SWINDON Town comfortably beat Cirencester Town 4-0 in the two sides' pre-season friendly at the Corinium Stadium this evening.

Matt Ritchie gave Town the lead on 34 minutes, heading in from two yards out after good work on the left flank by Raffaele De Vita, Michael Timlin and Callum Kennedy.

Six minutes later the hosts were the victims of a cruel piece of luck, as Kennedy's free kick bounced off Neil Arndale and Danny Greaves before settling in the back of the net.

After the break, Mehdi Kerrounce made it three for Swindon with his first for the club – a fierce right-footed effort which cannoned off the bar and down over the line from 15 yards.

An the Robins, growing in confidence and class as the second half drew on, scored their fourth with 15 minutes remaining.

Alan McCormack centred from the left, Connell dummied to Kerrouche and, when the Algerian's one-touch return ball fell beautifully into his strike partner's path, Connell gobbled up the opportunity to slot below Greaves.

It was one moment of truly encouraging teamwork from the visitors, who dominated their hosts throughout.

The match was partially soured from a Swindon perspective when Etienne Esajas was stretchered off with what looked like a shoulder injury on the half-hour.

Here are the key moments from this evening's match:

Four mins: Gritty start from both sides, and a few hefty challenges earl doors. Referee Mr Busby has to don a yellow bib after starting the game in the same black as Town.

Talk about referees being a team's 12th man, that's taking it a step to far.

10 mins: Heavy tackle on Matt Ritchie wide on the left sees the winger on the floor. But he picks himself up quickly for the free kick.

12 mins: A lovely chipped pass from Ritchie has Etienna Esajas steaming into the area on the left hand side. The Dutchman cuts inside his marker, freeing up acres of space to take aim, but he can only drag his shot wide of the near post.

13 mins: Michael Timlin's first-time effort from the edge of the box takes a deflection off the heels of Esajas which has Danny Greaves scrambling in the Ciren goal, but it bounces just wide.

16 mins: Neil Arndale's looping, aimless header falls to Rafaelle De Vita six yards out, but on the volley the former Livingston man can't get any power on his effort and it dribbles into the arms of Greaves.

19 mins: A good save from Greaves denies De Vita at the back post after Callum Kennedy's corner evades the Ciren defence.

20 mins: Ritchie's half-volley is neatly blocked by Arndale en route to the bottom corner. Esajas is really trying his luck now, seeing two attempts from outside the box stopped by defenders before they can trouble Greaves.

27 mins: Esajas goes down awkwardly into a challenge and is in obvious pain. Stretcher is on, as well as physio Kate Cady – not good for the man who only completed his permanent deal at Town a matter of hours ago.

32 mins: First chance of any note for Ciren, as Arndale's centre picks out the forehead of James Mortimer-Jones, but the midfielder sends his header wide of the mark.

34 mins: GOAL (0-1, Ritchie) You can't say it hasn't been coming, and Town are finally ahead.

Kennedy and Timlin exchange neat passes in a tight situation on the left flank, and eventually Timlin slides in De Vita who charges into the area.

The striker takes the ball to the bye-line before centring for Ritchie, who cannot miss his header from a matter of centimetres. And he doesn't.

40 mins: GOAL (0-2, Greaves own goal) Bit of an unfortunate moment for Greaves, who has been pretty immense in the opening period.

Kennedy swings in a savage free kick from the right, it strikes Arndale on the line, ricochets off Greaves and into the back of the net. Pinball at its very, very best.

Half time:We're hearing in the somewhat cosy press box that Esajas' shoulder popped out and back in again. This is obviously unconfirmed at the minute, but if true it doesn't bode too well.

49 mins: Fast break from Town ends with Matt Ritchie darting in off the right onto his left peg and firing at Ellis Dunton. Moments later he sends a fizzing volley inches over from 18 yards.

51 mins: Kerrouche's first shy at goal in a Swindon shirt drifts wide of Greaves' left hand upright.

53 mins: Daft lunge from Aden Flint in the centre circle ends up with 20 players in a slightly tedious moment of handbags on halfway. It's all quickly cleared up by our referee, however, who is now in a much more suitable luminous yellow number.

56 mins: GOAL (0-3, Kerrouche) Swift stuff from Town starts with a brilliant dinked through ball from Simon Ferry into the path of the onrushing De Vita.

The forward squares for Mehdi Kerrouche, who turns neatly just inside the area and lets fly with a rasping right-footed effort which strikes the bar, bounces down and crosses the line by enough daylight to convince the linesman it's a goal.

58 mins: The impressive De Vita's at it again, teasing Greaves and a Ciren defender from a narrow angle before shooting straight at the keeper. Completely in control now, the visitors.

63 mins: A very centre-back effort from Flint, who manages to spoon a chance over the bar at the back post when it might just have been easier to score.

71 mins: Not a lot going on right now with an avalanche of substitutions killing any flow the game might have had. Ah well, I guess that's the nature of the pre-season friendly.

74 mins: Ibrahim Attiku and Alan Connell work their way into the area with a couple of one-twos, and Atiku is denied by Greaves at his near post.

75 mins: GOAL (0-4, Connell) Truly exhibitionist from Town, and I mean that in the very best sense of the word.

Passes from Atiku and Alan McCormack see the latter deliver into the box, Connell leaves to Kerrouche who plays a neat first-time pass into his strike partner's feet and he former Grimsby man slots beneath Greaves. Lovely stuff.

77 mins: Again Greaves comes to Ciren's rescue, palming away a scything half-volley from Connell, who's coming into this game even more with every passing minute.

83 mins: A few pot-shots from various players eager to get on the scoresheet, but nothing much else. It's been a good, encouraging team display tonight, though, with the most noticeable improvement from last season being in Town's shape.

Both in attack and defence they've been the unit that was so horribly lacking last term.

85 mins: Another quick move ends with Ferry side-footing tamely into the arms of Greaves, who has been a very busy man tonight.

SWINDON TOWN: (4-4-2) Phil Smith; Paul Caddis (Kevin Amankwaah, 65), Joe Devera, Alberto Comazzi (Aden Flint, 46), Callum Kennedy (Nathan Thompson, 68); Matt Richie (Ibrahim Atiku, 68), Michael Timlin (Billy Bodin, 64), Jonathan Smith (Simon Ferry, 46) , Etienne Esajas (Alan McCormack, 30); Alan Connell (Mehdi Kerrouche, 46), Rafaelle De Vita (Alan Connell, 64).

Subs: Leigh Bedwell

CIRENCESTER TOWN: (4-4-2) Danny Greaves, Neil Arndale, Richard Mansell, Zak Westlake, Ellis Dunton, Matt Sysum, Tom Etheridge, James Mortimer-Jones, Jody Bevan (Mike Tamblin, 65), David Stone (Paul Banks, 65), Jamie Reid

Subs: Andy Gunn, Sean Wood, Adam Mayo