SWINDON Town threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Charlton Athletic at the Valley on Saturday.

First-half goals from Hallam Hope and Matt Palmer put Sheridan’s men ahead at the break, but Charlton pulled one back through Chuks Aneke before Andrew Shinnie squared the game up at the death.

Both sides hit the woodwork at various points, but ultimately the game ended all square with neither manager happy with taking a point from the game.

Sheridan made four changes from last weekend’s 2-1 defeat to Doncaster Rovers, with two Town defenders given debuts.

Right-back Kieron Freeman and centre-back, Conor Masterson lined up in defence while Joel Grant came straight back into the starting XI after a considerable period out injured. Hallam Hope was preferred to Brett Pitman up front.

Meanwhile, for Charlton, new loan signing Jayden Stockley (formerly of Exeter City) had to make do with a spot on the bench following his move from Preston North End on Friday.

With Town fielding a new-look defence, their newest signing almost gave Charlton the perfect start.  Winning the ball back on halfway, Masterson gave the ball straight to Ronnie Schwartz who was immediately in on goal. The striker beat Mark Travers, but could not beat the post as it bounced off the upright and away to safety.

The nervous opening minute or two was soon forgotten about after Hope gave Town an early lead.

Scott Twine found Town’s left midfielder in space, he then turned Adam Matthews inside out before cutting onto his right and blasting through Ben Amos.

The Charlton stopper would have been disappointed with his efforts, but it mattered not to the boys in blue and black.

After the goal, Charlton began to grow into the game and Aneke tested Travers with a decent header in the 12th minute.

Midway through the first half, Conroy had to be at his athletic best to turn away an Aneke cross that would surely have been tapped in by Schwartz.

Charlton’s Liverpool loanee, Liam Millar then clipped the bar with a free-kick from the very left edge of the box, but that was as close as the hosts would come before Town snatched a second minutes before the break.

It was surprise scorer, Palmer who doubled Town’s lead after really good hold-up play from Diallang Jaiyesimi allowed Swindon’s midfield to join in on the move.

Palmer skipped past a couple of half-hearted tackles before blasting an effort into the bottom corner from 20 yards via a slight deflection off Deji Oshilaja.

Charlton began the second half like a team that had received a stern talking to at the break, and Lee Bowyer’s men almost halved the deficit moments after the restart.

Only a heroic last-ditch block from Thompson prevented Aneke from side-footing home close range after a scramble in the box.

Just shy of the hour mark, Charlton did find a way back into the game. Darren Pratley’s delicate ball in towards the back post saw Aneke leave Freeman flat footed to bravely nod into the net.

Minutes later, the home side had the ball in the net once again, but were saved by the linesman’s flag. Addicks striker, Schwartz slid the ball underneath Travers, only to glance over and see he was offside.

The warning signals were continuing to be sent out at an alarming rate by Charlton. With less than half an hour to play, Aneke rattled the bar when he really should have scored.

The ball came in from the right and missed everyone before landing at the feet of Aneke. He took one touch before slamming it off the cross bar with his left foot.

As Town attempted to see out the clock, Charlton had strong appeals for a penalty waved away when substitute Jayden Stockley volleyed against Conroy inside the box.

The home bench went up in unison for handball, but nothing was given except a corner.

Swindon could have made the game safe with two minutes to play after Matt Smith carried the ball down the left before cutting back to Jaiyesimi inside the box.

The striker’s tame effort crept towards goal before hitting the post and bouncing away.

The visitors were then made to pay as Charlton grabbed an equaliser at the death. Shinnie controlled, turned and fired low into the corner as the board went up for added time.

Despite the protests of Thompson - who was booked - and Sheridan, the goal was correctly allowed to stand.

Town could have won it when Lyden curled over late on, while Charlton substitute Connor Washington really should have won it when rounding Travers with the last kick of the game.

He could only hit the side netting, however, and Swindon escaped with a point.

CAFC starting XI: Amos, Gunter, Oshilaja, Williams, Forster-Caskey, Aneke, Pratley, Matthews, Maatsen, Millar, Schwartz.

Subs: Harness, Pearce, Stockley, Gilbey, Shinnie, Washington, Morgan.

STFC starting XI: Travers, Freeman, Conroy, Masterson, Thompson, Lyden, Palmer, Twine, Jaiyesimi, J Grant, Hope.

Subs: Pitman, J Smith, M Smith, Odimayo, Payne, Curran, A Grant.