TOWN twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at Carlisle United.
Goals from Adam Rooney and Paul Benson earned Swindon a point after former Town loanee Jake Jervis had put the home side in front.
In an action-packed first half Andy Williams tested Mark Gillespie early on before Carlisle opened the scoring on 15 minutes. Alan McCormack’s clearance hit a Carlisle player and fell kindly for Jake Jervis who slotted calmly home.
Just short of the half-hour mark, Town were level. Benson’s flick landed invitingly for Rooney and the Irishman lashed home into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
The strike sparked a goal-glut with three goals hitting the back of the net in six minutes. Two minutes after Rooney’s equaliser, Jervis put the home side ahead once more. A ball forward was nodded down for the former Town loanee to set himself and thunder a volley high past Foderingham.
With the home support still enjoying the strike, Benson had hauled Swindon level once more. Given far too much time and space on the right hand edge of the area, the striker looked up before smashing the ball low past the goalkeeper.
There was still time for Foderingham to make two fine saves to keep the score-line as it was. Firstly, he tipped Matty Robson’s deflected free kick away for a corner before touching a goal-bound header onto the crossbar.
The second half began in an equally frantic manner. Town were on the front foot without creating any clear-cut opportunities to test the Carlisle goalkeeper. Williams had a wonderful opportunity to put Town in front when he managed to fashion himself a run through on goal. One-on-one with Gillespie, Williams could only hit his effort against the frame of the goalkeeper.
Town stayed in control with Foderingham a virtual spectator at the other end. Despite having most of the ball, they could not quite manage to find the killer pass.
As time ticked away, Darren Ward headed wide while Collins couldn’t quite manage to reach substitute Gary Roberts’ inch-perfect through ball.
Matt Ritchie’s half-volley was well-held by Gillespie before Roberts latched onto a deep cross but saw his effort blocked away by the goalkeeper.
A point for Town arrests a run of three successive defeats. Attention now turns to another away day at Portsmouth on Tuesday evening.
Town: Wes Foderingham, Joe Devera, Alan McCormack, Darren Ward, Jay McEveley; Matt Ritchie, Simon Ferry, Tommy Miller, Andy Williams, Adam Rooney (Roberts '52), Paul Benson (Collins '58)
Substitutes: Leigh Bedwell, Troy Archibald-Henville, James Collins, Gary Roberts, Nathan Thompson, Federico Bessone, Giles Coke
Carlisle: Gillespie, Simek, Robson, McGovern, Murphy, Cadamarteri, Thirlwell, Edwards, Berrett, Jervis, Chantler
Substitutes: Collin, Livesey, Madden, Potts, Beck, Symington, Bugno
