JERMAINE Beckford's 86th-minute header condemned Town to a cruel defeat as they went down 1-0 at Leeds United in League One.

The prolific front man was left unmarked to nod in his 29th goal of the season just as it looked as though Swindon would hold out for a priceless point.

The home side looked the most threatening all afternoon, but with little end product and recalled keeper Phil Smith was only called into action a handful of times.

Simon Cox went close for Swindon right on half-time, and they did well to frustrate Leeds right up until Beckford's late winner.

It was a harsh blow for Danny Wilson's side, but the performance of his side will have given him hope as they bid to pull out of the relegation zone.

Here are the key moments from today's game:

One min: Robert Snodgrass gets down the right, cuts inside and delivers a cross to the near post, but Jermaine Beckford flicks the ball wide of the upright.

Four mins: Hal Robson-Kanu receives the ball from Michael Timlin and takes a touch before shooting from 20 yards, but his effort is tame and fails to trouble Leeds keeper Casper Ankergren.

17 mins: Snodgrass collects the ball in space 25 yards out, works space for a shot and drills in a superb effort which Phil Smith, at full stretch, tips out for a corner.

22 mins: A Town corner broke down and Leeds broke at pace. Beckford saw his initial shot blocked on the edge of the box, and fired in the rebound on the half volley, forcing Smith into another stop.

27 mins: Swindon are starting to come into the game and are putting some pressure on the Leeds back line. Sean Morrison's long throw is met by Owain Tudur Jones, but he steers his downwards header wide of the far post.

29 mins: Snodgrass is fed the ball wide on the left and strides forward. He gets into the area, opens his body up and curls a superb left-footed curling effort which seems destined for the top corner but somehow flies inches over.

30 mins: Jonny Howson forces his way into the box and lets fly with a fierce drive which Smith parries away. The rebound falls kindly to Fabian Delph about 15 yards out, but his half-volley goes narrowly wide.

45 mins: Town almost stun the home side right on the stroke of half-time. Tudur Jones' free kick in from the left looks to have evaded everyone.

However, Simon Cox sneaks in unmarked at the near post and heads just the wrong side of the upright.

61 mins: Timlin's 25-yard free-kick is blocked by a body of players, but Tudur Jones can only shank the loose ball high and wide under pressure.

65 mins: Swindon's goal somehow remains in tact. First, Snodgrass works a short corner and his shot is flicked on by Beckford, only to be cleared off the line by Timlin.

Then, as Town fail to clear their lines, Howson strikes a bouncing shot from eight yards which Smith does well to claim.

70 mins: Smith gets down well to smother Howson's long range effort.

74 mins: Gordon Greer fails to get enough distance on his header as Town defend a free-kick. Rui Marques heads back in and Beckford tries his luck with a speculative overhead kick which Smith watches wide.

83 mins: Billy Paynter picks up on a loose ball 20 yards out and tries his luck from distance, but doesn't even get close.

86 mins (GOAL 1-0 Beckford): Town fail to clear their lines from a corner, and when the ball is lobbed back in to the far post Beckford is on hand to head home from a couple of yards.

90 mins: Beckford turns from hero to villain as he receives his second yellow card for punching the ball away. From the resulting free-kick, Timlin launches it long into the box, Greer flicks on and Morrison heads goalwards but can only put his effort straight at Ankergren.

LEEDS (4-4-2): Casper Ankergren; Jonathan Douglas, Rui Marques, Richard Naylor (c), Ben Parker (Mike Grella 84); Robert Snodgrass, Neil Kilkenny (Bradley Johnson 79), Jonathan Howson, Fabian Delph; Jermaine Beckford, Luciano Becchio (Liam Dickinson 79)

Subs not used: David Lucas, Lubomir Michalik

TOWN (4-4-2): Phil Smith; Kevin Amankwaah, Gordon Greer (c), Sean Morrison, Jamie Vincent; Hal Robson-Kanu, Michael Timlin, Owain Tudur Jones, Anthony McNamee (Jack Smith 83); Simon Cox, Billy Paynter

Subs not used: Peter Brezovan, Jerel Ifil, Lilian Nalis, Hamdi Razak