Two pieces of David McGoldrick magic saw Swindon Town frustrated to lose at home against Notts County in League Two.

Gavin Kilkenny struck a fine opener to give Town the rewards of a strong start before McGoldrick scored an equally sweet equaliser.

Swindon grabbed the reigns and pushed hard for a winner but couldn’t quite find a way to get over the line and the veteran striker again made them pay.

Notts County win at the Nigel Eady County Ground for the first time since 2011 and Swindon’s wait for a win this season goes to a sixth game.

Mark Kennedy made two changes to the side that had drawn at Crewe Alexandra last weekend, as Kilkenny came straight in to start along with Tunmise Sobowale. Danny Butterworth and Dan Barden arrived in time to make the bench, along with Joel McGregor for the first time this season.

Much like against Crawley Town in the Carabao Cup, facing a possession-based side like Notts County, you could immediately see Swindon defending higher than they had on this ground two weeks ago. Within a minute they won the ball in Notts’ half twice and Kilkenny caused an uncomfortable moment for Jacob Bedeau on the edge of his own box shortly after.

Despite the visitors keeping most of the possession, it was Swindon getting into the dangerous positions. A deep free-kick saw a neat routine almost set up a pull back, Jeff King won the ball high and couldn’t make the most of a situation, and another free kick had Notts scrambling.

From those early forays, a side that looked crippled by low confidence crawled out of their shells. Sobowale and Will Wright were switching positions, Grant Hall wandered into midfield, and Kilkenny was trying audacious passes for Glatzel to chase down. As Kennedy had intimated in the week, this was very little like the teams that had been desperate to see the ball as far away from the goal as they could in the last two games.

After 20 minutes, Joel Cotterill was a butterfly’s wing from scoring the goal of the season as he flicked the ball over a defender’s head like Paul Gascoigne but his strike on the volley was just wide of the mark.

But seconds later, Kilkenny didn’t make the same mistake as he cut onto his right foot from 25 yards and gave Alex Bass no chance and he whipped it beyond Alex Bass.

This goal seemed to wake Notts from their stupor and they pushed forward again. Jodi Jones’ cross was the warning shot before a midfield turnover created the room you can never leave for McGoldrick. The striker curled one where the owls sleep to punish the first time Swindon had forgotten their shape.

It turned to a purple patch for the team in purple as they were starting to suffocate Swindon with long periods of possession. The early raids out that had gotten Town an equal footing were becoming fewer and further between.

But there was nearly a sting in the tail for the Magpies as Kilkenny stitched together a quick counter that saw Miguel Freckleton cut back for Ollie Clarke and he forced a big save from Bass.

Much like their previous games, Swindon were fast starters after the break. First Glatzel flicked the ball beyond a defender to win a corner, before going narrowly wide from the set piece with a bicycle kick. The pressure continued as Jeff King’s cross was turned behind for a short corner that Cotterill again was denied a fabulous goal from.

Such was the power shift that Stuart Maynard had to make a double change ten minutes into the second half, with a pair of former Swindon players in Matty Palmer and Kellan Gordon coming on.

But the increased pressure was not going away. Kilkenny, Freckleton, and King worked the ball well on the left and a cross into Harry Smith was narrowly headed over.

Bedeau and Lewis Macari were both struggling with the work rate of Swindon as long balls were being launched to the first row with forlorn-looking wing-backs sighing.

Notts County had been chanting “Is this a library?” throughout the first half but it was the Houses of Parliament with 20 minutes remaining. The pressing was getting the home fans going as Tshimanga won the ball back in the area and teed up Kilkenny to fire just wide.

But with Kennedy making changes to go for the jugular, the veteran heavyweight McGoldrick was there to deliver the sucker punch. He again made the most of a bit of space on the edge of the box to curl home a beauty.

Despite the defeat, this had been a morale-booster. The energy, precision, and excitement were all way up as Swindon finally showed a path to them being a good side this season.

STFC starting XI: Bycroft, Sobowale, Wright, Cotterill, Clarke, Glatzel, Smith, King, Kilkenny, Freckleton, Hall.

STFC substitutes: Barden, Cain, Tshimanga, Butterworth, Drinan, Minturn, McGregor.

NCFC starting XI: Bass, Bedeau, Platt, Crowley, Jones, Grant, McGoldrick, Hinchy, Edwards, Tsaroulla, Macari.

NCFC substitutes: Slocombe, Gordon, Austin, Scott, Palmer, Cundy, Abbott.

Attendance: 7,326 (899 away).