A WINLESS League Two run stretching back five weeks ended for Swindon Town this afternoon as two second half goals earned Phil Brown’s side a hard-fought three points at Meadow Lane against Notts County.

Steven Alzate came off the bench to level the game following Kane Hemmings’ first half goal for the hosts before a fortuitous deflection from Matt Taylor’s cross reversed Town’s previous deficit into a one-goal lead.

The win ends Swindon’s five-game winless run, from which Town have managed to record just two points in five fixtures.

Phil Brown opted to make five changes to the team that lost at home against Cambridge United in the week.

Previously suspended Sid Nelson returned to the back four while Jak McCourt, James Dunne and Martin Smith were granted spots in midfield.

Jermaine McGlashan also returned to the starting XI after impressing from the bench in recent fixtures.

Notts County made the brighter start when midfielder Kane Hemmings was granted time and space on the edge of Town’s penalty area before unleashing a powerful shot in search of Vigouroux’s top left corner.

The Chile international pushed Hemmings’ effort wide though, before a similar strike by Boldewijn was again pushed wide.

Town’s first chance of the game came with 10 minutes played when James Dunne’s floating ball into County’s penalty area was met by the right foot of Marc Richards.

Richards’ ambitious volley was hit wide of Fitzsimons’ left post though.

Boldewijn continued to cause Swindon issues on the right when he skipped past Town left back Matt Taylor before shooting powerfully in search of the opener.

Vigouroux made a well-timed save low to his left to force a corner, from which Lewis Alessandra’s ambitious strike following a clearance was hit over Town’s crossbar.

County striker Jon Stead was next to challenge Vigouroux. Stead momentarily lost marker Lancashire on the edge of the penalty area before his 20-yard strike was pushed wide, Vigouroux’s fourth key save of the game with only 25 minutes played.

Late pressure in defence denied the hosts on 31 minutes as Hewitt and Stead linked up on the edge of Town’s penalty area, before a neat backheel found Tootle – who struck his effort over Vigouroux’s crossbar.

Swindon’s chance to poach the game’s lead came just a minute later after Doughty’s low cross from the left was fumbled by Taylor before Smith latched onto the end of a loose ball on the edge of the six-yard box.

Smith’s strike was blocked before McCourt’s follow up effort also cannoned off the County defence.

Town were again unfortunate not to find the net when Smith’s free header from Doughty’s corner was hit wide.

The visitors’ encouraging spell was short lived, though, as County’s Kane Hemmings got onto the end of a cross from the left – beating his marker and Vigouroux’s right reach to put the home side a goal ahead.

A heated concluding five minutes was capped when Sid Nelson was booked for pushing County’s Elliot Hewitt over in and off-the-ball incident following a whistle for a free kick in Town’s favour. The half time whistle perhaps came at a timely moment for Brown’s side, who were largely outplayed in the opening 45.

County goalscorer Hemmings should’ve doubled the home side’s advantage with only three minutes on the second half clock.

Hemmings hesitated upon receiving the ball before a scrap in the box saw Vigouroux claim the ball.

Hemmings’ accurate through ball from the left then found Stead on the edge of Town’s area, a blocked shot forced a corner – which Town comfortably handled.

The home side’s left winger continued to cause Town’s defence issues when he broke free close to the penalty spot shortly before Tootle delivered a cross from the right.

Hemmings struck his effort over Vigouroux’s crossbar – Town again counting themselves fortunate as the hosts missed another clear-cut chance.

Not making the most of such chances soon cost the hosts as substitute Steven Alzate levelled the game with a clinical finish from outside of the penalty area on 64 minutes.

With options to his left and right, Alzate opted to shoot from range with County’s defensive line backtracking. His decision paid off as Fitzsimons was unable to reach Alzate’s effort, which was buried into the bottom left corner.

The pendulum swung further into Swindon’s favour with 10 minutes remaining when Matt Taylor’s cross took a fortuitous rebound to find the back of Fitzsimons’ net, reversing Town’s one goal deficit into a lead.

Chances for the hosts were limited in the concluding minutes, though Boldewijn's close range strike in injury time was blocked by Nelson. 

Swindon's patience paid off as Ross Joyce sounded the full time whistle with Town claiming a hard-fought three points.