Pools picked up a valuable three points at Swindon Town this afternoon with a 2-0 victory.

Chris Turner's men got their just rewards for a good solid performance here at The County Ground, with first half goals from James Brown and Andy Monkhouse sealing the win.

Pools made the perfect start to this afternoon's game at The County Ground with a goal inside the first two minutes.

Chris Turner's really side burst out of the blocks and left Swindon Town wondering what had hit them.

And with just two minutes on the clock, Pools hit the opener; Peter Hartley fed the ball through to Adam Boyd on the edge of the box and he turned well to chip a lovely ball into the area where James Brown rose highest in a crowd to direct a headed effort into the back of the net.

The early goal was just what Pools have been looking for and set them up for an entertaining and dominant first half.

There was a chance for Brown to hit his second of the game just minutes later when he burst in from the right and instead of going for goal himself, he unselfishly poked the ball square for Boyd but the ball was just ahead of the in-form striker and the danger was cleared.

As Pools maintained their pressure on Danny Wilson's side, former Swindon man Andy Monkhouse lifted a dangerous ball in from the left which again Brown met in the air but this time the tricky winger was denied by David Lucas in the Town goal.

The hosts did enjoy some possession and Temitope Obadeyi showed great pace down the right wing to burst forward and put a ball into the box for Alex Revell, who turner into space before firing low on goal but Flinders collected with ease.

After a blistering opening fifteen minutes to the game, the tempo slowed a little but Pools continued to threaten.

A lovely ball down the left from Ritchie Humphreys found Denis Behan in space and the Irish front man did well to loft a teasing ball into the area for the arriving Ritchie Jones - unfortunately the midfielder just missed the header and the ball rolled to Brown who smashed an effort across the face of goal and just wide of target.

Anthony McNamee fired in a great curling effort for the hosts, which went narrowly wide of the far post in a rare attack for Swindon Town.

But with 30 minutes on the clock Pools made their dominance count with a second goal courtesy of Monkhouse.

A brilliant ball up from the hard-working Boyd picked out Brown and he matched the quality of the pass received as he fed it across the area for the in-running Monkhouse who simply stroked the ball past Lucas and into the back of the net.

And Pools really had Wilson's men on the ropes for a period, looking dangerous with every attack and leaving Swindon with no ideas but a break in play for an injury to Revell allowed the hosts to regroup.

Boyd, who enjoyed a big first half here for Pools, lifted a good ball over for Humphreys and the midfielder turned well, muscling himself into enough space to shoot on goal but Lucas held his shot.

Swindon should have pulled one back just before the break when McNamee put a ball in from the left which saw Ben Hutchinson meet with a diving header only to send his effort wide of target when a goal looked a certainty.

And so Pools took a two-goal lead into the break and Chris Turner will have been delighted with his side's performance in the first half here at The County Ground.

The second half was much more equal but Swindon Town did not come out in the second half with all guns blazing as was expected and there was a slightly slow start to the second forty-five.

There was a chance for Pools through Monkhouse, whose every touch was booed after an exuberant celebration to his goal which saw his name go in the referee's book - his effort this time though went just wide of the far post.

Wilson's men put in a much-improved second half display and Scott Flinders in the Pools game was a busier man after the break.

The big Pools stopper got up well to punch clear from a dangerous McNamee ball into the box to retain the two goal advantage.

Flinders reacted very well to hold a headed effort from Obadeyi and pulled off another great stop to deny sub Billy Paynter from close range as the hosts pushed on for an opening back into the game.

With the referee awarding numerous dubious decisions to the hosts, Pools had to be alert to keep Swindon Town at bay - once again though, the partnership of Collins and Liddle at the back remained strong, while both Ritchies in midfield supported well.

Obadeyi came to the rescue for Pools late in the game as Flinders just missed a high ball in from a corner kick but with Lee Peacock firing in a fierce effort from close range, Obadeyi blocked the effort and Pools were able to clear.

A long ball up from sub Armann Bjornsson late in the game set Colin Larkin running in on goal but the icing on the cake didn't arrive as Lucas held the sub striker's effort.

The closing minutes were not the prettiest as Pools worked to just keep Swindon out but Turner's men held firm and kept the hosts at bay, bringing to an end an 11 game unbeaten run for Wilson's side.

A deserved 2-0 victory for Pools this afternoon was just what was needed and will set Turner's men up nicely for next Saturday's home game with Tranmere Rovers.

Att: 7096 (156 Pools)

Pools: Flinders, Hartley, Collins, Liddle, Austin, Monkhouse, Humphreys, Jones, Brown (McSweeney 79), Boyd (Bjornsson 70), Behan (Larkin 70)
Subs Not Used: Cook, Sweeney, Haslam, Fredriksen

Swindon Town: Lucas, Cuthbert, Greer, McGovern, Hutchinson (Paynter 67), McNamee, Amankwaah, Kennedy (Jean-Francois 46), Obadeyi, Ferry, Revell (Peacock 50)
Subs Not Used: Smith, Easton, Timlin, Morrison