SWINDON Town endured a painfully-frustrating afternoon on Saturday as Crewe Alexandra escaped the County Ground with a 1-0 win in League Two.

Despite struggling overall this term, Crewe had won their last two and appeared hell-bent on wasting as much time as possible from the very start as they aimed to make it a hat-trick.

Lee Bell’s men were handed the opportunity to take the lead midway through the first half following a foul by Ronan Darcy. Dan Agyei stepped up to put Crewe in front from the penalty spot.

Despite Town’s best efforts, the hosts were unable to pull level and only came close when Luke Jephcott’s second-half header struck the woodwork.

As a result of Swindon’s five-game unbeaten league run coming to an end, Scott Lindsey’s men dropped down to seventh.

Swindon named an unchanged squad from last weekend's 1-1 draw against Tranmere Rovers.

Meanwhile, Crewe made just one change to the side which beat Colchester United 1-0 – Eli King replaced Rio Adebisi. Ex-Town player Conor Thomas started while another former midfielder, Charlie Colkett began the afternoon on the bench.

So often Town’s chief attacking outlet, Remeao Hutton crossed a couple of times inside the opening 10 minutes without success. Jacob Wakeling twice headed wide while Ben Gladwin delivered for Luke Jephcott to follow his strike partner’s lead.

After Saidou Khan had wildly lashed a long-range shot wide, Town almost opened the scoring in the 16th minute. Only superb defending from Luke Offord prevented Wakeling from volleying in a Hutton cross at the back post.

While Town managed to avoid conceding inside the opening 11 minutes for the first time in four games, they were not able to prevent Crewe from taking the lead on the day. Moments after Crewe failed to execute a training-ground corner routine, Ronan Darcy was dispossessed inside his own box and was adjudged to have fouled his man.

Former Oxford United striker Agyei stuttered during his run up but placed it confidently into the roof of the net as Sol Brynn stepped to his left.

And around 10 minutes before the break, Town - despite being totally dominant with the ball up to that point - were staring down the barrel of a two-goal deficit. Crewe saw three goal-bound shots blocked away as desperate defending ruled out further frustration.

Jephcott and Wakeling each failed to capitalise on half-chances before the break, and Town were left to recalibrate as they searched for at least an equaliser.

Town came out a reinvigorated team though and threatened to equalise a couple of times early on. Gladwin’s whipped free-kick could have gone anywhere, but perhaps indicative of Swindon’s luck, it rebounded into Okonkwo’s grateful arms.

Shortly after, a deep Hutton cross was completely missed by Okonkwo. The ball dropped to Ellis Iandolo twice, but on the second attempt he sliced it well over from eight yards out with his right.

In a rare foray forward from Crewe, Lachlan Brook saw a low shot with his left towards the near post well saved by Brynn in the 52nd minute.

With frustration levels growing steadily among the home crowd, Crewe almost doubled their lead midway through the second half after a deep cross from the right caught Ciaran Brennan napping. Agyei ghosted in in front of the Sheffield Wednesday loanee but headed narrowly wide.

With 20 minutes to play, Swindon hit the frame of the goal at the end of a slick move. Gladwin and Hutton exchanged passes, and the former volleyed in a cross from the right which Jephcott headed onto the bar.

Despite Town’s desperation to pull level, the hosts had only one shot of note between the 70th and 90th minute as Crewe’s unrelenting time-wasting tactics continued. Meanwhile, Agyei hit the floor on at least five separate occasions.

Inside six minutes of added time, Lindsey brought Reed on for a late free-kick attempt, but Okonkwo caught the well-struck effort at the second attempt as Crewe hung on.

STFC starting XI: Brynn, Hutton, Iandolo, Gladwin (c), Darcy, Jephcott, Blake-Tracy, Khan, Wakeling, Harries, Brennan.

STFC substitutes: Copland, Reed, Baudry, Adeloye, Aguiar, Lavinier, Roberts.

CAFC starting XI: Okonkwo, Mellor, Offord, Thomas, Agyei, Brook, Sambou, King, Uwakwe, Sass-Davies, Tabinier.

CAFC substitutes: SUBS: Richards, Adebisi, Williams, McDonald, Griffiths, Finney, Colkett.

Referee: Andrew Kitchen

Attendance: 8,734 (167)