A SIMPLIFIED second half performance helped Swindon Town devastate trying Grimsby at the County Ground on Saturday as Richie Wellens’ squad continued their march towards promotion from League Two.

Wellens was extremely vocal to his players – most noticeably Rarmani Edmonds-Green - mid-way through the opening half as Swindon struggled to establish a foothold in what turned into a rather drab opening half.

But three goals in an 11-minute period, one apiece for Jerry Yates and Diallang Jaiyesimi in addition to an own goal, turned the game in Swindon’s favour.

Only James Hanson’s bullet header could rescue any pride for visiting Grimsby.

Reacting to his side’s 20th League Two win of the season, Wellens said: “We complicated the game in the first half far too much, there were opportunities to slip people in, get in behind them and create more chances.

“We simplified the game [in the second half], moved the ball quicker and caused more problems.

"The first goal is brilliant skill by Diallang Jaiyesimi and it's a brilliant, unselfish, pull back from Eoin Doyle.

“The second is a great header from Jaiyesimi and we told Lloyd Isgrove at half-time that we weren't getting enough crosses from him.

“He put it in the right area and it's unfortunate for the lad who's put it in his own net.”

For the fourth weekend in succession, wind again impacted play as more than a dozen searching long balls forward rolled away from their intended targets.

Michael Doughty too struggled to keep the ball stationary from corners. Despite this, results keep coming for Swindon – who still sit top of the division, four points clear of the play-off frame.

Wellens added: “The first half was a bit drab, in the second half we woke up.

"With the wind we've just got to play in the right areas, we're not passing out from the back as risky as we sometimes do, we're just trying to play in the opposition's half a lot more. If we get the ball into the final third into good position in the final third it takes the wind out of it.

"I think we need to get the front three even more involved, that's the secret to the good results in the wind.”