Match Report: Swindon Town 3-2 AFC Wimbledon

Second Half showing sees Town earn consecutive wins - a report by Swindon Town FC correspondent Alfie Howlett

After falling behind in the second minute, Swindon seemed to have it all to do against the play-off chasing visitors. 

However, a second half turnaround, which was started by Aaron Drinan and completed with a Dawson Devoy brace, saw Swindon run out winners in the spring sunshine.

Swindon came into the contest off the back of a very impressive 2-0 away win at high-flying Barrow. It was in fact their first away win of 2024. With nothing to play for, all of the incentives lay with the visitors from the capital as they sat just a place outside the play-offs.

AFC Wimbledon got off to a fast start as they won a corner inside the first minute. And it was from the resulting corner in which they took the lead. Lee Brown’s in swinging corner was met at the front post by the unmarked Joe Lewis for an easy opener. 

Swindon were unable to settle in the first 10 minutes and looked vulnerable for the taking.

However, they began to look more assured as the half grew on, starting with Jake Cain drawing a save from Tzanev after he dispossessed Johnson. In truth there was very little action in front of goal to write home about until the 43rd minute when the ball broke to Liam Kelly inside the box. He attempted to round Bycroft - however, his heavy touch forced him away from goal. It brought to an end an even first half with little to split the sides but a cheaply given away goal.

 

The first highlight of the second 45 came in the 51st minute. After cutting out Conor McCarthy’s poor ball, Omar Bugiel fired over an effort from range. Swindon then went on to punish AFC Wimbledon as Dawson Devoy countered down the right flank and swung a delivery into the box which was diverted to Drinan. There the forward made no mistake as he calmly converted into the bottom right corner.

Both teams were throwing punches, an encounter which could go any way. Bugiel had a header saved down Bycroft’s throat in the 71st minute. Then Swindon once more punished their opposition by having that bit of extra quality in the box. A brilliant Kokolo run down the left saw the full back get in a low cross which was expertly finished by the onrushing Devoy at the near post. 

Thirteen minutes later it was Devoy at the double as he cut into the box and smashed home the winner from 18 yards.

Paul Glatzel had the opportunity to make it 4-1 when he tricked his way into the box only to be denied 1 on 1. Instead, it was AFC Wimbledon who scored the next goal as Joe Lewis scored a header to set up a jittery stoppage time period. It saw Udoka Godwin-Malife shown a second yellow for what the referee perceived as time wasting. And substitute Joel McGregor was on hand to clear an effort off the line in the closing stages.

So, it finished 3-2 to Town as they continued their improving form of late. Next up for them is a trip to Walsall on Tuesday night.