JONNY Williams came off the bench to score an injury-time equaliser as Swindon Town drew 2-2 with Rochdale at the County Ground on Saturday.

After going a goal ahead in the first half through a sensational Ben Gladwin volley, two visitor goals after half-time – one from George Broadbent and one from Liam Kelly - appeared to give a Rochdale side who had not won any of their previous six all three points at the County Ground.

Yet it was not to be as substitute Williams popped up in the 93rd minute to rescue Swindon on an afternoon which saw the Robins below their best at times.

Town made seven changes to the side that deservedly beat Plymouth Argyle 3-1 in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night. Lewis Ward retained his place in goal while Akin Odimayo, Romoney Crichlow, and Rob Hunt were the only other players to keep their starting spot.

Four of Town's five internationals returned to the squad, but none of them were handed a start - all having to make do with a spot on the bench. Anthony Grant had not yet landed back in the UK after his time away with Jamaica.

A very quiet first 13 minutes passed without any real moment of note, aside from a wayward shot from Ellis Iandolo from outside the box.

Gladwin had to be on hand inside his own box to prevent Rochdale from opening the scoring shortly after, however. A Rochdale corner was volleyed towards goal from the penalty spot, but the first Swindon goalscorer got his defensive positioning spot on to clear from inside the six-yard box.

Town managed to put their first dangerous move together in the 18th minute when Jack Payne backheeled a pass into Iandolo, and the left-back drove towards the by-line before cutting a ball back low.

It missed the three in the middle but fell to Gladwin at the back post. He tried to be too clever and chip it into the back post, but it was too powerful and sailed over.

Moments later, Town should have been awarded a penalty after a foul by Eoghan O'Connell on Iandolo, but the referee waved play on.

Midway through the first half, Harry McKirdy saw a deflected shot wrong-foot Joel Coleman but narrowly bounce wide of the Rochdale goalkeeper’s right-hand post as the hosts began to pick up some steam.

As the game settle back down, only a McKirdy header interrupted Town’s lengthy spell of keep-ball before Gladwin opened the scoring in some style in the 37th minute.

Dion Conroy switched the ball out towards Rob Hunt on the right and Gladwin picked up the loose ball with a headed knock down towards McKirdy. The Town forward played it back into Gladwin's path via an acrobatic backheel before the goalscorer volleyed powerfully over Joel Coleman and into the far corner.

O’Connell headed straight at Ward just before the break, and McKirdy went close to adding a second, only to see his left-footed shot from the edge of the box slide narrowly over.

Town started the second half as they’d begun the first – slowly – and shortly before the hour mark they were punished.

Rochdale, who had given plenty of notice about their intentions in the minutes prior, broke on the counter-attack and Broadbent was found on the left as the visitors overloaded that side of the pitch. The Rochdale midfielder simply took a touch before burying the chance past Ward with his left.

It took a while after the goal for Swindon to respond, but the hosts finally created a chance of real note in the 69th minute, only to be denied via a strong save from Coleman.

Payne slipped a ball through the eye of a needle towards McKirdy, and the Town striker took a touch out of his feet before shooting left-footed. Coleman stayed big and on his feet, with the ball rebounding off an outstretched leg.

Town’s lack of drive and endeavour after being pegged back came back to haunt them with a little over 10 minutes remaining. Payne - who hadn't enjoyed his best game - inexplicably allowed Kelly to take possession on the edge of his own box after briefly winning the ball back.

Kelly jumped onto the ball and blasted a low shot past Ward to his right from the edge of the area.

As Town searched for an equaliser late on, Payne's first-time shot could only hit the roof of the Alan McLoughlin Town End.

But with six minutes of added time shown, Town were rescued after a switch of play from Gladwin found Kaine Kesler-Hayden on the right. The defender headed across goal, and Williams was on hand to poke into the net.

STFC starting XI: Ward, Odimayo, Iandolo, Conroy (c), Crichlow, Gladwin, Simpson, Payne, McKirdy, Hunt, Reed.

SUBS: Wollacott, Baudry, Mitchell-Lawson, Gilbert, Williams, East, Kesler-Hayden.

RFC starting XI: Coleman, O'Keefe, O'Connell (c), Morley, Beesley, Grant, Dorsett, Keoghane, Broadbent, Graham, Cashman.

SUBS: Lynch, White, McNulty, Taylor, Newby, Odoh, Kelly