SKIPPER Leigh Adams hailed Robins' "awesome'' travelling support as Swindon confidently won their key local derby showing great style at Reading last night.

In posting their sixth away win of the season, Robins took the first of three must-win away matches in four nights, needed to ensure home advantage in the Elite League play-offs.

They strengthened their lead at the top of the table to four points, as Coventry leapfrogged Poole in second place with an emphatic home win over Ipswich.

Adams said: "We set out to win and that's what we have done. It's one bit of the jigsaw out of the way but now it's Ipswich and that will be tough.'' He also paid a warm tribute to the throngs of Robins' followers who made the trip up the M4, adding: "The support we had was unbelievable. That's why we're working so hard - to reward the fans.'' Swindon co-owner Terry Russell added: "It's a win we were looking for. One down and a couple more to go. The boys looked a class side.'' Swindon's performance was widely regarded as easily the best by any visiting team at Smallmead this year.

Heat leaders Leigh Adams, Lee RIchardson and, promisingly, Seba Ulamek all made double figures.

Elsewhere, Tomasz Chrzanowski and Charlie Gjedde recorded paid eights each, while Mads Korneliussen added another seven and Andrew Moore four.

They got off to the best possible start with Leigh Adams and Tomasz Chrzanowski first out of the tapes, though the Pole was overhauled on the first lap by Jonas Davidson.

Racers levelled the score in heat two, Jonas Davidson taking the win but Andrew Moore slipped past Chris Neath on the inside to bring the scores level.

And Swindon surged ahead in the third with an easy maximum 5-1 from Charlie Gjedde and Lee Richardson.

The lead was extended to eight when Mads Korneliussen bounced back from a poor first outing to win heat four with Seb Ulamek holding off the Racers duo.

A third successive 5-1 saw Swindon 12 ahead with Racers' naming Matej Zagar for double points.

Ulamek however pulled out an excellent ride to score a class victory and with Moore coming third the heat was drawn.

Swindon gradually increased their lead and the match was in the bag after 12 heats.

But a 5-1 from the Danish duo of Gjedde and Korneliussen added some style to the latter stages.

Significantly, the Polish pair of Ulamek and Chrzanowski rode extremely well in a team superbly led by Adams and with extremely consistently scoring down the line.

The Reading track holds few fears for Swindon, but this was still a supreme performance.

The tighter circuit at Ipswich tonight and Belle Vue on Monday may pose a tough examination of the Robins resolve, but on this evidence they should succeed.

n SWINDON will meet the Racers over two legs in the Knockout Cup semi-finals on September 13-14.