JONNY Williams scored late as Swindon Town beat Bradford City 1-0 on Tuesday night to record their first victory in 10 League Two matches.

Despite having failed to win since Harrogate Town on February 25, Swindon went toe-to-toe with their promotion-chasing opponents and battled towards a goalless – yet not discouraging – half-time interval.

Yet, in the second half, the Robins took control of proceedings and deservedly scored an 82nd-minute winner through Williams’ 10th goal of the season.

Jody Morris made two changes to the side that started the 0-0 draw with Barrow on Saturday. Charlie Austin dropped to the bench while George McEachran is out through injury. Luke Jephcott and Dylan Kadji were given their latest chance to impress from the start.

Meanwhile, Bradford had three former Swindon players in their match-day 18, and two of them started. Liam Ridehalgh and Romoney Crichlow lined up from the beginning, and Ryan East was on the bench.

Despite having failed to win in their previous nine, Town emerged brightly and played with an encouraging energy throughout the first half. The first chance fell the way of Jephcott, but he was unable to gain enough purchase on his near-post header from Remeao Hutton’s cross, and the chance went begging.

The next two chances fell the way of the visitors, but an excellent block by Tom Clayton stopped the first one and Richie Smallwood hammered the second against the roof of the Alan McLoughlin Town End.

Midway through the opening period, the league's top scorer missed what was – by his standards – a sitter. Scott Banks dribbled to the by-line down the right and chipped a ball up to the back post where Andy Cook was waiting. But the left-footed effort was dragged down into the floor before bouncing off his knee and out for a goal kick.

Jamie Walker curled an effort narrowly wide of Sol Brynn’s left-hand post 10 minutes before the interval, and five minutes later, ex-Town defender Crichlow should have scored but instead tamely headed the ball off his shoulder for Brynn to collect on the line.

Despite a good deal of pressure from the Bantams, Town would have led at the break if not for a superb save by Harry Lewis late on. Saidou Khan was set up for a shot on the edge of the box after good work from Jacob Wakeling, but the Bradford stopper flew across to his left to tip Khan’s curling shot wide.

In an action-packed start to the second half, Banks glided past Dylan Kadji before thumping an effort into the hands of Brynn. Up the other end, a superb save from Lewis denied Jephcott. Frazer Blake-Tracy crossed low on a counter-attack, and after Wakeling stepped over the ball, Jephcott thought he'd found the roof of the net - only for Lewis to throw up a left glove and turn it over.

A succession of Swindon corners midway through the second half failed to generate a serious chance at goal as Bradford cleared a couple while Jephcott and Hepburn-Murphy headed over from close range with the others.

With less than 20 minutes to play, it was almost disaster for Bradford and delight for Swindon as Crichlow tamely headed a bouncing ball back towards his own goal. Jephcott flicked out a foot in hope rather than expectation, but if he'd been a bit more confident he could have nipped past Lewis and tapped in.

But inside the final 10 minutes, Swindon ended a wait of 265 minutes for a goal to take the lead. Hutton collected the ball on the right from Khan, and he cut back onto his left after nipping past Thierry Nevers. The left-footed cross was floated perfectly to the back post, and Williams sprinted into the middle in order to plant the header home from six yards out.

From that point on, Swindon simply aimed to consolidate and try to escape with their 1-0 victory. In truth, promotion-chasing Bradford offered very little in the closing stages as Town’s imperious back line saw off all that was thrown at them to successfully claim a rare win.

STFC starting XI: Brynn, Hutton, Clayton, Williams, Brewitt, Jephcott, Hepburn-Murphy, Blake-Tracy (c), Kadji, Khan, Wakeling.

STFC substitutes: Brann, Darcy, Austin, Cain, Lavinier, Shade, Minturn.

BCFC starting XI: Lewis, Ridehalgh, Smallwood (c), Cook, Walker, Gilliead, Banks, Hendrie, Chapman, Crichlow, Stubbs.

BCFC substitutes: Doyle, Platt, Bola, Osadebe, East, Derbyshire, Nevers.

Referee: Darren Drysdale

Attendance: 7,413 (557)