SWINDON Town wrapped up the League Two title in style with a 5-0 victory over Port Vale at the County Ground this afternoon.
A brace from Paul Benson and goals from Matt Ritchie, Aden Flint and Alan Connell sealed the win, and ensured Town would be able to pick up the trophy in front of their own fans, who poured onto the pitch at the final whistle.
Ritchie gave Town the lead near the end of a tight first half, as he received the ball after John Bostock did well to keep it in, and lashed his shot into the top corner of the net.
Things were tight in the first half, but it was a completely different story in the second, as Town cut loose and ran their visitors ragged.
Benson got the second as he chipped keeper Chris Martin following good work from Simon Ferry, and superbly guided in the third after Lee Holmes beat his man down the left.
Flint powered home from a Ritchie corner before Connell deflected Jonathan Smith’s shot home to complete the rout, as Town completed the job in style.
Here are the key moments from the first half.
2 mins: Matt Ritchie swings a ball into the box which Paul Benson can’t quite connect with.
6 mins: The first real chance falls to the visitors’ Tom Pope, but the striker can’t direct his header goalwards.
17 mins: Matt Ritchie earns a free kick but shoots straight at the wall, and when the ball comes back to him he fires over the bar.
28 mins: John Bostock shoots from distance, but his effort is well wide.
31mins: Simon Ferry tries his luck from distance, but his effort is well wide.
37mins: Aden Flint makes a hash of a clearance before underselling his back pass to Foderingham, but the keeper is out well to halt Marc Richards.
38mins: GOAL 1-0 TOWN (Ritchie) Bostock keeps the ball in well, before pulling it back for Ritchie who fires in an unstoppable shot to give his side the lead.
HALF TIME
51 mins: GOAL 2-0 TOWN (Benson) Paul Caddis plays the ball to Simon Ferry who flicks the ball on through his own legs before Paul Benson chips the keeper to make it 2-0.
57 mins: Bostock almost makes it 3-0 but his shot is blocked on the line by Jamie McCombe, and Benson does not pounce in time to put in the rebound.
65mins: GOAL 3-0 TOWN (Benson) Town don’t have to wait long for a third as Benson guides in Lee Holmes’ cross at the near post.
67mins: GOAL 4-0 TOWN (Flint) Within minutes it if 4-0 as Aden Flint powers home a Ritchie corner.
87mins: GOAL 5-0 TOWN (Connell) Town continue to push forward in search of more goals, and Alan Connell deflects in Jonathan Smith’s shot from the edge of the area to make it 5-0.
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