PHIL Brown started life in red and white with a confidence-boosting win as Swindon Town put three goals past Cambridge United at the Abbey Stadium.

An early header from Luke Norris coupled with Marc Richards’ second half brace means Town remain firmly in the hunt for a League Two playoff spot.

It proved a timely win for Brown’s men as playoff rivals Coventry City and Lincoln Town also recorded wins while Exeter slipped to a 2-1 loss at Morecambe.

Though Brown joined with only 10 league games remaining in early spring, the weather during his first game in charge resembled mid-December as persistent snow fell on a bitterly cold March afternoon.

Cambridge were presented with an early opportunity when George Taft’s header from a corner found Liam O’Neil in front of goal. O’Neil failed to make the most of a good opportunity though, failing to get a shot away.

Jevani Brown was next to threaten Town’s goal when dragging his right-footed effort wide of Stuart Moore’s left post.

Chris Hussey was making his first start in six months, and it didn’t take long for the left-back to guide Town into an early lead.

After finding space on the left wing, Hussey delivered an accurate cross which found the head of forward Luke Norris – who headed beyond United’s keeper David Forde’s reach.

Norris had a chance to double his tally six minutes later in similar circumstances to his earlier goal, but this time his effort was guided straight into the arms of Forde.

Forde was focus of attention on 27 minutes when Matt Taylor’s free kick from 30 yards out drew the United keeper from his goal line.

A series of headers allowed Marc Richards a chance on goal, but Forde scrambled back to his line – making a comfortable save.

United were next to threaten after build up play on the left led to skipper Gary Deegan shooting from range, Moore making a comfortable save.

They came closest though with minutes left in the opening half when Billy Waters’ bicycling kick was cleared off the line by the head of James Dunne, keeping Town’s one-goal lead in tact for half time.

Town started the first half with intent when Matt Taylor’s in swinging corner – assisted by the wind – almost found its way beyond Forde’s goal line.

Cambridge should’ve levelled the game when David Amoo’s cross met Uche Ikpeazu in the box.

Despite creating time and space for the header, Ikpeazu’s effort was weak and went wide.

And the home side were made to pay seconds later when Matt Taylor’s ball from a free kick was headed home by in-form forward Marc Richards, doubling Town’s lead with half-an-hour remaining.

While Cambridge’s mountain to climb had doubled in size, they remained a threat up front.

Moore was forced into making a low save to his left following Billy Waters’ powerful strike while a free kick from near the corner flag had to be punched clear as Town weathered the home side’s newly discovered pressure.

Uche Ikpeazu would be the man to break the deadlock for United when taking advantage of a sloppy defensive error from Ben Purkiss.

Substitute David Amoo delivered a dangerous ball which Purkiss failed to deal with, allowing Ikpeazu to smash home United’s first goal of the afternoon and halve their deficit.

While Amoo continued to cause Town problems down the right, the home side let slip when Halliday fouled Woolery inside the penalty area.

Striker Marc Richards made no mistake from the spot to regain Town’s two-goal lead and put the result beyond United’s reach with less than 10 minutes to play.

Town are next in action a week today with a crunch away trip to Exeter City.

Swindon Town: Stuart Moore, Ben Purkiss, Chris Hussey (Ryan McGiven 77’), Chris Robertson, Paul Mullin (Kayne Gordon 86’), James Dunne, Luke Norris (Kayne Woolery 57’), Marc Richards, Timi Elsnik, Matthew Taylor, Rollin Menayese.

Cambridge United: David Forde, Bradley Halliday, Gary Deegan, Greg Taylor, Billy Waters, Uche Izpeaku, Harrison Dunk, George Taft, Liam O’Neil (Jabo Ibehre 71’), George Maris (David Amoo 56’), Jevani Brown.