AN ERROR from goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux proved decisive as Swindon Town’s winless run stretched to a seventh game as they were beaten at home by Peterborough United this afternoon.

With Town already trailing to Jon Taylor’s first-half strike at the County Ground, home stopper Vigouroux failed to react to Raphael Branco’s back-pass early in the second half and could only watch in horror as Lee Angol nipped in to double the Posh’s lead.

Although Swindon were given a lifeline with a quarter-of-an-hour to go as Michael Bostwick headed into his own net, Vigouroux’s mistake ultimately proved to be costly as the home side were unable to force an equaliser before the final whistle.

The defeat means Mark Cooper’s men have failed to win at home since the opening day of the season, and they have not tasted victory anywhere since the first week of September.

Ben Gladwin was the best player on the pitch for either side and at the heart of everything Town did after being handed a starting berth upon his return to the club from QPR on a short-term emergency loan.

He played a big part in the first chance of the game, knocking the ball wide for Nicky Ajose to send in a cross and although Jermaine Hylton was able to get is head to the ball, he was always stretching and it looped over the bar.

Gladwin then dinked a clever cross out to James Brophy at the back post but his touch sent the ball out of play, while Anton Rodgers lashed a free-kick just wide after Gladwin took a tumble on the edge of the box.

United then sent a warning across the Town back-line when Taylor picked out Angol in the box but he could not keep his header down.

Gladwin was continuing his one-man show at the other end, though, with the visitors lucky not to go behind when keeper Ben Alnwick misjudged the midfielder’s 20-yard strike and was grateful to see it loop over the bar after it escaped his grasp.

Gladwin then sent in another cracking effort from distance after shaking off the attentions of Ricardo Almeida Santos to race towards goal but the shot was just wide.

United began to respond and Taylor’s shot-cum-cross shot rattled the Swindon bar, while Vigouroux pulled off a fine save from Chris Forrestor’s snap-shot after a bit of ping-pong in the home box.

Town were then left to rue their failure to take control of proceedings earlier in the contest as the Posh got in front before the break.

Jermaine Anderson threaded a ball over the top of the Swindon back-line and Taylor sneaked ahead of debutant Adam El-Abd to squeeze the ball under Vigouroux from a tight angle.

Town had a mountain to climb seven minutes after the break as they fell further behind in bizarre circumstances.

Vigouroux failed to react to a back-pass and simply stood and looked on as the ball rolled by him for a grateful Angol to poke into an unguarded net.

Town tried to rally and a lovely turn in the box from Brophy saw him create a shooting chance for himself but it curled agonisingly wide.

The hosts were then handed a lucky lifeline as an own goal gifted them a way back into the contest with a quarter-of-an-hour to go.

Brophy was tripped on the left-hand side and Rodgers sent in a free-kick where Bostwick powered a bullet-like header past Alnwick and into his own net.

However, the goal failed to galvanise the home side and although they huffed and puffed, they never really threatened an equaliser as the Posh held on until the final whistle, which was greeted by a chorus of boos around the County Ground.

SWINDON TOWN: Vigouroux, Thompson L, Branco (capt), Ed-Abd, Ormonde-Ottewill (Ojamaa 83), Rodgers, Traore (Iandolo 69), Gladwin, Ajose, Hylton (Randall 79), Brophy. Subs not used: Belford, Bangoura, Balmy, Marshall.

PETERBOROUGH UNITED: Alnwick (capt), Smith, Zukuani, Almeida Santos, Elder, Taylor, Bostwick, J Anderson, Forrestor (Collison 69), Angol, Washington (Coulibaly 75). Subs not used: Curtis-Henry, Davey, Fox Da Silva Lopes, Maddison.

Referee: Andrew Madley

Attendance: 7,025