Battling victory a fine tribute to McLoughlin
RELEGATED Swindon finished the season with the consolation of a dramatic victory at Wigan courtesy of two stoppage-time goals.
It was looking as though the Robins were heading for an eighth defeat in the final nine games of an awful League One campaign, but Tyler Smith and Scott Twine at least ensured the season ended on something of a high note.
Twine said he hoped he made mentor Alan McLoughlin proud after the former Swindon academy coach passed away recently.
He said: “Hopefully he’s looking down and he saw those goals and it made him proud.
“Everyone who knew him would say how brilliant he was. He was just an all round great guy, and I was sad to hear the news.
“It hit me hard because I was close to him.”
The Robins threatened first when Twine curled a 20-yard free-kick narrowly over the top, but it was the Latics who struck in the 17th minute. Curtis Tilt did well to get in front of Robins goalkeeper Lee Camp as he headed home a cross from Dan Gardner.
The Latics doubled their lead in what proved to be the first of three goals in four minutes leading up to the hour mark.
Will Keane slotted low into the bottom corner after he met Zach Clough’s pinpoint cross, before
WIGAN ATHLETIC ............ 3 SWINDON TOWN .............. 4
Swindon’s Twine swiftly halved the deficit as he buried a free-kick opportunity.
However, just as quickly it was 3-1 to Wigan when Clough got the final touch after Keane volleyed towards goal.
The hosts were reduced to ten men in the 66th minute when Tilt was ordered off after impeding the on-rushing Smith, and then when the Robins’ first-half substitute Hallam Hope drilled home 11 minutes later a grandstand finish was on the cards.
Those two dramatic stoppagetime goals then went on to seal what proved to be an incredible comeback victory.
Smith headed home Hope’s cross in the 90th minute before the 92nd saw Twine send the visiting bench wild as his 25-yard strike nestled in the bottom corner of Jamie Jones’ net.
Wigan: Jones, Darikwa, Tilt, Johnston, Robinson,
Ojo, Gardner (Wootton 68), Lang (Whelan 88), Keane (Joseph 79), Clough (Aasgaard 79), Dodoo (Proctor
79). Not Used: L Evans, O Evans.
Sent Off: Tilt (66).
Goals: Tilt 17, Keane 56, 60.
Swindon: Camp, Hunt, Grounds, Broadbent, Thompson, Garrick (Hope 23), Palmer, A Grant, Payne (Smith 58), Pitman, Twine. Not Used: J Grant, Curran, Missilou, Matthews, Parsons.
Booked: Grounds.
Goals: Twine 59, Hope 77, Twine 90, Smith 90. Referee: Graham Salisbury (Lancashire).