SWINDON Town picked up their first away point of the campaign as they dug in to hold on for a 1-1 draw away to Gillingham.

After a first half where Gillingham struggled to break down a resolute Town defence, the game sparked into life after Michael Doughty put the visitors in front from the spot in the 55th minute.

Gillingham proceeded to try and find a way into the game which eventually came in the 71st minute through substitute Rory Donelly.

Despite Max Ehmer striking the crossbar in the closing minutes, Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill seeing red and seven minutes of added time, Town were able to hold out for their point.

With Jonathan Obika and Luke Norris both missing through injury, Luke Williams named a starting XI that was without a recognised striker.

Instead, John Goddard, who was dropped to the bench at Chesterfield, started in the false number nine role and was supported by James Brophy, returning to the first team, and Darnell Furlong, making his first start for the club.

There was also no place for Iraqi midfielder Yaser Kasim, with Anton Rodgers and MDoughty occupying the two central midfield roles in a 3-4-3 formation, that switched to 5-4-1 out of possession.

As to be expected from the starting line-ups, it was the hosts who enjoyed the majority of the first-half possession and were camped in the Town half for much of the opening period.

Emmanuel Osadebe showed his strength early on as he held off Jamie Sendles-White before setting up Cody McDonald, whose overhead effort was tame and collected by Lawrence Vigouroux.

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas had the chance to stretch his legs in the 20th minute and ran into the Town box, but with just Vigouroux to beat, but Conor Thomas got back well to concede a corner.

From the resulting set-piece, Vigouroux had to be alert and turn a close-range effort from Osadebe over the bar.

Swindon saw their first real chance come in the 41st minute when James Brophy rolled the ball nicely into the box from the left.

Goddard latched onto the ball well but saw Gillingham goalkeeper Stuart Nelson get his right hand to the shot after coming off his line quickly, before the ball, which was trickling towards the goal, was cleared by the Gills defence.

Town found themselves in a surprise lead 10 minutes into the second half.

Having seen Barry be denied by a last-ditch tackle from Paul Konchesky at the back post as he tried to get on the end of an Ormonde-Ottewill cross, it was the Gillingham full-back who was in trouble again minutes later.

This time it was Furlong who got the wrong side of the Gillingham defender and as he cut back across, Konchesky could do nothing but clip his heels and concede a penalty.

Doughty stepped up to the spot and put his left-footed effort firmly into the side netting to open the scoring.

Jordan Stewart was introduced minutes later and almost got off the mark immediately as he darted into the box but hesitated too long with just a defender to beat and saw the chance go begging.

Gillingham reacted by introducing Rory Donnelly for Cody McDonald in the 70th minute and the substitution had the desired effect.

Just a minute later, Ryan Jackson fired the ball in low from the right and Donnelly was left unmarked in the middle of the box to sweep his shot into the top corner.

Swindon looked to respond almost as quickly when Brophy used his pace to latch onto a ball over the top in the 75th minute but dragged his shot wide of the far post.

Ehmer was allowed to bring down the ball in the box in the 85th minute but saw his effort on the turn strike hard off the crossbar of Vigouroux’s goal.

Moments after the fourth official indicated four minutes of added time, Ormonde-Ottewill was sent for an early bath after picking up his second yellow card for a foul, the first given for time wasting, but Swindon clung on with 10 men.