Swindon Town 1 - Northampton Town 1 (From Swindon Advertiser)

Swindon Town 1 - Northampton Town 1

8:20am Monday 4th February 2008 in Sport By Andy Cryer

IT was supposed to be all about Simon Cox and the confirmation of an exciting new Town future, but Saturday's party atmosphere was ultimately killed by a blast from the club's more murky past.

While Cox was forced to wait for his County Ground return, after a hitch in the paperwork concerning his transfer from Reading, Swindon reject Adebayo Akinfenwa announced his comeback from an injury nightmare to halt any Town play-off push.

Akinfenwa looked set to sign for former Town boss Paul Sturrock in Wiltshire in late June when the club turned him away at the 11th hour, saying a medical showed he would not be ready for first-team football before November.

The former Swansea man disagreed, insisting his rehabilitation from a broken leg would be quicker, and he took Saturday's big opportunity to prove to his doubters he still has a future in the game.

To be fair to Town, their diagnosis was right with Akinfenwa making his first appearance of the season in mid November for Millwall and even on Saturday's Northampton debut full fitness still seemed a long way off.

But the 25-year-old was just delighted to have scored his first goal for over a year, an 88th-minute header from the substitutes bench to earn the Cobblers a deserved point.

He said: "That was my first game for Northampton and my first goal for a long time so I am happy with that.

"But I am just happy we kept that unbeaten run.

"It is how the game goes. You come back against a team you were meant to be at and you score. To be fair, if it was Swansea, if it was Swindon, I just want to score goals.

"I was disappointed the way things worked out at Swindon because it did look as though I was at the club.

"I knew I was fit enough but I felt it was not going to be as long as they said.

"They knew I would not make the beginning of the season but new owners were coming in and it just dragged on to the point where it was not happening."

There was little sign of the late drama in a clash that failed to catch the imagination from the outset, with the majority still confused about the absence of supposed saviour Cox.

The 20-year-old striker was limited to a quick appearance on the field before the game, after a contract clause delayed his transfer, and 90 minutes later Cox, like many, would just have been glad to go home.

It got even worse when Barry Corr's injury hoodoo struck again, suffering a dislocated shoulder that should keep him out for up to a month, seeing Blair Sturrock given an unexpected chance after just 14 minutes.

Boss Maurice Malpas was the first to admit post-match the game was more of a "damp squib" and Town will know many more unimaginative performances like this, and any dreams of a play-off push will have to be canned for another year.

Jon-Paul McGovern and Lee Peacock struggled to come to terms against an extra man in the centre of the park while wingers Anthony McNamee and Christian Roberts were largely ineffectual on the rare occassions they did see the ball.

Even the usually faultless Jerel Ifil seemed a little off his game at the back as a hectic last couple of months looked to have finally caught up on the Robins.

Having said all that, Town should still have stolen the three points against a Northampton side on a run of four unbeaten matches themselves.

When Sturrock eased in front of his defender on 56 minutes to cleverly volley home Miguel Comminges' long throw, maximum points looked on the cards with neither side really threatening the goal.

But when Akinfenwa trotted on with 25 minutes remaining, you got the feeling he was going to have a part to play.

He may be lacking match fitness, and carrying a few pounds, but he was still able to head home the equaliser on 88 minutes after being given the freedom of the penalty area from Danny Jackman's inswinging left-wing corner.

"I am back and hopefully I can kick on until the end of the season," said Akinfenwa. "I am a strong believer.

"I believe everything happens for a reason. Who knows what will happen in the future but Swindon was obviously not meant to happen for me.

"That is in the past. It is the same with my broken leg, it is in the past.

"I wish Swindon all the best, I have no problems with them and it is the past.

"I am very confident in my ability but I am not thinking about getting any higher at the moment. I want to get back to the Akinfenwa before my broken leg and I took a major step."