A HARRY McKirdy-inspired Swindon Town cruised to a 3-0 victory away at Carlisle United in League Two on Saturday.

The former Carlisle striker scored one and set up the other two to help Swindon bag consecutive wins for the first time since the end of November.

McKirdy started the comfortable afternoon in the 17th minute before two goals in the space of three minutes – one from Josh Davison and the other from Louie Barry – completed a result that was rarely in doubt.

Three more points lifted Town back into the play-off places with just 15 games to play.

Ben Garner made just the one change from last weekend's thumping win at home to Scunthorpe United. With Ben Gladwin missing through injury, Ricky Aguiar was handed the first league start of his professional career instead.

Jonny Williams was fit enough for a space on the bench, as was Mathieu Baudry.

For Carlisle, Swindon-born Owen Windsor - who is on loan from West Bromwich Albion - started up front while former Town loanee Tyrese Omotoye began the game on the bench.

In their new-look 4-3-3 formation, Town began brightly at Brunton Park and put together some slick forward moves that didn’t quite result in a clear chance at goal.

Instead, it was Carlisle who went close early on. Callum Guy ran onto a half-clearance from Jake O’Brien in the seventh minute before smashing his shot narrowly over from just outside the box.

Town resumed control, however, and almost took the lead through Barry. Rob Hunt broke right the way down the by-line and squared it back for Barry who was twice denied by superb blocks from Morgan Feeney in the mouth of his own goal.

But in the 17th minute, the goal did come for the visitors, and was produced by the former Carlisle man McKirdy.

Hunt found McKirdy on his own just outside the box and, following a heavy touch past the Carlisle defence, hammered his right-footed shot past Mark Howard and into the roof of the net from eight yards out.

The former Cumbrians top scorer wasted no time before running off to perform his trademark celebration front of hundreds of those who had been freely booing him all afternoon.

United survived a couple of moments of controversy after goalkeeper Howard appeared to have handled outside the area and centre-back Dynel Simeu received only a yellow for raising his hands into the face of Davison during a scuffle on the floor.

Barry and Windsor saw shots blocked and saved, respectively, for the two teams as Swindon continued to dominate the ball leading into half-time.

Garner’s men almost doubled their lead shortly before the break when Aguiar played a delightful through-ball to Barry down the right. He cut back onto his left and struck straight at Howard, who beat it away.

Following a handful of half-chances for both sides at the start of the second half, Town doubled their advantage in the 55th minute through Davison.

The visitors turned the ball over in midfield and broke quickly through McKirdy who picked the ball up in space before slipping a pass through to Davison. There was more than a hint of offside from Davison, but the Charlton loanee steadied himself before nicely finishing into the bottom left corner.

Two minutes later, it was three for Swindon as McKirdy notched his second assist of the afternoon – this time allowing Barry to score. Town’s man of the match drilled a low cross from the right towards Davison. The Charlton loanee missed it under pressure from his marker before Barry nipped in front of Feeney to tap into an unguarded net.

In between a couple of tame off-target headers for Carlisle from corners, Aguiar tried to secure a goal on his first start. With around 15 minutes to play, he showed nice skill by dragging the ball this way and that before rolling a right-footed shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box.

By the 75th minute, the tempo of the game had really petered out and Swindon were happy to knock the ball around while the home fans shared their discontent via boos and a couple of late pitch-invaders.

Carlisle substitute Kristian Dennis volleyed straight at Wollacott after being played in down the right, while Omari Patrick saw a looping header tipped over inside the final 10 minutes.

But in truth, Swindon were never tested before referee Oliver Langford blew his whistle to a chorus of hearty boos from the home fans.

CUFC starting XI: Howard, Simeu, Riley, Guy, Mellish, Feeney, Whelan, Sho-Silva, Roberts, Patrick, Windsor.

SUBS: Breeze, Armer, Devine, Devitt, Gibson, Omotoye, Dennis.

STFC starting XI: Wollacott, Iandolo, Davison, McKirdy, Cooper, O'Brien, Barry, Tomlinson, Hunt, Reed, Aguiar.

SUBS: Ward, Odimayo, Baudry, Mitchell-Lawson, Williams, East, Parsons.