SWINDON got back to winning ways, beating Yeovil and Sherborne 3-2 in their final game of the season after five successive defeats.

Swindon started the brighter, dominating possession but struggling to finish off with a goal, with play typically breaking down around the edge of the Yeovil 25-yard line.

As a reflection of the entire season, Swindon then gave away a sloppy goal, with poor marking at the back allowing a rebound to be smashed between keeper Gough's legs and into the net.

At the other end, youngster Gillingham went close, and Hambling saw a close range effort thwarted by the Yeovil keeper at his near post.

Disaster then struck again. Poor marking by veteran Scrase at the far post allowed the Yeovil forward to ghost in and forced the ball home from close range.

At half time, despite Swindon having threequarters of the possession, they found themselves 2-0 down and staring down the barrel of a sixth consecutive defeat, beating a record that had previously stood from 1973.

The second half started much the same as the first, with Swindon dominating, but having the cutting edge to get back in the game.

Some fine work in the outside left position by Couling released Scrase on the right wing, and he duly flicked the ball high into the top left hand corner of the net.

Swindon, spurred on by the goal, and determined to finish the season on a high, then got back on level terms, with Couling again the creator.

He released Scrase again, and his precise cross found top scorer Gillingham a the near post, his snap shot rasping past the keeper.

The game then became stretched, but the young Yeovil forwards were thwarted time and time again by Gough, aided by the tight defence of Walker and Preston.

With five minutes remaining, Couling, the creative centre of the Swindon team, broke away on the counter attack, firing the ball towards the penalty spot where Hambling, deflected the ball just to the right of the keeper, the ball trickling into the empty net.

Coach and player of the season Craig Sage said afterwards: "I don't know what happened out there in the first half.

"We really need to make our possession count, but it was nice to finally get a win and go into the close season on a high."

The 2007-2008 season over, Swindon finished a respectable seventh but with a 10-point margin over the 8th place side.

But having been third at the turn around at Christmas, they can only mull over what might have been over the summer, as they look forward to renewing acquaintances with relegated local rivals Marlborough.

The league season starts again in early September.