Swindon Town 1, Bristol Rovers 3: Three swings of Mark Walters' right boot were enough to send Colin Todd's side crashing to defeat.

Two corners and one free-kick created enough panic in the Town defence to leave them staring down the barrel of a 3-0 reverse inside the the opening 37 minutes of this derby clash and there was no way back.

The veteran winger's clinical dead ball skills were enough to clinch the three points as a shell-shocked Town struggled to fight back.

But, the cruel truth is that Town had squandered enough chances to hoist themselves way into the lead and give themselves the half-time upper hand.

Rovers were already a goal ahead when Giuliano Grazioli and Martin Williams missed three glorious opportunities between them to lift the County Ground gloom.

Instead, it was left for Walters to firmly stamp his mark on the game and put one over on his old chums by setting up the second and third.

Surely not even ParcelForce could have provided better deliveries.

He almost capped his fine display with a special goal of his own, but a 30-yard effort crashed off Bart Griemink's bar early in the second half.

It did not matter, however, as he had already done enough to seal Town's fate with his trio of killer balls.

The pace may have gone and the knees may be going, but the vision and skill are there for all to see.

He lit up an otherwise dull derby day encounter, creating the first goal after 14 minutes.

Walters played in a teasing corner which caused complete mayhem in the penalty area. The ball dropped to the feet of Rovers defender Marcus Andreasson and he had time to pick his spot in the bottom corner and side foot the visitors ahead.

The goal stung Town into action and they suddenly created three chances in as many minutes that should have put them back in the game.

A dangerous 22nd minute cross from Keith O'Halloran found Williams at the far post, his knock back across goal was met by Giuliano Grazioli, but the re-called striker headed the chance over the bar.

It was then Williams' turn to miss the target as he had possibly the best two chances of the half.

Andreasson mistimed a challenge and the Town striker was presented with a clear run on goal. As keeper Nick Culkin raced out to meet him, Williams dinked the ball goalward but could only watch on in anguish as the ball rolled narrowly wide.

A minute later and he came even closer.

Danny Invincible was put away down the right and although his cross found Williams at the far post the header bounced off the top of the bar.

It was agonising, but their misses were to prove crucial as Rovers came back into the game with two strikes in a five minute spell.

Their first came in the 32nd minute, although it was something of a freak.

Williams, who had been so unlucky in front of goal at one end put through his own net at the other.

Invincible gave away a silly free-kick on the left wing after fouling Walters and the veteran punished him fully by swinging over a deep cross to the far post where Mark Foran nodded the ball back and Williams deflected it past Griemink.

It was a killer blow for the home side and Rovers, backed by their large support, rode the crest of their wave to strike again in the 37th minute.

Walters was again involved, floating another dangerous corner into the heart of the Town box. This time it found Scott Jones on the edge of the area and as he attempted to bring it down, was felled by David Duke. Referee Phil Richards had no hesitation as he pointed to the spot.

Mickey Evans stepped up and thumped the ball emphatically down the middle to make it 3-0.

Rovers had created three chances, had three shots on goal and were three goals up. There was no doubt where the three points were heading.

Just before the break Grazioli did see a lobbed effort drop wide and Duke had a volley fly off target but Rovers never looked like conceding.

Colin Todd introduced Andy Williams for the struggling Duke at half-time but it had little effect in denting the cast-iron Rovers defence.

Walters' brilliant long range effort was all that Rovers could muster going forward, but in reality they didn't need to go looking for further reward.

Walters was eventually substituted midway through the second half and left the field to a rousing reception from both home and away fans.

His performance brought back the fond memories of when he used to wear the red of Town.

How the home fans would love to see someone with as much skill and quality on the ball in their side today.

The truth is that Town do not possess such a person at the moment. Or if they do then he has not been capable of showing us his true potential.

Colin Todd certainly tried to keep things going. Antoine van der Linden and Mark Robertson were introduced at the expense of Alan Reeves and Martin Williams but it had little effect.

Bristol Rovers simply sat back, allowed Town to beaver away frantically in front of them, but at the same time kept them safely at arms length.

Rovers keeper Culkin did have to bend down on one knee to pick up a Grazioli trundler and watch as efforts from Keith O'Halloran and Bobby Howe sailed over the bar. But he was never really called upon to make a save until deep into injury time.

New dad on the block Mark Robertson finally snatched a consolation for the home fans with a 90th minute penalty.

The Aussie slotted away the spot kick after O'Halloran had been up-ended in the box by Foran.

Robertson, who celebrated the birth of his daughter Taylor earlier in the week, had been desperate to score. If only his goal had meant more.