SWINDON Town struck three times without reply in the second half to continue their rampant away form in League Two with superb victory at Port Vale this afternoon.

Matt Taylor fired Town ahead with a superb free-kick six minutes into the second half at Vale Park from the first shot on target of the match before then providing the assist as Paul Mullin doubled the lead with a close-range header with 20 minutes to play.

Kellan Gordon wrapped up the points for David Flitcroft’s side in the dying stages, finishing off a brisk counter attack less than a minute after coming off the bench.

The victory sees Town make it back-to-back wins for just the second time this season but is their sixth from eight games on the road in League Two as they side climb to fifth in the table, just three points off the automatic promotion places.

Town were the first to show and a nice passage of play after eight minutes ended with Donal McDermott guiding a low ball into the box from the left but it was just behind the run of Amine Linganzi and home keeper Dimitar Evtimov was able to gather.

Vale then got a couple of good deliveries into the Swindon area but the visiting defence comfortably dealt with whatever was thrown at them.

Swindon did have the ball in the back of the net after 14 minutes when Matt Preston headed in a whipped Taylor free-kick via the post after Keshi Anderson had been brought down but the effort was chalked off by a linesman’s flag.

Town were awarded another free-kick in a good position soon afterwards when Linganzi was brought down. John Goddard stepped up this time but sent his effort over the bar.

Free-kicks were becoming a theme in the contest as few chances were created in open play and Vale were awarded one of their own 30 yards out but Olly Lancashire headed away David Worrall’s ball in.

The visitors were able to carve open a sight at goal just after the half-hour mark when Linganzi fed Goddard and although he turned and shot from the edge of the box, the effort was well wide.

It was a similar story at the other end as Worrall sent a 20-yard free-kick into the stands behind the goal after Lancashire had bundled over Tom Pope.

After a comfortable first 45 minutes, there was suddenly a moment of panic for Riece Charles-Cook as the clocked ticked into stoppage time when he misjudged a cross from the left from Gavin Gunning but the Swindon stopper gathered at the second attempt and the teams headed back to the changing rooms with the stalemate intact and neither keeper having had a save to make.

Town again made the early running after the restart and broke the deadlock just six minutes into the second half through a stunning strike from Taylor. McDermott was bundled over by Cristian Montano and Taylor drilled the resulting free-kick past Evtimov and into the top corner.

Vale went close to an instant equaliser as Tom Anderson climbed highest to meet a Montano corner at the back post but he could only head wide.

The home side took until 66 minutes in to register their first shot on target but Charles-Cook was able to claim comfortably after Marcus Harness let fly from 30 yards.

Having already sent on Elsnik for Goddard, Flitcroft responded by adding more pace into the Town attack with the introduction of Mullin at the expense of McDermott and it had an instant impact as he doubled the lead after 71 minutes. Evtimov misjudged Taylor’s high floated ball from the left and Mullin was able to sneak in and head home.

Vale did not fold after falling two goals behind and Charles-Cook did well to claw away Tom Anderson’s looping header from a corner.

However, Town wrapped up the win four minutes from time when Gordon – who had only just come to replace Keshi Anderson – made it a second substitute’s goal, with Vale opened up on the counter after they had flooded forward. Timi Elsnik fed Harry Smith on halfway and he raced into the box before cutting back to the unmarked Gordon to slot home and seal the win.

Having been largely untroubled throughout the match, Charles-Cook proved he still had his wits about him two minutes into stoppage time, making his best save of the game to push away Vale substitute Jack Stobbs’ low effort and ensure Town had the pleasure of travelling home with a clean sheet as well as the three points.

PORT VALE: Evtimov; Giddons, Smith, Anderson, Gunning; Kay (Stobbs 72), Pugh (capt), Harness; Montano (Barnett 57), Worrall; Pope. Subs not used: Boot, Denton, Davis, Tonge, Turner.

SWINDON TOWN: Charles-Cook; Purkiss, Lancashire (capt), Preston, Taylor; Linganzi, Dunne; McDermott (Mullin 69), Anderson (Gordon 85), Goddard (Elsnik 61); Smith. Subs not used: Henry, Robertson, Woolery, Knoyle.

Referee: Graham Horwood

Attendance: 5,071