SWINDON 1sts crashed to the third consecutive defeat, going down 6-1 at home to Premier Two leaders Exeter University.

With influenza victim Scrase missing, Swindon welcomed former Scotland international and part-time club coach Roddy Phelp back for the second week running, and otherwise were at full strength, with Tom Walker back to full fitness following his facial injury the week before.

Swindon started poorly, gifting Exeter three goals within the first 20 minutes.

With memories of the 6-0 drubbing rife in the mind of the Swindon players, the game soon changed to see Swindon become the more creative and dominate posession towards the end of the first half.

The possession told when followinga well-worked short corner, Neil Couling's accurate pass to player coach Sage was jabbed over the oncoming keeper at the near post.

The second half was a fractured and scrappy affair, with the umpires failing to get on top of some niggly challenges and allowing the game to become broken up at every opportunity.

Mark Preston saw yellow for a deliberate foot, quickly followed by an Exeter forward and then Hambling in a five-minute spell in the middle of the half.

Exeter made their player advantage tell, scoring their fourth following some nice approach play which left Gough stranded.

The game petered out, although Exeter added two further goals from short corners at the end, the result still flattered Swindon somewhat who were lucky not to have conceded more.

Swindon travel to Firebrands on Saturday, hoping to salvage something from what has been a very poor second half of the season following on from a promising start.