TOWN'S Celtic crusaders struck to stun Swansea and keep hopes of automatic promotion from League I well and truly alive.

Scottish duo Martin McIntosh and David Graham silenced Welsh voices by scoring the late goals which completed a stirring comeback in front of the Sky cameras at the smart new Liberty Stadium.

Even a point had looked highly unlikely when, with Town trailing 2-0 after a lifeless first-half display, Chris Brandon tossed away a potential lifeline with a 48th-minute penalty miss.

So to finish the match looking the more likely of the two sides to win was testament to Town's second-half improvement.

Manager Peter Jackson's response to goals by Lee Trundle, after 19 minutes, and Leon Britton, after 44, was to give his players the old `hairdryer' treatment at half-time, and throw on Andy Holdsworth and Danny Schofield for Gary Taylor-Fletcher and Michael Collins.

Town began the second period as shakily as they had finished the first, with Phil Senior adding to a string of good saves before the break by denying the rampaging Britton as he broke through less than 60 seconds after the restart.

Just for good measure, he also blocked Sam Ricketts' follow-up, and there's little doubt that had Swansea scored a third at that stage, it would have been curtains for a comeback.

It seemed as though it was going to be one of those nights when Brandon fired his spot kick against the underside of the bar (referee Mark Halsey, having upset home supporters by ruling that Graham had been felled by goalkeeper Willie Gueret inside rather than just out of the penalty area, then waved away Town's claims that the ball had crossed the line before being cleared).

But the visitors stuck doggedly to their task while Swansea seemed to go off the boil, and the breakthrough came after 70 minutes.

Graham, who had a shot on the turn from the edge of the box well saved by Frenchman Gueret after 53 minutes, watched in frustration as his volley was tipped away for a corner.

But from Dan Smith's flag kick, raiding centre-back McIntosh forced a header home, much to the delight of the 500 travelling fans sitting behind that goal.

Suddenly Swansea were looking more than a little nervy, even if Andy Robinson curled a shot against the top of the bar three minutes later.

The fact remained that it was now Town who were doing most of the attacking, and it took a timely challenge by Ricketts to rob recently- introduced sub John McAliskey as he shaped to shoot after David Mirfin and Andy Booth combined on 80.

Within 60 seconds, however, Swansea had been breached again as Graham appeared at the far post to poke home Schofield's low cross from the left and send the Town contingent wild.

It was the striker's fourth in six games since signing on loan from Sheffield Wednesday, and by this stage of the game he was looking as lively as Trundle had done in the first half.

Given a rapturous welcome on his return from a two-match lay-off with a stomach muscle injury, the 29-year-old who has just signed a contract extension to keep him at Swansea until 2009 squeezed his 19th goal of the campaign to the left of the diving Senior after Alan Tate headed Nathan Clarke's clearance back into the danger zone.

Senior, playing his sixth full game since Paul Rachubka's sending off at Brentford, had already saved from Britton and Trundle, and after having been able to do little about the opener, then denied Robinson after 24 minutes.

Rory Fallon, the forward who netted 13 times for Swindon this season but has been unable to buy a goal since joining Swansea for £300,000 during the January transfer window, shot wide from a great position after 38 minutes (he had earlier headed too high and later shot over from close range).

Then Senior stuck out a foot to frustrate Gary Monk before Swansea capitalised on Tom Williams' quickly-taken throw-in when Britton fired home after the keeper had blocked Kevin McLeod's initial effort.

They say it's the worst time to concede a goal, so Town should take real heart from their recovery as they approach the final 11 games which will make or break the season.

Man of the Match: PHIL SENIOR

Might have let in two goals, but saved several others with a string of super stops, not least that from Leon Britton in the first minute of the second half.

Turning Point

Had Town lost, it would have been Chris Brandon's penalty miss. Given the two goals which followed, Phil Senior's saves from Leon Britton and then Sam Ricketts in the first minute of the second half became crucial. As Swansea manager Kenny Jackett said, had the Welshmen scored a third, he could have relaxed.

Next page: How they rated >>>

How they rated

Phil Senior Very solid display, fully justifying Peter Jackson's faith. Left exposed for both goals. Rating: 7/10.

David Mirfin Given a tough time by Swansea's lively frontmen but stuck to his task well and made key challenges. Rating: 5/10.

Dan Smith Caught the eye with a bright display against a tricky opponent in the nippy Leon Britton. Rating: 7/10.

Nathan Clarke Will have been frustrated by the defence's first-half lapses, but tightened up thereafter. Rating: 6/10.

Martin McIntosh Like Clarke, won't be happy about Swansea's goals. Will be happy about his second in as many games, however. Rating: 6/10.

Gary T-Fletcher Had little chance to show his attacking prowess as Swansea dominated before his interval substitution. Rating: 5/10.

Jon Worthington Walked a tightrope after a 12th-minute booking for going in late on Steve Robinson, but didn't shirk anything. Rating: 6/10.

Michael Collins Involved in the few decent attacks Town made in the first half, but came off at the break after taking a knock. Rating: 6/10.

Chris Brandon Could have offered Dan Smith a little more back-up and will have been frustrated by his penalty miss. Rating: 5/10.

Andy Booth Another honest display which included earning a stack of free-kicks which should have been better used. Rating: 6/10.

David Graham A lively and dangerous attacker who both won a penalty and scored a valuable equaliser. Rating:7/10.

Spotlight on the Ref:

Mark Halsey made the odd questionable decision - was it a penalty in the first place, and did it cross the line after bouncing down off the bar?

But overall, he did a good job. Kept things flowing and stepped in to calm several heated situations with words rather than cards.

Swansea City: Gueret, Ricketts, Williams, Austin, Monk, Britton, Tate, McLeod, Robinson, Trundle, Fallon. Subs not used: O'Leary, Martinez, Forbes, Knight, Akinfenwa.