SWINDON Harriers took full advantage of being at the County Ground to enjoy a thumping victory in the second Southern League Division Three West match last weekend.

With Team Dorset, who won the opening match from the Harriers, slipping to third it looks like Swindon have now taken over top spot at the halfway point of the season.

“We were pretty dominant,” said team manager Luke Byrne.

“It was a really good team effort with a lot of people stepping in at the last minute to cover the gaps and coming out of their comfort zone.

“It hasn’t been confirmed yet, but I think we will be top now with two matches to go. The next is at Andover on July 9 and then the decider at Plymouth on August 19, which is right in the middle of the school holidays, so that could make things more difficult. But we are hell-bent on going up!”

The team ethic was certainly mightily impressive, with club members - ranging from teenagers to veterans - stepping forward to make sure the Harriers kept picking up points.

Byrne did not want to pick out individuals, but he was keen to stress one of the major differences lying behind the club’s success in the Southern League this summer.

“The women’s team have really showed up for us,” he added.

“A few seasons ago we only had four or five women covering all the events, but now we are so much stronger. We even had runners in the women’s steeplechase and the 5000m which I can’t remember ever happing in the past.

“It is great to see, and now we have to make sure as a club we keep hold of these talented young athletes.”