Swindon Town 2-1 Forest Green Rovers: leaders' title hopes dented by play-off hopefuls

Victory for Exeter means Forest Green are now only top of League Two on goal difference

Swindon Town kept alive their push for the League Two play-offs with a 2-1 win over promoted Forest Green Rovers.

Louie Barry gave Swindon the lead after only 15 minutes, tapping into the net unmarked from a Harry McKirdy cross and Jack Payne doubled their score before half-time, shooting from range.

Substitute Josh March pulled one back for Forest Green after Swindon were reduced to 10 men early in the second half but were unable to find an equaliser.

Swindon are now up to eighth but remain two points outside the play-offs places.

It was a fast start, with Jordan Moore-Taylor hitting the bar for Forest Green and Barry seeing a shot blocked right on the line for Swindon. But Barry took his next chance to put Swindon ahead, after McKirdy and Payne combined down the right and he tapped in from close range.

Forest Green looked a threat whenever they ran into the Swindon half and Regan Hendry saw a low, driving shot go just wide, while Baily Cargill forced Lewis Ward into making a two-handed save.

But Swindon made them pay for the missed opportunities when Payne slotted home five minutes before the break after Barry broke inside on the left.

The atmosphere became increasingly fraught after Swindon were reduced to 10 men with Ellis Iandolo sent off for a second yellow card. And when Jonny Williams lost the ball on the edge of the box, Ebou Adams' shot was palmed into the path of substitute March, who put it in the net.

Although Forest Green piled forward searching for an equaliser and all but penned Swindon in their own half for the final 15 minutes, they could not make it count.