ALAN Connell’s late winner all-but secured Swindon Town’s promotion to League One with a 1-0 victory over Plymouth on a day of high emotion at the County Ground.

The striker was presented with the ball in the Argyle area following good work by Luke Rooney, and turned and fired in a shot which went into the bottom corner following a slight deflection off Darren Purse for what turned out to be the only goal of the game.

It was no more than Town deserved having dominated possession for 90 minutes, and creating the better chances before eventually making one count.

The huge outpouring of emotion following Connell’s goal was clear for all to see, with the Town squad rushing to celebrate with boss Paolo Di Canio following the news of the death of his mother the night before the game.

Town went into the clash needing to win and hope either Crawley or Torquay lost at home to rubber stamp a promotion which has been looking more inevitable by the week.

But while draws for both delayed the promotion party for now, three more vital points have also moved Town one step closer to their goal of ending the season as champions and breaking the 100 point barrier.

Paul Caddis was summoned into the starting line up at the last minute after Alan McCormack rushed to hospital to attend the birth of his first child, and the skipper’s return to the side saw Town fly forward with more precision, and also brought a good performance from others around him.

The Scot brought players into the game, and backed up Lee Holmes well down a right hand flank which brought Town joy all afternoon.

Joe Devera switched from right back to take McCormack’s place at the heart of the Town defence alongside Aden Flint, and the pair put in a defensive masterclass to keep Argyle forwards Warren Feeney and Alex MacDonald quiet all afternoon.

Town kicked towards the Town End in the first half, and had almost all of the early possession with Holmes and Caddis linking up well down the right hand side.

It was the returning Scot who created the first meaningful chance of the game, as he got forward well and put in a devilish cross which Raffa De Vita headed against the top of the Plymouth bar.

Caddis was soon involved at the other end of the pitch, as he got back well to halt Feeney inside his own box, and deny the Northern Irishman a chance to shoot.

Town were presented with another good chance to take the lead soon after, when Simon Ferry did well to wriggle free in the area and make space for himself, but his shot was straight at Argyle keeper Jake Cole.

The midfielder fired in another shot minutes later, but his effort flew harmlessly over the bar.

As usual Benson looked a threat every time the ball was delivered into the box, and the veteran striker stole the ball off of Cole’s fingertips from another Holmes cross, but could only turn the ball wide as the two sides went in at half time level.

There was an early scare after the break when Wes Foderingham came flying out of his box to sweep up a pass, and the keeper only just beat striker Feeney to the ball to put it out for a throw.

Matchwinner Connell came on for Murray 10 minutes into the second half, and made a quick impact as he chased down a loose ball to pen Plymouth into their own third.

Play became scrappy after a flurry of substitutions, but the visitors were the next to threaten as substitute Ashley Hemmings fired in a long range effort which only just went wide of Foderingham’s right hand post.

Town thought they should have had a penalty with 20 minutes remaining when Luke Rooney’s shot looked to have struck Durrell Berry on the hand, but referee Scott Mathieson waved away the appeals.

News that Sammy Moore had given AFC Wimbledon the lead at Crawley reverberated around the County Ground as fans sensed promotion was on the cards, but Gary Alexander soon equalised for the Red Devils just minutes before Connell turned well to fire in the only goal of the game.

Luke Young had the visitors’ final chance but shot wide, before Town saw the game out to move ever closer to promotion and the title.