SWINDON Town’s winless League Two run stretched into its fifth game this afternoon as promotion chasing Exeter City deservedly put two goals past Lawrence Vigouroux at the Energy Check County Ground to secure a comfortable three points.

Jonathan Forte scored the Grecians’ first goal from the penalty spot after Sid Nelson committed a foul in the penalty area with 36 minutes played.

Archie Collins then doubled City’s lead with a tremendous 25-yard unchallenged curling strike with 68 minutes played to put the result beyond Swindon’s reach.

Wellens announced an unchanged side from the team that drew 0-0 against Mansfield on Saturday.

Swindon were first to threaten when Dion Conroy tried to pitch for goal of the year with only minutes played when shooting from 30 yards out – Christy Pym’s diving touched deflected the ball over his crossbar.

The visitors had their first chance with 10 minutes played from a corner after Michael Doughty put his body on the line to deflect a dangerous cross out of play.

From the in-swinging delivery, Jonathan Forte jumped highest but could only guide his powerful header wide of Lawrence Vigouroux’s left post.

While Keshi Anderson failed to get a shot away three minutes later, the former Crystal Palace man made a promising run into Exeter’s penalty area before he touched the ball last as Matt Taylor’s side relaxed from the resultant goal kick.

City were then forced into an early change as experienced Nicky Law was forced off the pitch because of injury and replaced by Matt Jay with 17 minutes played.

And it was Jay who was next to challenge for the visiting side as a break down the right resulted in City’s 22-year-old midfielder shooting from distance.

His accurate and powerful shot was bravely headed over by Woolfenden, before the corner was eventually cleared after the Grecians had two shots from inside the penalty area blocked.

Swindon’s inability to break with confidence into Exeter’s penalty area was eventually punished as Sid Nelson committed a sloppy challenge on Jay inside the 18-yard box, gifting Matt Taylor’s side the chance to take the lead from 12 yards.

Jonathan Forte sent Vigouroux the wrong way, placing his effort into the bottom right corner.

Exeter’s goal prompted pleas from the home faithful for their side to push forward.

But those calls weren’t answered, as Town ended the first half having registered just one shot in total – Exeter meanwhile had four chances.

Swindon’s poor first half display in front of goal saw Richie Wellens make one change at half time as Marc Richards replaced the out-of-form Elijah Adebayo.

The switch briefly benefitted the hosts as Kaiyne Woolery saw an early shot blocked as Town enjoyed a five-minute spell of possession.

That spell concluded when Keshi Anderson made a bursting run through Exeter’s half before laying the ball off to Jak McCourt on the right.

McCourt opted to square in search of Doughty, whose effort from outside the penalty area was blasted over Pym’s crossbar.

The Grecians recovered well from their early second half wobble as a breakdown in communication in Town’s defence almost led to the hosts conceding what would have been an embarrassing second goal.

Woolfenden poked the ball in the direction of Ogbene, whose twisting effort was well blocked by the Ipswich loan signing.

Jake Taylor was next to pull the trigger as he benefitted from Exeter’s strong move down the right – his shot couldn’t be directed goalwards though and was instead blasted over Vigouroux’s crossbar.

Ogbene again proved himself to be a troublesome character for Swindon to deal with as he coasted into the 18-yard box unchallenged with an hour played.

Good awareness led to the ball falling to Lee Martin’s feet, but his blocked effort could only dribble wide for a corner – nonetheless a concerning moment for Town who at this point were increasingly being put on the back foot.

Against the run of play however, Swindon created perhaps their most clear cut chance of the festive season when Woolery’s pin-point pass from the byline met Anderson – who was positioned seven-yards from Pym’s goal.

Typical of Swindon’s attacking game though, Anderson blasted his effort deep into the Town End stand.

Swindon were then made to pay for their lack of urgency in front of goal as Archie Collins netted from 25 yards with 68 minutes played.

Unchallenged, Collins dribbled the ball to a favourable shooting position before curling his effort into Vigouroux’s far right corner.

In a last bid to change his side’s fortunes, Wellens replaced left-back Matt Taylor with striker Scott Twine, who linked up well with Doughty with 15 minutes remaining before Doughty’s weak left-footed strike was comfortably gathered by Pym.

The Grecians looked content killing the game’s concluding 20 minutes off, however a determined Jak McCourt regained possession before watching his 25-yard strike whistle wide of Pym’s right post.

That was all Wellens’ men could offer though, as they slipped deeper into the bottom half of the League Two table.