SWINDON Town pressed copy and paste on their goalscorers from Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Bury and came up with the same result against Port Vale, albeit in more controversial circumstances.

The decision of referee Brendan Malone to award Vale a penalty deep into added time for an apparent handball from a corner, with Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill down and in need of treatment before the set-piece was even taken, was baffling.

Sam Foley did what Billy and Leon Clarke could not and found the net from 12 yards against Lawrence Vigouroux to deny Town two extra points.

The official walked off the pitch with the sound of boos ringing in his ears and the Swindon players and staff hounding him for an explanation for his late prevention of what was almost their second win this season.

Before Malone decided to make himself the most unpopular man in Wiltshire it had been a much improved display from Mark Cooper’s men, who had far more control on the game than at the weekend.

Fabien Robert gave Town a great start, latching on to a cute Anton Rodgers pass to score saw his second of the season.

After Uche Ikpeazu equalised, the game seemed to be drifting towards a very dull draw, but Rodgers intervened to seemingly give Swindon the win their play deserved.

Swindon are still yet to hit top gear this season, but continue to find a way to get results, even if this was not quite the one they were after.

Robert excelled in patches, as did Nathan Byrne, but while they threatened to make fools of the Vale defence it never quite happened. Either a flick did not quite come off or the final pass failed to find its mark.

Had it all clicked into place Town could have been out of sight long before the late dramatics. As it is, they are counting more if and buts.

Before kick-off, Rodgers got the news he was hoping for after his stunning free-kick to earn Town a point at Gigg Lane. He was handed his first start of the season in place of Kevin Stewart.

Jonathan Obika’s injury also meant Robert also came in for his first start and also saw the selection of Miles Storey on the bench, as Town’s only other fit striker.

Having started with 3-5-2 at Bury, Cooper opted to revert once more to 4-3-3. Michael Smith, operating in the middle of the front three and working as a pivot, allowed Robert to drift inside and Byrne the freedom to roam on the right.

The early part of the game played out in an aesthetically pleasing manner, Town had the better of the ball, but Vale were trying to play their stuff.

Rodgers has an inauspicious start, an early attempt at a crossfield pass found only the stewards stationed in front of the Town End, but it was he who created Swindon’s opener.

Picking up the pieces of some broken link-up between Smith and Byrne, the central midfielder carried the ball across the top of the box before poking through to find Robert’s well-timed run.

Such was the quality of the pass the Frenchman was able to sweep home first time to net his second in two games.

After his good work in the build up to the goal, Rodgers went some way to undoing that with his part in the Vale equaliser. Gifting the ball to Louis Dodds inside the Town half, the former Brighton man left his side very exposed and the visitors took advantage.

Dodds picked out his strike partner Ikpeazu, who outmuscled Raphael Branco and shrugged off Turnbull before beating Vigouroux.

After the equaliser, Town’s play became far too loose. The midfield attempted to inject pace in the attack by knocking balls over the top of the Vale backline, but these were often misdirected or overhit.

It made for a disjointed game, with Vale unable to get hold of the ball and the Robins unable to do anything with it.

With little happening in terms of action, the most interesting subplot in the first half was ongoing battle between Ikpeazu and the Swindon defence.

The Vale striker seemed champing at the bit to either leave one on a man in red or make out he had been the victim of a heinous assault.

The Watford loanee achieved neither and Vale’s number two, former Town favourite Paul Bodin, attempted to calm him down from the touchline.

After the fiery end to the opening 45 minutes the early period of the second half was coma inducing. There was not a chance to speak of as the clock ticked over the hour mark.

When Town did go ahead again it was a goal typical of the half. A Swindon attack crashed on the marina wall of the Vale defence, but the ball ricocheted into the path of Rodgers, who took it in his stride towards goal and slotted it under Jak Alnwick.

Town looked to be drifting towards their second win of the season and gave Drissa Traore his competitive debut to try and shore up the midfield.

Instead the home side got nervy as the final whistle neared. However, if that was their crime the punishment was overly harsh.

The decision of Malone to award a penalty, converted by Foley deep into extra time ruined what was almost a productive night for Town.