SWINDON made the long trip south to face Exeter to face ECV Hornets in the Davis Wood Hockey League Championship and emerged with a timely 4-3 victory.

The Wiltshire side, who are struggling this season after losing so many players from last year’s Premiership squad, picked up all three valuable points thanks to two goals from Henry Cheney and one apiece from Luke Cejer and Peter Gilbert.

Swindon started brightly and controlled the game for large periods. With 20 minutes on the clock Cheney smashed home the first of the match after some terrific build up play from Cejer and Chris Parsons through the midfield, and things were to get better for the visitors minutes later when captain Cejer got in on the goalscoring action with a well-taken individual strike.

In the dying seconds before half-time ECV grabbed a goal from nothing after Lewis Dyer lost possession, as a quick shot caught goalkeeper Alan Gough wrong-footed.

The second half started badly for Swindon as the hosts put them under pressure from the restart and were rewarded with an equaliser.

This inspired the Swindon players to dig deep and get back into the game and Swindon went on to dominate much of the remainder of the contest.

They were rewarded with another two goals, one for Peter Gilbert - his first for the team from Lewis Dyer’s pinpoint cross to the far post - and another for Cheney.

Cheney missed an empty goal towards the end of the game, as Swindon looked to put the tie to bed. Having beaten the keeper, Cheney’s quick shot skidded wide of the gaping goal.

Hornets set up a dramatic conclusion to the match, slamming home a penalty corner, but it turned out to be Swindon’s day, and hopes of a successful fight against relegation were reignited.