Aaron Nemane effort enough as MK Dons beat promotion rivals Swindon

Aaron Nemane’s first-half strike proved to be enough as MK Dons recorded a narrow 1-0 League Two victory at home to Swindon to move up to fourth.

In a close game between two of the fourth-tier’s promotion contenders, Nemane’s goal was the match winner for Paul Warne’s side, who now sit just one point below their Boxing Day opponents.

Swindon came close early on before Will Wright’s long-range free-kick was well saved by Craig MacGillivray.

Nemane rifled the Dons ahead in the 17th minute. The wing-back picked up the ball, cut inside and drilled home a crisp long-range finish.

The away side nearly equalised when Jack Sanders headed Paul Glatzel’s shot off the line. Seconds later, the Dons’ Aaron Collins hit the post with an effort from close range.

Sanders would see a strike tipped over by Connor Ripley just after the break, before Swindon’s Jamie Knight-Lebel saw a shot denied by MacGillivray and the rebound hit the side-netting.

Home substitute Rushian Hepburn-Murphy fired over late on, but the hosts held on for maximum points.