ON-THE-WHISTLE MATCH REPORT: Swindon Town 4-3 Crewe Alexandra

Marc Richards' 89th-minute goal won Swindon the most dramatic of three points against a struggling Crewe.

Swindon were trailing 3-1 at home to Crewe until the 66th minute but two from Timi Elsnik and a last-minute goal from Richards secured the most dramatic of turnarounds.

Richards gave Swindon the perfect start after just three minutes when he swept in a left-sided Ellis Iandolo cross.

Crewe were level as soon as the 15-minute mark though when Callum Ainley broke away from some poor Swindon defending to drill in a low volley from a tight angle.

It left Reice Charles-Cook with no hope in the Swindon goal, and the County Ground was in a stunned silence.

The away side were in front soon after, as Swindon were all at sea once they conceded. Ainley got his second goal of the match just before the half-hour when his left-sided cross beat Charles-Cook.

Crewe were in cruise control six minutes into the second half when Ryan Wintle tapped in from a yard after Charles-Cook kept out a Charlie Kirk effort well, but lost out to a second Crewe forward when the pair went for the rebound, which dropped to Wintle.

Timi Elsnik, on as a sub and playing his first senior game since November 18, curled in a super strike from the outside of the box first time and into the top corner.

He then got Swindon's second and his third when he slotted in from close range after a low right-sided cross was deflected into his path.

In the aftermath of Elsnik's second, Zoumana Bakayogo was sent off for a second yellow card for Crewe.

Swindon benefitted from the extra man when Richards flicked in a low left-sided Matty Taylor cross just before stoppage time.

Just after Richards' opening strike, Keshi Anderson went on a jinking run, but he had his effort well blocked, and soon after Kaiyne Woolery's shot from the edge of the box was well parried by goalkeeper Dave Richards.

Richards then had a go from the edge of the box, but it was horribly scuffed and the keeper just picked it up.

Crewe then scored and almost made it 2-1 earlier than they did when Ainley swung in a corner that nearly curled all the way in, but Town scrambled it behind for a corner which came to nothing.

James Dunne had to head a Brad Walker header off the line from another Crewe corner, and you could sense goal number two for the Railwaymen was imminent. It came seconds later.

The match went from bad to worse for Swindon three minutes before half-time. When a goal down and frustrations rising, manager David Flitcroft subbed Kaiyne Woolery for Luke Norris with only 42 minutes played.

It led to booes from the crowd, chants of 'you don't know what you're doing', followed by applause for Woolery, who did not seem to be injured.

Swindon picked up after a dreadful start to the second half and, after Elsnik got Swindon back into the game, they pressed on for the equaliser.

Norris had the best chance when he was put clean through on goal but, when one-on-one with sub keeper Ben Garratt, Norris side-footed an effort straight at him.

Straight after, Norris looped a header towards goal but Garratt tipped this one over for a corner, which led to Elsnik volleying over from range. 

None of that mattered though when Richards netted the second of his brace to mark a most memorable home debut for the free transfer from Northampton.

Swindon Town: Charles-Cook, Lancashire, Robertson, Preston, Gordon, Dunne (Elsnik '45), Banks, Iandolo (Taylor '45), Anderson, Woolery (Norris '42), Richards

Subs not used: Moore, Knoyle, Purkiss, Mullin

Crewe Alexandra: Richards (Garratt '72), Bakayogo, Walker, Raynes, Bowery, Nolan, Ainley, Wintle, Kirk (Pickering '81), Green, McKirdy (Miller '68)

Subs not used: Ray, Lowery, Reilly, Barlaser

MOTM: Tim Elsnik

Referee: Graham Salisbury