Swindon Town had to settle for a point in a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Morecambe at The Energy Check County Ground this afternoon.

It proved to be a frustrating first-half for the Reds who were unable to make the breakthrough despite being well on top, and they found themselves trailing thanks to Callum Lang's strike.

Luke Norris was able to even things up shortly after the interval with a well-taken penalty, which was enough to secure a share of the spoils. 

Town opted for four changes in total with Kyle Knoyle, Keshi Anderson, Ollie Banks and Luke Norris all being restored to the Starting XI.

That meant that Chris Robertson, Paul Mullin, Timi Elsnik and Kaiyne Woolery all dropped to the bench, where they were joined by Donal McDermott who had returned from injury.

In what was Phil Brown's first home game in charge, there was certainly a lot at stake with Town hoping to keep the pressure on the chasing pack with a much-needed victory.

It was a positive start by the Reds too as the visiting defence were put to the test on a couple of occasions, before Luke Norris thumped an effort inches wide.

Morecambe's case wasn't helped by the fact that keeper Barry Roche was forced off with injury with just ten-minutes on the clock - Danijel Nizic his replacement. 

There was certainly a quick tempo to proceedings in the opening exchanges of the game and both sides were able to create openings.

Michael Rose's deep free-kick dropped inches past the far post, before a Morecambe defender did well to head a Marc Richards knockdown over his own crossbar at the other end.

Town were not done there though and they went close again moments later, Norris stabbing wide under pressure from a Keshi Anderson cross.

Callum Lang was then able to test Stuart Moore with a header, but it proved to be easy to stop for the Town goalie.

Town kept on plugging away and were having plenty of the ball, although they were struggling to breakdown a stubborn Morecambe back-line.

They were certainly trying their best though as Anderson saw his drive from the edge of the area deflected over, before Rollin Menayese blasted over on the turn from the resulting corner.

But Town were dealt with an almighty sucker-punch just before half-time as Lang beat the offside trap before advancing clean through on goal and stroking the ball beyond Moore into the back of the net.

It was nearly so level before the break, however, with Ollie Banks getting his head to a Taylor corner, but Nizic was able to pull off a fine save to keep the effort out. 

After what was a cagey and disjointed start to the second-half, Town were able to restore parity thanks to Norris, who after being shoved inside the area got up and stroked home from the penalty spot.

That goal gave the whole stadium a lift but Town still had to be alert at the other end as Moore did well to pluck Lang's header out of the air.

Phil Brown's side were soon back on top though and they were peppering the Morecambe goal with a number of dangerous crosses.

Richards couldn't quite connect with Taylor's dangerous, driven ball at the back post, before Ben Purkiss saw his delivery hacked away with the visitors hanging on for dear life.

It continued to be one-way traffic as Norris charged towards goal before seeing his drive smothered by Nizic, while Anderson flicked a header wide after the Shrimps failed to clear their line from a corner.

Still on top but with time running out, Town opted to make two changes with ten minutes remaining in order to inject some fresh legs into the attack.

Kaiyne Woolery came on for Richards and Paul Mullin replaced Chris Hussey with the game still finely in the balance.

There was another fresh face five minutes later with Donal McDermott coming on to replace Keshi Anderson.

Town were still looking the more likely to make something happen in the closing stages but both time and chances were running out, with Woolery only able to blast a shot over the bar.

Purkiss nodded wide from a corner in the dying minutes and that proved to be that with both sides having to settle for a point. 

TEAMS AND STATS: 

SCORERS - Callum Lang (43), Luke Norris (55).

SWINDON TOWN (4-4-2) - Moore; Knoyle, Purkiss, Menayese, Hussey (Paul Mullin 80); Anderson, Dunne, Banks, Taylor; Norris, Richards (C) (Kaiyne Woolery 80). 

SUBS NOT USED - Henry, Robertson, Gordon, Elsnik, McDermott. 

MORECAMBE (3-5-2) - Roche (Danijel Nizic 10); Winnard, Lavelle, Old; McGowan (Aaron Wildig 70), Kenyon, Rose, Conlan; Oliver, Lang (Kevin Ellison 79). 

SUBS NOT USED - Brough, Fleming, Campbell, Thompson. 

BOOKINGS:

SWINDON TOWN - Chris Hussey.

Attendance - 6,328 (82). 

Referee - Kevin Johnson.