HALF TIME: Swindon Town 2 Crawley Town 0 (From This Is Swindon Town FC)

HALF TIME: Swindon Town 2 Crawley Town 0

8:40pm Tuesday 21st August 2012 in News By Andy Warren

GOALS from Matt Ritchie and Tommy Miller have given Swindon Town a 2-0 half-time lead over Crawley Town at the County Ground this evening.

Ritchie has given visiting left-back Mat Saddler the runaround as he looks back to his old self after two quiet games by his high standards, and after gliding away from his man his cross sailed into the back of the net over keeper Paul Jones to give Town the lead

Ritchie has linked up well with strikers Andy Williams and James Collins as Town pushed forward straight from kick-off, and the two new signings have looked lively on their first competitive start as a partnership.

But it was Miller who made amends for his penalty miss on Saturday at Hartlepool by adding the second, as he turned home Raffa De Vita's header across goal from Ritchie's cross.

Town have dominated the half, but the visitors have had a number of chances with home keeper pulling off a good save to deny Billy Clarke.

HERE ARE THE KEY MOMENTS FROM THE FIRST HALF

Three mins: Collins sees his effort deflected behind by Claude Davis as Town go close for the first time.

11 mins: Jay McEveley breaks down the left after superb work from Raffa De Vita, and after Paul Jones beats away the full-back's cross, Joe Devera heads over the resulting corner.

15 mins: Matt Ritchie drives in a low cross which Davis is forced to clear with Collins lurking.

16 mins: Town's appeals for a penalty are turned down by referee Keith Stroud as Collins tumbles to the floor, but the striker is penalised for a high boot which forces Davis to receive treatment.

19 mins: Hope Akpan lifts a shot harmlessly over the bar for the visitors after good build-up play from Nicky Adams and Josh Simpson.

24 mins: GOAL 1-0 TOWN (Ritchie): The Town winger is allowed too much time and space to dribble past two men on the right, and when he eventually sends in his right-footed cross it evades keeper Paul Jones and sails into the back of the net.

32 mins: The visitors begin to respond to going behind, as first Gary Alexander's shot is deflected behind, before Kyle McFadzean's header lands on the roof of the net.

35 mins: Andy Williams fires into the side netting after good work from Ritchie.

41 mins: Wes Foderingham dives to his right to tip Billy Clarke's header behind.

44 mins: GOAL 2-0 TOWN (Miller) : Ritchie whips the ball in from the right, and after De Vita heads back across goal, Tommy Miller is on hand to fire in from 12 yards.