SWINDON Town drew 4-4 away at League Two’s bottom side, Rochdale on Saturday – despite an extraordinary four-goal haul from Charlie Austin.

In stark contract to Tuesday’s dull 0-0 draw at Walsall, the game of the season swung this way and that as both sides tried to secure a much-needed three points for their own respective cause.

Austin scored the first two goals before Devante Rodney and Danny Lloyd equalised before half-time.

Abraham Odoh fired the hosts in front midway through the second half, only for Town’s number 11 to net two more and put Swindon 4-3 ahead.

But as has too often been the case recently, Town conceded from a corner in the 95th minute as substitute Ian Henderson secured a vital point for Dale.

Jody Morris made two changes from the side which started Tuesday's draw against Walsall. Luke Jephcott and Tyrese Shade made way for Rushian Hepburn-Murphy and Austin.

Town made the ideal start against the division's bottom side as Hutton provided his eighth assist of the season. In the second minute, the right-back crossed towards Austin, and the experienced striker trapped it immediately before shifting the ball onto his right and slamming back across Richard O'Donnell.

Shortly after Ethan Ebanks-Landell had crashed a header wide and Lloyd had driven a low effort that skipped off the wet turf towards Sol Brynn, Town doubled their advantage and appeared to be in full control.

Swindon played some sharp stuff in midfield before Jonny Williams slid Hepburn-Murphy in down the right side of the box. The winger cut the ball across goal, and Austin was there at the back post to slam in from close range after a quarter of an hour.

But in the 22nd minute, Rochdale pulled a goal back. A simple clip over the top found Rodney alone one-on-one after Hutton was stood too deep, and the Rochdale striker calmly lifted the ball over an on-rushing Brynn to give Dale hope.

The hosts had more than hope just three minutes later as Lloyd made his case for the next League Two Goal of the Month competition. Jacob Wakeling wanted a foul on the near side, but referee, Bobby Madden waved play on and Rochdale worked it out to Lloyd midway inside the Town half.

He simply took a touch out of his feet and lashed the ball into the top-right corner from 25 yards.

After George McEachran had been forced off with a calf injury, Rochdale thought they had taken the lead late in the half. Lloyd chipped a free-kick into the box from right of centre, and defender Max Taylor powered the header home – only to be denied by the linesman’s flag.

At the end of an action-packed first 45, Austin powered a header straight at O'Donnell from Hutton’s cross when a hat-trick was calling.

A far calmer start to the second half ensued, and there were only a smattering of off-target shots before the goals continued inside the final 20 minutes.

Rochdale took the lead for the first time when Odoh picked up a loose pass from Ronan Darcy inside the Town half. The wide man simply ran towards goal before burying his shot into the bottom left corner from the edge of the box.

Town wasted little time in equalising, though, hauling themselves back level just two minutes later. Substitute Tyrese Shade burrowed down the left and crossed into the middle. Austin's first effort was brilliantly turned out by O'Donnell, but the stopper couldn't prevent the second as Austin stabbed home from close range.

The Hungerford-born poacher grabbed his – and Swindon’s – fourth in the 79th minute after Shade drove at his man down the right before laying off for Austin to shoot first time. The finish was pure class from Austin - he curled into the top left from 12 yards out.

But the drama was not over there as Rochdale snatched a point in stoppage time. Once again, Town’s Achilles heel was defending from set-pieces as substitute Henderson nodded in a near-post corner.

Dale almost won it when Lloyd hit the post in the last knockings, and Taylor blazed over with the last kick.

RAFC starting XI: O'Donnell, Taylor, Ebanks-Landell (c), Rodney, Odoh, Keohane, Brierley, Quigley, Dodgson, Lloyd, Mullarkey.

RAFC substitutes: Eastwood, Seriki, Kelly, Mellor, Bennett, Diagouraga, Henderson.

STFC starting XI: Brynn, Hutton, Brewitt, Clayton, Lavinier, McEachran, Darcy, Williams, Hepburn-Murphy, Austin, Wakeling.

STFC substitutes: Copland, Shade, Minturn, Adeloye, Cain, Jephcott, Kadji.

Referee: Bobby Madden

Attendance: 2,611 (397)