SWINDON Town beat Salford City 2-1 at the Peninsula Stadium on Saturday as Jody Morris claimed three points for the first time as head coach.

A horrid start saw hosts Salford move in front courtesy of Ryan Watson’s well-taken finish in the fourth minute.

But Town limited the damage during a forgetful first 20 minutes and hauled themselves level just before the half-hour mark courtesy of Jacob Wakeling’s improvised finish.

Morris’ men did not allow Frazer Blake-Tracy’s withdrawal through injury affect them as replacement Ronan Darcy played a significant part in Swindon’s winner 10 minutes after the restart.

The first own goal Swindon have benefitted from all season was the difference, as Elliot Watt’s strike through his own posts left Town 11th and four points off the top seven.

Morris made two changes to the side which started the 2-1 defeat to Sutton United on Tuesday night. Dylan Kadji missed out on the squad through illness while Luke Jephcott dropped to the bench in a tactical switch. Jacob Wakeling and Jake Cain replaced them.

Salford started big Matt Smith up front, with the dangerous pair of Watson and Conor McAleny providing the danger. Former Town loanee Louie Barry started on the bench.

It took just four minutes for the Ammies to break Swindon’s resistance at the Peninsula Stadium, and it was a slick move that forced the goal. Luke Bolton slipped in off the right and fired a pass into Ethan Galbraith.

The Manchester United loanee then turned the ball around the corner for Watson to fire home first time from the edge of the area with his right.

A stale first 20 minutes from Town’s point of view featured nothing but Salford chances – most of which fell the way of Smith. But the big Ammies striker could not find the net, and that allowed Swindon to equalise in the 27th minute.

Remeao Hutton’s cross from the right was slightly behind the attacking line in the middle of the box, and Wakeling swung his right boot out and hooked the ball towards goal awkwardly. Alex Cairns dived across to his right but couldn’t reach it, and the striker wheeled away with a slightly shocked look on his face.

Smith hit the post while offside in the 30th minute, and in the 37th he slammed a shot off the bar which would have counted. Saidou Khan tried to turn his man on the edge of his own box and was tackled, leading to a simple chance for the Salford striker. Smith opted for power but lashed his effort off Brynn’s bar and away, and Town survived until the break.

An injury to Blake-Tracy caused Darcy to be sent on inside the opening five minutes of the second half, and the substitute was at the centre of the goal which put Swindon in front shortly before the hour mark.

George McEachran flicked a pass around the corner to Darcy on halfway, and the midfielder just kept on running down the right until deep inside the Salford area. He tried to pick out Charlie Austin in the middle, but Watt slid in and diverted the ball through the legs of Alex Cairns and into the net.

Swindon continued to enjoy the better of the early second-half play, but they almost conceded a leveller midway through.

Ciaran Brennan and Tom Clayton got in each other’s way and almost allowed Salford substitute Callum Hendry in one-on-one. Luckily for Town, Clayton took charge of the situation in the nick of time to clear.

Theo Vassell headed wide from a corner and Smith cleared the stand with a half-volley as time ticked on, with Salford continuing to be frustrated by a concentrated Swindon defence.

Inside the final 10 minutes of regulation time and seven minutes of additional, Brynn was never tested by Salford’s mis-firing attack.

Up the opposite end, Town passed up a couple of half chances to put the game to bed, but it mattered not in the end as Swindon hung on for victory.

SCFC starting XI: Cairns, Touray (c), Lowe, Watt, Watson, Galbraith, Smith, McAleny, Bolton, McLoughlin, Vassell.

SCFC substitutes: Bellagambi, Lund, Hendry, Mallan, Barry, Leak, Morton.

STFC starting XI: Brynn, Hutton, Brennan, Clayton, Blake-Tracy, Iandolo, Cain, Khan, McEachran, Wakeling, Austin (c).

STFC substitutes: Copland, Adeloye, Darcy, Jephcott, Aguiar, Shade, Minturn.

Referee: Will Finnie

Attendance: 3,008 (715)