MARC Richards struck a dramatic late winner for Swindon Town as they battled back from two goals down to earn a thrilling victory at home to Crewe Alexandra in League Two this afternoon.

Richards got the ball rolling for Town with the opening goal inside three minutes of his first appearance in a Swindon shirt at the Energy Check County Ground before finishing it with the winner in the final minute of normal time after Crewe had roared back to lead 3-1.

Timi Elsnik had earlier kicked off the comeback after marking his return for Town following two months out with a hamstring injury with two second-half goals of his own to restore parity.

Callum Ainley’s double after Richards’ opener had put Crewe ahead at the break before Ryan Wintle added a third early in the second half only for Town to stage a remarkable late rally.

Town boss David Flitcroft made just one change to the team from last weekend's 3-1 defeat at Coventry City, with Richards handed a first start for the club up front in place of Luke Norris.

Goalkeeper Stuart Moore was named on the bench just hours after his signing on a free transfer from non-league side Barrow was announced, as was loanee Elsnik after two months out with a hamstring injury.

Town got off to a dream start as Richards gave them the lead with his first touch as a Swindon player at the County Ground.

Keshi Anderson swung in a deep cross from the right and although it eluded everyone, Ellis Iandolo gathered on the left and sent it back into the box where Richards was on hand to sweep home from 10 yards.

A bursting run forward from Anderson gave him a sight of a second Town goal shortly afterwards only for Zoumana Bakayogo to pull off a despairing last-ditch challenge just as he looked to pull the trigger.

The hosts continued to up the ante and Kaiyne Woolery brought a good stop out of Crewe keeper Dave Richards, who got down well to push away his 20-yard drive.

Almost a quarter-of-an-hour had passed before Swindon stopper Reice Charles-Cook saw his first taste of action, saving a low dribbled effort from Ainley.

However, that was the catalyst that saw the game turn totally in Crewe’s favour as they dominated play until the interval.

It did not take the visitors long to level the scores as Ainley lashed home a crisp first-time finish from close range after Olly Lancashire could not get any distance on a headed clearance.

Charles-Cook was almost caught out again by Ainley as he was forced to push a curling corner onto his own post before Town were opened up again by some crisp Crewe passing, with Kellan Gordon forced to dive in to block a Jordan Bowery shot.

James Dunne cleared a Brad Walker header off the line at the ensuing corner before Charlie Kirk saw a shot blocked but the visitors did a second goal before the half-hour mark.

Kirk sent in a teasing whipped cross from the left that Ainley leapt to meet on the penalty spot, getting the faintest of touches to send it beyond the reach of Charles-Cook for his second of the game.

After a long spell on the back foot, the hosts did at least carve out one more effort before the break when Anderson teed up Richards but he saw a shot deflected over as Flitcroft was left with plenty of work to do as his side headed back to the changing rooms.

His answer was to ring the changes as, having already sent on Norris in place of Woolery in the dying minutes of the first half, Flitcroft also introduced Elsnik and Matt Taylor for Dunne and Iandolo after the restart.

It almost had the instant impact as Elsnik brought a scrambling low stop from visiting keeper Richards shortly after play resumed but Norris was unable to capitalise on the rebound.

Town were then hit by a sucker-punch as Crewe grabbed a third goal just six minutes into the second half.

The home side were opened up by a good Ainley ball to Bowery, who brought a good save out of Charles-Cook, and although the Town stopper recovered well to deny Harry McKirdy on the follow-up, the ball stayed loose and Wintle was able to eventually see it over the line.

Swindon were not going to roll over, though, and Elsnik kicked off the comeback midway through the half when he reduced the arrears to a single goal, rifling home from 20 yards after Richards’ lay-off.

Crewe were forced into a change in goal with 18 minutes to go when Richards succumbed to injury and the first act of replacement Ben Garratt was to deny Swindon an equaliser as he rushed from his line to shut out Norris in a one-on-one chance.

Town did not have to wait long for their equaliser, however, with Elsnik getting his second 11 minutes from time, driving home after Gordon drilled the ball across the face of the Crewe goal.

The home side were given further impetus to go on and grab a winner as Crewe were promptly reduced to 10 men when Bakayogo was given his marching orders after collecting a second yellow card for a clumsy challenge on Gordon.

And they took full advantage as Richards grabbed a dramatic winner in the final minute of normal time, swinging his boot at a wonderful low Taylor cross to send the ball beyond the reach of Garratt before wheeling away in celebration to complete a remarkable comeback.

SWINDON TOWN: Charles-Cook; Lancashire (capt), Robertson, Preston; Gordon, Dunne (Elsnik 46), Anderson, Banks, Iandolo (Taylor 46); Woolery (Norris 42), Richards. Subs not used: Moore, Purkiss, Mullin, Knoyle.

CREWE ALEXANDRA: Richards (Garratt 72); Nolan, Walker, Raynes (capt), Bakayogo; Ainley, Wintle, Green, Kirk (Pickering 81); Bowery, McKirdy (Miller 68). Subs not used: Ray, Lowery, Reilly, Barlaser.

Referee: Graham Salisbury