After falling behind early in the second half, Tom Smith’s thunderbolt drew the visitors level before the debutants struck to complete the turnaround.
Mark Cooper handed starting berths to both Nicky Ajose and Wes Thomas at the Alexandra Stadium while Bradley Barry and James Brophy, who had made their Town debuts at Newport in midweek, both kept their places in the starting XI. There was a recall to the side for Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill after an illness while Jon Obika and Nathan Thompson both missed out.
In a half dominated by periods of patient possession football, Town’s first real opportunity dropped at the feet of Thomas. Neat build-up play down the right involving both Barry and Ajose ended with the latter playing a low cross in towards the penalty spot. Thomas, who had peeled away from his marker, strode onto the ball but skied his shot high over the crossbar.
Lawrence Vigouroux saw plenty of action at the other end denying Ryan Colclough more than once. Just before the break, perhaps the most clear-cut opportunity of the half for either side was spurned by Chris Atkinson who found himself one-on-one with the Town stopper after a clever passing triangle set him free. Vigouroux stood up well, however and kept out his half-volley to keep the scores level.
Rapha Branco, who continued in his role of Captain, had to be alert midway through the half to hack a ball off the line when a corner caused problems for the Swindon backline.
Back at Crewe where he had spent part of last season on loan, Ajose had a glorious chance to give Town the lead early in the second half. A mix-up between goalkeeper and defender in attempting to clear a long ball forward resulted in the ball landing at the feet of Ajose who had an open goal to aim at from 40 yards. His effort, however, trickled agonisingly wide of the target.
On the hour mark, it was the home side who made the breakthrough. Adam King had time and space on the edge of the box to pick out the bottom corner with Vigouroux beaten.
Just a minute later, Town levelled through substitute, Tom Smith. The scholar leathered a thunderous effort into the back of the net from the corner of the 18-yard box.
Ajose then brought down a long pass brilliantly on the move before forcing a smart save from Garratt.
With eight minutes to play, Wes Thomas made it a goalscoring debut for Swindon. Robert’s intricate pass picked out the striker making a run across the box. He turned on the ball before thumping a right-footed effort into the roof of the net.
Having missed an opportunity to make a goalscoring return to Swindon earlier in the half, Ajose found the net in stoppage time to confirm all three points for the visitors. Brophy’s run down the left picked him out in the box and the frontman drilled a shot into the top corner.