Swindon Town were forced to bounce back from a goal down to earn a creditable draw against high-flying AFC Bournemouth at the weekend, with prolific striker Annie Colston helping to rescue a point with a late strike.
James Lally’s side headed into the National League Division One South West clash at Ringwood Town FC having played five games fewer than their counterparts, but knew a victory could see them leapfrog Southampton a place above them.
Swindon welcomed back stopper Emily McGrogan after a couple of weeks out, while midfielder Helena Diaz-Butcher dropped to the bench.
In other team news, Ella Harries replaced the unavailable Sky Hull in the Swindon’s backline.
It was a cagey start to proceedings that saw Swindon threaten first, with Colston narrowly missing Becky Donnelly with a fourth-minute cross, and Kat Bach seeing a clear opening halted by the offside flag.
Despite Bournemouth’s impressive goal tally this term, they were limited to just long range efforts, which did little to trouble McGrogan between the Town sticks.
She was called into action as the clock ticked down towards the interval to repel a couple of Cherries strikes, but both sides ended the half level without the deadlock broken.
Lally sent on Lucy Durham in place of Donnelly at the break to freshen the pack, and Town began the second period on the front foot.
That change of pace almost generated an early goal, but Meg Attenborough misplaced a through ball towards Colston that would have set the striker in on goal.
Diaz-Butcher was introduced to the action along with Rose Kent midway through the second half in place of Bach and Tori Taylor, as Lally’s side pushed for all three points.
But it was the hosts who opened the scoring on 70-minutes as a deep cross found Cherries substitute, Katie James, unmarked at the far post, and she did the rest by heading past McGrogan to put her side one up.
Swindon wasted very little time in responding, though, with Diaz-Butcher and Colston combining well to force the equaliser with just 12- minutes left on the clock to earn a share of the spoils.
Next up for Town is a trip to the Cams Alders Stadium to face another side chasing promotion in the shape of Moneyfields this coming Sunday
