Swindon 3 Gillingham 1 

Coca-Cola League One

 

RESULT : Swindon Town 3 Gillingham Town 1

 

Town scorer: Austin 33, Cuthbert 52, Paynter 74 (pen)

Gillingham scorer: Palmer 88

 

There's snow stopping the free-scoring Charlie Austin, as Town climbed back up to 6th and into the play-off places.

 

The striker's 8th in eight games, with a superb first-half turn and shot, helped Town make the perfect start to their delayed new year League campaign.

 

Scott Cuthbert headed home the all-important second just after break, with Billy Paynter grabbing his 12th of the season from the penalty spot.

 

That after new signing Vincent Pericard came on for Austin to make his Swindon debut - and an immediate impact, with the tall 27-year-old fouled in the box to force the penalty.

 

Only a late concession spoiling what Danny Wilson described as "an excellent defensive performance".

 

"Gillingham threatened us early on and we had to deal with that," the manager added.

 

"But when we got our noses in front, we looked like the only team in it.

 

"I couldn't be more pleased with how we played after our enforced break, so thanks to everyone who helped us get this game on. It's been a fantastic effort."

 

Paynter offer on the table

 

Chairman Andrew Fitton confirmed Billy Paynter had been offered a contract for next year that would make him the highest paid player at the club.

 

"It's a good offer, and I hope he takes it because I know he wants to stay here and we want to keep him," Fitton said of talks with Town's leading scorer who is out of contract in the summer.

 

The top of the table:

 

1 Leeds United 25 30 57
2 Norwich 26 31 54

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3 Charlton 25 20 51
4 Colchester 24 13 45
5 Huddersfield 24 19 41
6 Swindon 23 4 41

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7 MK Dons 25 5 39
8 Millwall 25 7 37
9 Bristol Rovers 23 -4 34
10 Brentford 25 -2 33

 

NEXT FEW GAMES:

Stockport (A)
Tuesday, 19 January 2010 7:45pm
Coca-Cola Football League One

Southampton (A) - rearranged for 16 March 
Saturday, 23 January 2010
Coca-Cola Football League One

Leeds United (H)
Tuesday, 26 January 2010 7:45pm
Coca-Cola Football League One

Southend (A)
Saturday, 30 January 2010
Coca-Cola Football League One