Swindon Town

SWINDON Town drew one all with Fleetwood Town thanks to Nicky Ajose’s 68th minute equaliser after Wes Burns had given Fleetwood a 6th minute lead, writes Adrian Smith.

Luke Williams made three changes to his starting line-up with Anton Rodgers, Jamie Sendles-White and Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill recalled.

The visitors took the lead in the 6th minute when Wes Burns headed home unchallenged from the first corner of the match.

Town’s first corner in the 10th minute was taken by Rodgers who sent a good cross to the back post where it was headed goalwards but the ball was cleared off the line and at the other end, Ty Belford made a good save to deny the visitors a second goal.

A promising Town move in the 31st minute involving several players came to nothing when Doughty overhit a cross and the ball drifted out for a goal kick. Shortly afterwards a superb ball into the box from the right wing was inches away from being touched home by Ajose but the ball skidded under his studs.

Ty Belford made a superb save from Robert Grant in the 35th minute after the Fleetwood player outwitted the Town defence but the Town stopper managed to keep the ball away from goal.

There was a dramatic start to the second half when Jermaine Hylton snatched possession on the halfway line and advanced before squaring the ball to Ormonde-Ottewill. He darted into the penalty area and after touching the ball forward, the Town player appeared to be clipped by the Fleetwood keeper Maxwell but the referee elected to show Ormonde-Ottewill a yellow card for simulation.

Drissa Traore and Ellis Iandolo replaced Rodgers and Hylton in the 58th minute for Town and Burns was replaced by Ashley Hunter for the visitors. Town went straight on the attack and earned a free kick on the left wing in front of the Town End and that led to Ajose at the back of the area but he could only divert the ball wide of goal.

There was an incredible sequence of play in the 64th minute after Town had given away possession on the edge of the area as Fleetwood contrived to miss four close range chances from the six yard box thanks to a combination of good Town defending, the crossbar (twice) and finally a shot wide of goal.

The Robins equalised in the 69th minute when Ajose touched home from a cross by Michael Doughty.

Ajose was then denied a second goal when his close range shot struck the crossbar and the ball was cleared.

David Henen replaced Robert Grant in ethe 81st minute as the visitors went in search of a second goal and that nearly arrived through Cole but he was denied by Belford. Henen also went close shortly afterwards but his effort was blocked on the line.

A flowing move involving Doughty and Ajose saw Town’s leading scorer lay the ball off to Louis Thompson on the right hand side of the penalty area but his shot from close range went wide of goal.