Swindon 2-0 Torquay
Last updated on .From the section Football
Swindon Town extended their lead at the top of the League Two table to seven points with a clinical and deserved win over second-placed Torquay United.
The hosts were on top from the outset and Alan Connell headed the opener from close range before the break from Matt Ritchie's fine inswinging corner.
Ritchie also teed up the second after half-time when his teasing corner was powerfully headed in by Oliver Risser.
The Gulls barely threatened but remain second as Southend lost to Aldershot.
Swindon's margin of victory could have been greater with the lively Connell going close on three other occasions before Risser netted.
Connell fired an early long-range effort just wide, then narrowly failed to get on the end of a Ritchie cross
But his best chance saw him squander a glorious headed chance from yet another Ritchie centre.
The forward also went close after the break from a Lee Holmes cross.
However, the Robins did not need the cushion of a third goal and were able to see out their 15th successive home win in all competitions with relative ease ahead of Sunday's JP Trophy final against Chesterfield.
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Swindon Town manager Paolo di Canio told BBC Points West:
"The most important thing is all these victories give us a good position when we arrive at the end. The target was to go up and this will remain our target.
"It's better to go to Wembley with a victory and it was a fantastic performance - with their professionalism, their desire and discipline.
"There is no doubt that we deserved to win this game as we dominated.
"When you can go to Wembley with this kind of performance you are going to have confidence but, for a final, you don't need motivation from anyone."
