SWINDON Town threw away a lead for the third time as many matches as MK Dons emerged from their trip to the County Ground with all three points from a 2-1 win.

The Robins took the lead through Michael Smith in the 18th minute – the striker’s first goal since January 28 – but couldn’t convert any more of their chances and were pegged back by Anthony Kay’s 68th-minute equaliser for the Dons.

Tyrell Belford made two superb saves, from Izale McLeod and Dean Bowditch in the latter stages of the game, to seemingly earn Town a point but George Baldock cracked home a brilliant winner in the third minute of stoppage time to all but end Swindon’s play-off push.

Town manager made one change to his starting line-up following the 1-1 draw at Crewe Alexandra a week previously, drafting in Alex Pritchard for Jacob Murphy. Pritchard, having recovered from a medial ligament strain, occupied the number 10 role behind target man Michael Smith, with Louis Thompson, Ryan Harley, Yaser Kasim and Massimo Luongo playing in a tight midfield diamond behind them.

After a dull first quarter-hour Town took the lead in the 18th minute. Pritchard darted in from the left wing, cut into the penalty area and fired a fizzing drive at David Martin, which the Dons keeper could only palm up into the air and Smith was in the right place at the right time to head home into an unguarded goal from all of two yards.

The Robins went on to dominate much of the opening period but could make their possession and territory count and, midway through the second half, Dons levelled.

Ben Reeves floated in a corner from the left wing and Kay, all alone on the penalty spot, produced a bullet header which left Town keeper Belford with no chance.

In the third minute of four added on at the end of the game, Baldock picked up the ball on the right, cut inside and unleashed an unstoppable drive past Belford to win the game for the visitors.