issues and a suspension for Elijah Adebayo.

However, Pryce more than rose to the challenge laid down by Town boss Richie Wellens and needed just 18 seconds of his maiden senior start to get supporters at the Energy Check County Ground chanting his name, before adding a second goal in first-half stoppage time.

In between that, Pryce’s fellow youngster, Scott Twine, grabbed a second Town goal inside the opening six minutes before Scott Cuthbert’s powerful header reduced the arrears for Stevenage.

Swindon continued in the ascendancy throughout the second half but were almost punished for failing to make that count on the scoreboard when Joel Byrom’s deflected effort reduced the arrears for Stevenage, but the hosts dug in and saw out the closing stages without much alarm.

The victory was Wellens’ first at home as Town boss following his appointment at the club a fortnight ago – and second in a row following a 1-0 win at Port Vale at the weekend as Swindon claimed back-to-back league triumphs for the first time this season.

Pryce’s inclusion was one of two changes made by Wellens to the side that started the weekend’s win at Vale, both enforced through either injury or suspension.

The teenage forward was the beneficiary of Adebayo’s fifth yellow card of the season at Vale Park, which resulted in a one-match ban, while Michael Doughty also came into the starting XI for the first time in a month to replace Jak McCourt in midfield after he suffered a dislocated shoulder against the Valiants.

Town and Pryce did not waste any time to make their mark and got off to a dream start with a goal virtually from the kick-off.

Stevenage got proceedings under way, but Twine swiftly broke up play in the middle of the park and the hosts launched a rapid attack.

Doughty played the ball to Steven Alzate on the right and he delivered a cross into the six-yard box, where Pryce was on hand to bundle home from close range with less than 20 seconds on the clock.

The hosts then doubled their lead inside six minutes as their other homegrown young talent, Twine, got in on the act.

Doughty was chopped down midway inside the Stevenage half and Matt Taylor drilled in a free-kick that Stevenage keeper Seny Timothy Dieng could on parry, and Twine pounced to lash the loose ball into the net.

Swindon were not set fair for the night, though, as the visitors cut the gap with their first meaningful attack after 13 minutes.

Ben Kennedy delivered a deep cross from the left and the unlikely figure of centre-back Cuthbert emerged at the back post having escaped the attentions of Ellis Iandolo, and he powered in a header that home keeper Lawrence Vigouroux was unable to keep out.

Town were swiftly back on the front foot and Twine saw a shot deflected over the bar following a Taylor corner before Alzate cracked a powerful low effort against the post after nicking possession on edge of the Stevenage box.

Taylor then tried his luck with two free-kicks in quick succession, the first hitting the wall and the second narrowly looping over the bar, before a fine Doughty pass presented Twine with a good chance in the box, but Alex Reid recovered well to get in a crucial challenge.

Central defender Cuthbert continued to offer Stevenage’s most potent goal threat and only a fine clawed save from Vigoruroux denied him a second goal of the night after he rose to meet a Kennedy corner.

Town raised the tempo in the closing stages of the half and Keshi Anderson flicked an effort into the side-netting following a low Taylor free-kick from left before the hosts did grab a third goal in stoppage time.

The hosts broke quickly and Doughty bisected the Stevenage defence with an inch-perfect ball through to Pryce, who raced in on Dieng before beating the keeper with a cool finish.

Town continued to look the more threatening of the sides after the restart and only a good save from Dieng prevented Luke Woolfenden from heading them three goals in front as the on-loan defender flung himself to meet a Taylor cross.

The hosts were not content to sit back on their lead and a period of pressure around the Stevenage penalty area resulted in Iandolo rifling a 25-yard drive narrowly wide.

Swindon were punished for failing to make the most of their dominance with 13 minutes to play when the visitors reduced the arrears.

Following a rare foray forward from Stevenage, Byrom pounced on broken play on the edge of the home box and his effort took a wicked deflection and sailed agonisingly past Vigouroux to set up a nerve-jangling finish.

Unsurprisingly, the closing stages – which included five minutes of stoppage time – had a frantic feel as the visitors pumped balls forward in search of an equaliser, but not ever caused Town too many problems and they resolutely held firm to claim the points.

SWINDON TOWN (4-2-3-1): Vigouroux; Knoyle, Woolfenden, Nelson, Iandolo; Doughty, Taylor (c); Anderson, Alzate (McGlashan 83), Twine; Pryce (Lancashire 80). Subs not used: McCormick, Smith, Young, Romanski, Conroy.

STEVENAGE (4-4-2): Dieng; Henry (c) (Vancooten 71), Cuthbert, Wilkinson, Hunt: Seddon (Ball 62), Byrom, Timlin, Campbell-Ryce (Reid 28); Revell, Kennedy. Subs not used: Farman, Sonupe, Ferry, Smyth.

Referee: Charles Breakspear

Attendance: Not announced