SWINDON Town’s winning run in League Two was spectacularly ended at the New Lawn this afternoon as they drew 2-2 with Forest Green Rovers, who had Joseph Mills to thank after he struck an injury time equaliser.  

Mills, who also struck Rovers' first goal, equalised with minutes remaining in the game - a goal that undone Eoin Doyle's earlier brace after Town established a two-goal half-time lead. 

Despite conceding late on, Town remain top of the League Two at Christmas with 43 points secured from their opening 22 fixtures.

Wellens made one change to his team that defeated Oldham Athletic by a goal in unspectacular fashion at the County Ground a week ago.

Keshi Anderson started for the first time since November 2 while Diallang Jaiyesimi missed out.

No chance of note was registered by either side in the first 10 minutes, though Doughty was poached of possession close to the hosts’ penalty spot after he controlled Baudry’s searching ball forwards well.

Baudry was later booked for a mistimed tackle, the resulting free kick on the left was overhit by Rovers skipper Mills – a set-piece that perhaps epitomised the opening quarter-hour.

The tame start proved irrelevant, though, when unstoppable Eoin Doyle notched his 20th goal of the season.

Doyle’s opening was the culmination of a period of sustained pressure on the edge of Rovers’ penalty area where Baudry, Doughty and Hunt linked up well in front of 10 home men who placed themselves behind the ball.

The latter delivered an exceptional cross to pick out Doyle, whose effort was nestled into Smith’s bottom right corner.

Town’s opener sparked a period of possessional dominance for Wellens’ well-tuned XI.

By contrast, Rovers were poor. The hosts backed away from Town, and striker Stevens’ presence up front was barely noticed by two central defenders Fryers and Baudry as half-an-hour passed.

Five minutes later, and Town’s lead was doubled – no prizes for guessing who applied the finishing touch.

Lacklustre defending certainly helped Doyle on his way to goal number 21. Ill-placed defenders paved the way for the Irishman to latch onto spring-heeled Woolery’s flicked on header before Smith was beaten for a second time.

Rovers picked up their game towards the end of the half. Aitchison was unlucky to have his shot blocked after Shephard brilliantly controlled a long ball forward close to the right corner flag.

A robust Town wall blocked out Joseph Mills’ stoppage time free kick before the visitors could’ve grabbed a third.

On the counterattack, Doyle fed Woolery who picked out a waiting Doughty on the edge of the D. Doughty then fed possession to Yates, whose shot was blocked to round off an encouraging opening half.

Underperforming Stevens was replaced by Morton at half time by Rovers chief Cooper, Town were unchanged.

The visitors’ energy remained, and Doyle was unlucky not to notch a third when his shot from Woolery’s deflected cross was fortuitously blocked.

Rovers threatened twice in the five minutes that followed. Shephard had a powerful near post drive brilliantly saved by Benda before Adams’ flick on from a similar position was directed over the visitors’ crossbar.

Pressure built, and Town moments later conceded their first Football League goal since that spectacular 2-3 win at Salford in November.

Joseph Mills waited at Benda’s far post to crash home Rovers’ first and cast some doubt among the thousand plus travelling fans.

Momentum swung at this point, though Town dug in to carve out three chances of their own in a frantic five-minute period.

Anderson and Baudry were superbly denied by the sprawling Smith, while Doyle was denied a hat-trick when his chip over the home ‘keeper was later scrambled off the goalline by Kitching. Doyle then rather comically swiped at a bobbling ball without connecting as Swindon’s foothold in the game was seemingly re-established.

Goalscorer Mills tested Benda from range shortly before five minutes of additional time was indicated.

Five minutes was ultimately what Rovers required, though, as Mills lashed home his second from a corner to rescue a point.

Forest Green: Smith, Shepard, Mills, Winchester, Stevens (Morton, 45’), Adams, Frear (Collins, 65’), Kitching (McGinley, 75’), Godwin-Malife, Mills, Aitchison.

Swindon: Benda, Fryers, Baudry, Yates, Doughty (Rose, 75’), Woolery (Iandolo, 90’), Hunt, Doyle, Anderson, Caddis, Grant.