SWINDON Town lost 1-0 to Stockport County at the County Ground on Saturday after Ryan Croasdale’s 80th-minute goal helped the Hatters to all three points in League Two.

Town’s task was made incredibly difficult from 45 seconds in as Jacob Wakeling picked up a red card for a foul on ex-Swindon defender, Kyle Knoyle as last man.

Paddy Madden – who was dismissed in the return fixture at Edgeley Park – saw his penalty kept out by Sol Brynn, though, and Town set about digging out a result with a man fewer.

Despite very little punishment from Stockport throughout the afternoon’s action, the play-off chasers found a way through late on with a slick counter attack that heaped more misery on Town.

Swindon’s season is over – bar the shouting – after dropping back to 10 points from the top seven – although the Robins remain 11th.

Jody Morris made three changes to the side that started the 4-4 draw at Rochdale a week ago. Tom Clayton, Marcel Lavinier and Ronan Darcy all dropped to the bench while Frazer Blake-Tracy and Joe Tomlinson returned from injury to take their place from the off. Saidou Khan was lifted back into the starting XI following a five-game ban.

Stockport featured a couple of former Swindon faces - Knoyle and Chris Hussey both started.

The first of those two old faces was involved moments after kick-off as Town picked up their fastest red card – possibly ever.

Stockport cut through Swindon like a hot knife through butter and won a penalty after just 38 seconds as Connor Evans slipped in Knoyle down the right side of the box. Wakeling was unlucky to bring the former Town man down as last man, but once he did, referee Alan Young had no option other than to show a red card as there was no legitimate attempt to play the ball.

Fortunately for Swindon, Madden saw his spot-kick saved by Brynn after casually strolling up to the ball and passing towards the bottom-left corner.

In a hectic start, 10-man Swindon raced up the other end and looked to win a spot kick of their own through Hepburn-Murphy. Mr Young was having none of it, though, and the Swindon forward was booked for simulation.

While the Hatters saw the majority of the ball, the play-off chasers really struggled to carve out many good chances against a recently-porous Town defence. Kyle Wootton headed over while Evans crashed a long-range shot off target.

In a first half that featured very little in the way of goal-mouth action, Swindon could have taken the lead late on if not for a distinct lack of pace from Charlie Austin.

Jonny Williams slipped a pass through to Hepburn-Murphy in the centre-circle, and he whipped a lovely through ball in the direction of Austin. The 33-year-old could not keep up with the ball, though, and a potential one-on-one chance disappeared.

The second half featured far more cards than chances as referee Young produced a string of bemusing decisions on a particularly poor afternoon for the official. Six yellow cards were handed out inside the first 20 minutes of the second half, including one for Morris, while only Croasdale managed to test Brynn with a firm drive from outside the box.

As County continued to search for a go-ahead goal midway through the second half, Hussey twice drove well wide after surging forward while Croasdale curled tamely at Brynn from inside the box.

But despite a gargantuan effort from Swindon, Stockport found a way through 10 minutes from time. Blake-Tracy's poor attempted cross was cleared out to Ryan Rydel on the left, and he powered down the flank before crossing low into the middle. Croasdale timed his run perfectly and slammed home at the near post first-time with his right.

The game petered out after the goal as Swindon could not muster another chance and Stockport were happy to take the sting out of the game.

STFC starting XI: Brynn, Hutton, McEachran, Tomlinson, Williams, Austin, Brewitt, Hepburn-Murphy, Blake-Tracy, Khan, Wakeling.

STFC substitutes: Copland, Clayton, Darcy, Jephcott, Cain, Kadji, Lavinier.

SCFC starting XI: Hinchliffe, Knoyle, Wright, Byrne, Evans, Camps, Madden (c), Rydel, Croasdale, Wootton, Hussey.

SCFC substitutes: Jones, Johnson, Stretton, Olaofe, Davenport, Lewis, Rowe.

Referee: Alan Young

Attendance: 9,446 (712)