MATCH REPORT: Swindon Town (2) Crewe Alexandra (2)

Swindon Town threw away a two-goal lead in the opening match of their League Two season, drawing 2-2 against Crewe Alexandra. Total Sport’s Joe Acklam reports on the League Two clash.

Udoka Godwin-Malife went from singing sensation to goalscoring machine after 21 minutes when he headed home the opener in a first half Swindon largely controlled.

Jake Young immediately made his mark as a half-time substitute with a vicious drive, but Michael Williams pulled a goal back with his low strike from range before Rio Adebisi headed home the late equaliser.

Swindon have now failed to win their last two opening fixtures of the campaign after previously winning eight in a row.

It took 14 minutes for either goalkeeper to be called into action, but Harvey Davies had to be at his best to deny Saidou Khan’s volley from the edge of the area after a corner was half cleared.

Charlie Austin then came close to giving Swindon the lead as Godwin-Malife made a buccaneering run down the right before teeing up Town’s number 32, he found space but saw his effort blocked by Conor Thomas.

Swindon were really in the ascendancy when they took the lead as after 21 minutes Benn Ward kept a move alive at the far post by heading the ball back across for Godwin-Malife to slam home with his diving header.

Crewe could have got themselves level against the run of play shortly after the half-hour mark as Courtney Baker-Richardson showed strength and trickery to get down the side of the box and play the ball into Shilow Tracey, but his finish crept wide of the mark.

The Alex backline were having to put their bodies on the line late in the first half as a Remeao Hutton cross caused a lot of danger, with Austin, Dan Kemp, and Khan all having efforts charged down by blue shirts diving in front of them.

In first half stoppage time, Kemp and Hutton exchanged passes before the latter played the ball out to Godwin-Malife, his low cross picked out Jacob Wakeling, but his deflected effort looped over the top.

Young immediately endeared himself to the County Ground crowd as two minutes after coming on he cut onto his right foot and leathered the ball low into the bottom left corner, giving Davies no chance.

It was almost three less than ten minutes into the second half when Austin received the ball on the edge of the area and his fizzing effort couldn’t be held by Davies, but he managed to recover in time to deny the onrushing Kemp.

Crewe pulled themselves back into the game as Michael Williams took on a speculative effort from range which skipped off the turf and beyond the dive of Murphy Mahoney.

Mahoney got across his line very quickly to keep Swindon in the lead as Chris Long’s free-kick went under the Town wall, but the QPR-loanee pushed it wide.

The comeback was completed with less than ten minutes remaining as Adebisi was left unmarked at the back post and he nodded into the gaping goal.