SECOND-HALF dominance paid dividends for Swindon Town as Elijah Adebayo grabbed a stoppage-time equaliser to earn a more-than-deserved League Two point against Milton Keynes Dons.

Swindon dominated the concluding 20 minutes of the game, though their efforts were only rewarded with seconds left on the clock when Adebayo scored from close range. 

The point thrilled the County Ground faithful for a third time in as many games this season, especially after Town were denied three penalty calls within their period of dominance. 

Town boss Phil Brown made no changes from the side that earned a point at the New Lawn against Forest Green Rovers last weekend with a 4-3-3 formation adopted.

Swindon were first to threaten when Keshi Anderson on the left picked out midfielder Martin Smith on the edge of the 18-yard box, though his effort was directed slightly over Lee Nicholls’ crossbar.

Paul Tisdale’s men soon got themselves ahead though when a corner on the right was converted by Joe Walsh.

Walsh escaped his marker inside the penalty area to volley home Dean Lewington’s corner, leaving goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux rooted to his goal line.

Town top scorer Michael Doughty almost bagged an equaliser straight from kick-off when his accurate header following Jermaine McGlashan’s header was tipped over, though Doughty was later flagged for offside.

A subdued 10 minutes followed before McGlashan displayed a quick turn of foot before winning a corner 20-yards from goal on the right.

Matt Taylor’s in swinging delivery evaded everyone though, as Milton Keynes settled for a goal kick.

A lapse of concentration from Town back pair Olly Lancashire and Sid Nelson gifted the visitors with a chance to double their lead on 19 minutes.

Lancashire chased Agard down the left while Nelson lost Alex Gilbey, who made a storming solo run into the penalty area. Fortunately, Agard’s cross was low, allowing Nelson to put the ball out for a corner.

Stevan Alzate then rescued a mix-up at the back before feeding the ball to Marc Richards, whose flick found a sprinting Keshi Anderson.

Anderson’s effort was blocked though, before being gathered by Nicholls in the Dons goal.

Hesitation from Callum Brittain when contesting a header with Keshi Anderson with 10 minutes left in the opening half led to Michael Doughty being fouled on the edge of Dons’ penalty area in a dangerous position.

Doughty stepped up to take the free kick, but his effort was placed fractionally over Milton Keynes’ crossbar.

Town had a golden opportunity to equalise with one-minute remaining in the first half following an accurate pass from Matt Taylor inside the Swindon half in the direction of McGlashan.

McGlashan switched play to Anderson on the left, who picked out Richards on the penalty spot. Richards’ effort beat keeper Nicholls, but went wide of the goalkeeper’s left post.

It proved Town’s last chance of the half at Paul Tisdale’s troops entered the tunnel a goal ahead.

The visitors were quickly out of the blocks at the start of the second half, namely Jordan Houghton.

Houghton was unchallenged from 30 yards out before unleashing a powerful drive that crashed off the underside of Vigouroux’s crossbar before Town regained possession from the rebound.

Houghton’s exceptional effort was followed up by Jordan Moore-Taylor’s drive from 20 yards, which forced Vigouroux into making a diving save to his left – pushing the ball behind for a corner.

Both of Dons’ efforts were followed by a relatively weak strike from Martin Smith, who tried his luck from range after Richards’ dangerous header back into play following a Matt Taylor cross was cleared.

Alex Gilbey completed a fast-paced opening 10 minutes of the second half when dragging his ambitious shot wide of Vigouroux’s left post.

Milton Keynes were presented with the best chance of the half on 56 minutes when Gilbey made a run into the box before flashing a cross across the face of goal, which Robbie Simpson couldn’t quite reach with half of Vigouroux’s goal gaping in front of him.

Swindon were then denied what many fans considered to be a clear penalty when Stevan Alzate was fouled while running parallel with the edge of Dons’ 18-yard box.

Referee Trevor Kettle instead awarded a free-kick, much to the anger of Town boss Phil Brown, which Taylor struck high.

Town were again denied a penalty shout when Elijah Adebayo’s effort struck Callum Brittain before being deflected behind for a corner, which the visitors cleared.

Vigouroux made a second spectacular save on 71 minutes when Dean Lewington’s accurate free-kick from the edge of Town’s box was tipped behind for a corner.

Amid Town’s dominance, Lewington almost doubled Dons’ lead with 10 minutes remaining when his top-corner bound header from a corner was punched wide by Vigouroux, his third key save of the half.

A third penalty was turned down by referee Kettle, despite Iandolo's cross from the left striking Baily Cargill on the wrist. 

Keshi Anderson was then foulded while making a bursting run in the direction of Dons' penalty box, though Taylor's free kick was comfortably blocked.

The late surge resulted in Town eventually grabbing a goal though as Adebayo latched onto a loose ball to earn Town a league point.

Swindon Town: Lawrence Vigouroux, Kyle Knoyle, Michael Doughty (Ellis Iandolo, 83’), Sid Nelson, Olly Lancashire, Jermaine McGlashan (Elijah Adebayo, 57’), Marc Richards, Keshi Anderson, Steven Alzate, Martin Smith (Jak McCourt, 57’), Matt Taylor.

Milton Keynes Dons: Lee Nicholls, George Williams, Dean Lewington, Joe Walsh, Alex Gilby, Kieran Agard, Jordan Moore-Taylor, Robbie Simpson, Jordan Houghton, Callum Brittain, Baily Cargill.