Robins lose their focus as Ammies strike late

BEN Garner admitted Swindon should have seen the game out as their promotion ambitions were dented by Salford’s stunning comeback.

Second-half goals from Liam Shephard and Ryan Watson cancelled out Harry McKirdy’s opener and left home fans shocked at the dramatic ending in Wiltshire.

Robins boss Garner said: “I thought we were largely in control in the second half and once we got ahead I expected us to push on, see the game out and win.

“We are disappointed, we have won three out of the past four and we need to get back on that ratio again. Every day you can improve and there is a lot of time left until the end of the season.

“We’ve got players that haven’t been here that long, and players that have been here a longer period of time, but every player can improve in that group.”

The hosts controlled possession for large parts of the first half, but rarely threatened Salford’s defensive line.

A bizarre goalmouth scramble in the 30th minute left the match somehow still goalless with Brandon Cooper escaping a certain red card after dragging Shephard to the floor in the penalty area.

Watson’s 30-yard strike clipped a post late in the half, but the match remained goalless at the break.

McKirdy then gave Swindon the lead in the 55th minute after heading past Tom King from a corner.

However, their advantage was short-lived as Salford equalised ten minutes later against the run of play with Shephard getting onto Ash Hunter’s cross.

Watson completed Salford’s comeback in the 86th minute, rising highest to get on the end of Stephen Kelly’s corner to seal the victory.

Salford boss Gary Bowyer was overjoyed at taking maximum points.

He said: “The hoodoo is over. It’s been a ridiculous thing to have hanging over us, so to do it here in this way is really pleasing.

“We’ve hit a post and the bar, we’ve had a stonewall penalty when the lad pulled Shephard back on the line and how we don’t get that I don’t know.

But we’ve only had one all season so it’s probably why.

“The response was terrific – Liam ghosted in at Orient and he has done exactly the same there. Then the winner was brilliant, it was a great delivery.”