SWINDON Town have huffed and puffed but remain locked at 0-0 with Exeter City at half-time in the two sides’ League One clash at the County Ground this afternoon.

Showing no signs of a post-Charlie Austin hangover, Town have been utterly dominant throughout, playing neatly in midfield and countering with devastating pace through Alan O’Brien and Matt Ritchie.

That pair combined well early on, with the Irish winger delivering for Ritchie to head against the bar, whilst Jonathan Douglas was twice denied by Ben Hamer in the visitors’ goal and Michael Timlin curled narrowly wide.

Kevin Amankwaah had a goal disallowed for offside in the dying moments of the half, as Swindon somehow went into the break level.

Here are the key moments from today’s first half:

Five mins: A little slapdash from both sides in the early stages at the County Ground, although Matt Ritchie has looked lively in his new role accompanying Thomas Dossevi up front.

Nine mins: Town come agonisingly close to the opening goal as Alan O’Brien steams to the byline and crosses delicately for Ritchie.

The diminutive former Portsmouth man launches himself at the ball, but his header smashes against the crossbar and rebounds to safety. Promising signs of intent from Swindon, but you have to think another player who shall not be named would have buried that.

11 mins: It has to be noted that Town’s matchday squad has just 94 Football League goals between them. Exeter’s Jamie Cureton has 196.

14 mins: Will Jonathan Douglas ever score for Swindon Town? He gets himself in a glorious position eight yards out and, when Jon-Paul McGovern tees him up perfectly, it looks for all the world that he is going to put the hosts ahead.

But Ben Hamer in the Exeter goal gets a big paw to the skipper’s side-footed effort and pushes the ball out for a corner.

15 mins: The Robins are all over their guests, and the electric Ritchie launches a rocket of a volley which is well parried by Hamer.

16 mins: Douglas has another go, this time from 18 yards out. The ball takes a small deflection and Hamer has to use his chest to pad it away to safety.

18 mins: First chance for Exeter as Cureton nods Ryan Harley’s centre wide of Phil Smith’s goal. Very open and entertaining stuff.

23 mins: Neat interplay from the home side as O’Brien pulls the ball across to Michael Timlin 10 yards out and the midfielder’s shot is blocked out for a corner.

26 mins: Town really should be in front by now, and Timlin spurns a glorious opportunity after O’Brien draws two defenders, allowing his time to place his effort from 15 yards.

But the former Fulham man can’t bend his shot enough and it flies past the upright. Swindon are totally and utterly dominant.

35 mins: Considering the circumstances, it was a truly excellent first half-hour from Swindon. Calm in possession, fluent in attack and strong in defence. All that’s missing is a little potency up front.

37 mins: Timlin has another sight of goal, but his low drive is well blocked by Matt Taylor.

40 mins: Kevin Amankwaah bundles Andrew Frampton’s flick-on into the back of the net, the County Ground briefly celebrates before noticing an offside flag against the full-back.

44 mins: Ryan Harley, quite so far, fires against the crossbar from a 22-yard free-kick. That would have been so undeserved for Exeter.

SWINDON TOWN (4-4-2): Phil Smith; Kevin Amankwaah, Scott Cuthbert, Andy Frampton, Alan Sheehan; Jon-Paul McGovern, Michael Timlin, Jonathan Douglas, Alan O’Brien; Matt Ritchie, Thomas Dossevi

Subs not used: Mark Scott, Paul Caddis, Will Evans, Aden Flint, Simon Ferry, David Prutton, Billy Bodin

EXETER CITY (4-3-3): Ben Hamer; Steve Tully Richard Duffy, Matt Taylor, Scott Goldbourne; David Noble, Ryan Harley, Liam Sercombe; John O’Flynn, Jamie Cureton (Jake Thomson, 36), Dan Nardiello

Subs not used: Artur Krysiak, James Dunne, Troy Archibald-Henville, Marcus Stewart, Billy Jones, Richard Logan

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