Coca-Cola League One
Swindon Town 3-0 Oldham Athletic
Stu Vose at the County Ground
Cock-a-hoop Swindon eased their relegation fears as they saw off below-par Latics with a three-goal blast.
After edging a scrappy first half, the resurgent Robins pulled ahead through a Lee Peacock strike before top scorer Simon Cox wrapped up the points with a well-taken double.
Already down to the bare bones and boasting only fourteen fit professionals, Athletic threatened infrequently against a Town side whose win gave them a seven-point cushion above the drop zone.
Indeed the performance prompted an incandescent John Sheridan to issue a public apology to the travelling supporters as his outfit dropped six points off the play-off places with only four games to go.
Sheridan handed a first start in over five months to Sean Gregan as Latics lined up against a Swindon side with only one win to show from their previous 10 outings.
However, it was the home side applying the early pressure, tricky winger Anthony McNamee arrowing over a succession of crosses and Jon-Paul McGovern almost getting to a loose ball ahead of goalkeeper Mark Crossley early on.
Athletic responded when Chris Taylor fired a Deane Smalley cross off target from close range, although McNamee soon fashioned a riposte when his teasing cross flashed just over Cox's head right in front of goal.
The home side looked to have cashed in just before the break when Cox bundled the ball over the line from close range, but the celebrations were cut short by an offside flag.
Latics were dealt a major blow when Jason Jarrett was forced to limp off just after forcing Town keeper Peter Brezovan into a smart save after Chris Taylor knocked Stefan Stam's diagonal ball down into his path.
The reshuffle meant a welcome senior return for Andy Liddell, missing with achilles trouble since the 1-0 win at Tranmere in early November.
But again it was Swindon creating the better chances in the second half, coming close within a minute when Stam did well to block Cox's snapshot at close quarters.
When the goal did come just four minutes after the break it came through winger McNamee, always a willing outlet on the left flank.
The ex-Watford speedster unselfishly flashed the ball across goal when in a position to shoot, and Lee Peacock reacted quickest to turn the ball past Crossley from close range.
McNamee -- almost added a goal himself with a vicious shot just over the crossbar -- was again the source as the hosts quelled any possible resistance with a quick-fire second goal on 53 minutes.
Another cross from the left dropped in between two defenders, allowing Cox to ram home his eleventh goal of the season and leave boss Maurice Malpas visualising three priceless points.
Chris Taylor's off-target header from a Liddell centre provided a brief respite at the other end, but the scoring was complete 20 minutes from time.
Ex-Reading hitman Cox exchanged passes with Peacock on the edge of the box and curled a precise effort into the bottom right-hand corner.
Jerel Ifil could have added a fifth in the closing stages when he met McGovern's corner, but the big defender could only guide his cushioned header wide of the far post.
And Latics' frustrating day at the office was summed up right at the end when Leon Constantine found himself one-on-one with Brezovan only to fire his shot against the home keeper's legs.
Swindon: Brezovan, Jack Smith, Vincent, Ifil, Aljofree, McGovern, Easton, Timlin, McNamee (Zaaboub, 85), Peacock, Cox (Paynter, 82).
Subs Not Used: Phil Smith, Nicholas, Mohamed.
Booked: Jack Smith.
Goals: Peacock 49, Cox 53, 70.
Latics: Crossley, Eardley, Lomax, Hazell, Stam, Allott, Gregan, Jarrett (Liddell, 45), Smalley, Constantine, Taylor.
Subs Not Used: O'Donnell, Kelly, Knight, Winters.
Booked: Taylor, Gregan.
Att: 5,384
Ref: Keith Hill (Hertfordshire).
Image Credit: Swindon Town FC
