DEPLETED Swindon Town perhaps recorded their most pleasing three points all season at the Energy Check County Ground this afternoon, as Crewe Alexandra were beaten 3-1.

Two goals in three second half minutes – one for Jerry Yates and another for Danny Rose – ensured Town’s three-point lead at the top of League Two remains after second placed Exeter beat Cambridge.

Rob Hunt rather fortuitously opened the hosts’ account firmly against the run of play, and it took Crewe half-an-hour to equalise as Chuma Anene notched a typical poachers’ goal from Charlie Kirk’s cross.

Victory will grant Town chief Richie Wellens a great deal of satisfaction given key players Mathieu Baudry, Zeki Fryers and Keshi Anderson were out injured while Jordan Lyden was suspended – Eoin Doyle’s unsurprising recall can be added to that list also.

Wellens made two changes to his XI that drew with Bradford City last weekend.

Zeki Fryers (injured) and Jordan Lyden (suspended) missed out, Tom Broadbent filled the former’s gap and made his first Football League start of the season while Michael Doughty returned to the XI despite suffering with illness in the week.

Crewe created two chances of note in the opening 10 minutes. After Anene emerged with possession inside the hosts’ half, a squared pass into the box picked out Green – whose deflected effort was well caught by Benda.

The German was called upon again minutes later when twinkled-toed Kirk found Ainley on the edge of Town’s penalty area. Ainley’s shot forced Benda into a diving save to his right before the follow up cross was snatched out of the air.

Crewe’s dominance extended to the half-hour mark as Town struggled to establish a foothold in the game.

The closest Wellens’ squad came to threatening Jaaskelainen’s goalframe came on 18 minutes when Jaiyesimi’s dangerous cross from the right was tamely nodded into the visiting ‘keeper’s gloves by the waiting Yates.

Perry Ng went close twice before half-an-hour passed. His first effort was blasted into the Town End roof before moments later he nutmegged Rose and afterwards forced Benda into making an awkward low save.

Totally against the run of play, Swindon then scored through full-back Rob Hunt. Positioned 30 yards from goal, Hunt’s ambitious attempt took a wicked deflection off a Crewe defender and nestled into Jaaskelainen’s bottom left corner.

Hunt’s goal didn’t exactly click Town into fifth gear, but they certainly stepped up their game from the first half-hour.

Caddis’ wind-affected corner had to be tipped over to avoid a fluke second while Yates and Woolery’s headed efforts towards the end of the half threatened to double the hosts’ lead.

Neither manager made a change at half time, and the game’s lull of clear-cut chances extended.

Crewe went close on 52 minutes. Kirk’s inswinging cross was well headed behind by Hunt for a corner, which underwhelmingly dribbled out of play after it was taken short.

Town’s short corner efforts at the other end proved a touch more successful – though Jaiyesimi’s right-footed effort following link-up play with Caddis and Rose was blasted high into the Town End.

Crewe then equalised shortly after the hour mark passed – Chuma Anene bagged a typical poachers’ goal after Charlie Kirk jived his way into the hosts’ penalty area to deliver the assist.

Celebrations were short-lived for Crewe, though, as inspired Swindon bagged two goals in three minutes.

The first came courtesy of Jerry Yates, who leathered his shot into Jaaskelainen’s top corner after he brilliantly controlled possession and turned two men – Hunt’s assist must be mentioned too.

Then, Danny Rose doubled Town’s lead – scoring from the penalty spot after a rebound from a previous shot fell to his feet.

Both goals prompted David Artell to make two changes, Dale and Finney came on with Ainley and Lowery departing.

Wellens didn't utilise the services of any of his players on an admittedly inexperienced bench.

Fresh legs weren’t needed anyway. Crewe threatened only twice in the concluding minutes as another victory pushed Town onto 53 points.

Town: Benda, Rose (C), Broadbent, Isgrove, Yates, Doughty, Woolery, Hunt, Jaiyesimi, Caddis, Grant.

Crewe: Jaaskelainen, Ng, Pickering, Wintle, Powell, Kirk, Ainley (Dale, 72’), Green, Hunt (Johnson, 67’), Lowery (Finney, 72’), Anene.