MK Dons 1, Swindon Town 2

5:04pm Saturday 30th August 2008

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Simon Cox's last-minute penalty snatched a smash-and-grab first away win for Swindon at MK Dons.

The striker's cool spot-kick ended the Robins' three-match losing run after Jude Stirling's bundled equaliser (65) had cancelled out Billy Paynter's 52nd minute opener for Town.

Milton Keynes started brightly with some neat passing football and Sam Baldock's low 15-yard strike was deflected just wide after he had latched onto Peter Leven's through-ball in the second minute.

Leven missed a golden opportunity to break the deadlock in the 17th minute when he scuffed straight at Swindon goalkeeper Phil Smith from eight yards after Michael Timlin had completely missed Mark Wright's cross.

The Robins had another let-off four minutes later when the sprightly Baldock charged down Smith's kick but, fortunately for the Town stopper, the ball dropped wide of the post.

Swindon midfielder Timlin called Willy Gueret into action for the first time on the half-hour mark with a 25-yard curler that the Dons goalkeeper saved easily.

But Milton Keynes continued to dominate and Shaun Cummings clipped a first-time strike just over the angle from Baldock's precise pass before Aaron Wilbraham's looping ten-yard header from Carl Regan's cross hit the crossbar on the stroke of half-time as Swindon rode their luck.

The Dons burst out of the blocks after the break and O'Hanlon's 12-yard header from Leven's inswinging cross was well saved by Smith six minutes after the re-start.

But former Robins centre-back O'Hanlon's defensive slip gifted Swindon the lead a minute later at the other end.

Simon Cox robbed O'Hanlon of possession on the edge of his own box and unselfishly teed up strike-partner Paynter, who stroked the ball past Gueret and into the corner of the net from 12 yards.

Paynter could have doubled the Robins' advantage soon afterwards but he blazed over after making space for himself on the edge of the box.

And Stirling equalised for Milton Keynes in the 65th minute, bundling in the ball from close range after Town keeper Smith had flapped at Wright's corner.

O'Hanlon and Wright went close for Milton Keynes late on before Cox won it for Swindon in the 90th minute when he sent Gueret the wrong way from the spot after substitute Jemal Johnson had dragged down Craig Easton in the box.

MK Dons: Gueret, Lewington (c), Stirling (Johnson 70 booked 89), O'Hanlon, Regan, Cummings, Wright, Belson, Leven, Wilbraham, Baldock (Gallen 77). Subs: Abbey, Johnson, Navarro, Gallen, Chicksen.

Swindon Town: P Smith, J Smith, Casal (Amankwaah 46), Ifill, Aljofree (c), Nalis, Easton, Timlin, McNamee (Marshall 79), Paynter (Peacock 79), Cox. Subs: Brezovan, McGovern, Peacock, Amankwaah, Marshall.

Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent).

Attendance: 8,846.