SWINDON Supermarine continued to move away from the Southern League Premier South relegation zone with a 2-0 win over Merthyr Town at the Webbswood Stadium on Tuesday night.

Marine's success made it back-to-back wins for Lee Spalding's men following a professional performance against bottom-of-the-table Merthyr Town, who have not won a match since mid-October.

It was a strong start for the home side, with Conor McDonagh going close early on before Marine took the lead anyway moments later.

McDonagh broke in behind the Merthyr defence, and his cross caused havoc in the box as Adam Davies’ clearance deflected off his teammate kindly into the path of Ryan Campbell to tap home from close range.

Henry Spalding might have made it two in the 12th minute when his shot crashed against the crossbar and bounced down, but the linesman ruled that the whole ball was not over.

The game quietened down after a frantic start, with chances few and far between, and the goalkeepers only forced into making a handful of comfortable saves.

The main moment of excitement came when Harry Williams thought he had been fouled in the area, but the referee waved away claims for a penalty.

Just before the hour mark McDonagh gave Williams a golden chance to double Marine’s lead, but he managed to head wide from the centre of the goal.

Merthyr’s chances of nicking a point were reduced when, in second-half stoppage time, striker Lewis Powell was sent off for a late challenge on goalkeeper, Martin Horsell.

However, in the fifth minute of stoppage time the game was put to bed when McDonagh was played in behind the Merthyr defence and then calmly lobbed Jaimie Cogman to seal all three points for Marine.

The win takes Swindon Supermarine above Salisbury and into 15th in the table on 37 points from 30 games, although the Whites now have three games in hand.