DESPITE dominating their League One clash with Exeter City for the vast majority of the 90 minutes, Swindon Town were forced to settle for a solitary point after a 0-0 draw at the County Ground.

Matt Ritchie hit the crossbar, Kevin Amankwaah had a goal disallowed, Jonathan Douglas and Michael Timlin both went close in the first half, and the hosts continued to control proceedings after the break, as Exeter withstood a barrage of Robins pressure.

Ryan Harley smashed a free-kick against the bar for the visitors shortly before the interval, but the Grecians did not manage a single shot on target in the entire match.

Here are the key moments from tonight’s match:

Five mins: A little slapdash from both sides in the early stages at the County Ground, although Matt Ritchie has looked lively in his new role accompanying Thomas Dossevi up front.

Nine mins: Town come agonisingly close to the opening goal as Alan O’Brien steams to the byline and crosses delicately for Ritchie.

The diminutive former Portsmouth man launches himself at the ball, but his header smashes against the crossbar and rebounds to safety. Promising signs of intent from Swindon, but you have to think another player who shall not be named would have buried that.

11 mins: It has to be noted that Town’s matchday squad has just 94 Football League goals between them. Exeter’s Jamie Cureton has 196.

14 mins: Will Jonathan Douglas ever score for Swindon Town? He gets himself in a glorious position eight yards out and, when Jon-Paul McGovern tees him up perfectly, it looks for all the world that he is going to put the hosts ahead.

But Ben Hamer in the Exeter goal gets a big paw to the skipper’s side-footed effort and pushes the ball out for a corner.

15 mins: The Robins are all over their guests, and the electric Ritchie launches a rocket of a volley which is well parried by Hamer.

16 mins: Douglas has another go, this time from 18 yards out. The ball takes a small deflection and Hamer has to use his chest to pad it away to safety.

18 mins: First chance for Exeter as Cureton nods Ryan Harley’s centre wide of Phil Smith’s goal. Very open and entertaining stuff.

23 mins: Neat interplay from the home side as O’Brien pulls the ball across to Michael Timlin 10 yards out and the midfielder’s shot is blocked out for a corner.

26 mins: Town really should be in front by now, and Timlin spurns a glorious opportunity after O’Brien draws two defenders, allowing his time to place his effort from 15 yards.

But the former Fulham man can’t bend his shot enough and it flies past the upright. Swindon are totally and utterly dominant.

35 mins: Considering the circumstances, it was a truly excellent first half-hour from Swindon. Calm in possession, fluent in attack and strong in defence. All that’s missing is a little potency up front.

37 mins: Timlin has another sight of goal, but his low drive is well blocked by Matt Taylor.

40 mins: Kevin Amankwaah bundles Andrew Frampton’s flick-on into the back of the net, the County Ground briefly celebrates before noticing an offside flag against the full-back.

44 mins: Ryan Harley strikes the bar for Exeter from a 22-yard free-kick.

53 mins: Harley’s strike from the edge of the area cannons off Scott Cuthbert and away for a corner. Another slow start in this second half.

54 mins: That’s now five hours without a goal at the County Ground for Town. A few home truths there.

60 mins: Timlin’s wild, long-range strike poses no problem for Hamer as it crashes against the Town End.

61 mins: Ritchie takes on Hamer from a ridiculous angle which is never likely to find the target, and sure enough it rifles out of play for a goal-kick.

63 mins: Alan Sheehan makes a crucial interception, sliding in to prevent Dan Nardiello’s cross reaching Scott Goldbourne at the back post as Exeter show the briefest flicker of light. It’s short-lived, however, as Swindon pile on the pressure again straight away.

71 mins: Another wasted chance from the Robins after Douglas sends O’Brien clean through down the left channel. The wide man delivers on a plate for Dossevi, but the Togolese heads wide from six yards out. Running out of time, Town, and they’ve had more than their fair share of openings.

73 mins: McGovern’s cross is only half cleared by Taylor and Ritchie takes aim with an instant volley, but it dribbles harmlessly wide.

SWINDON TOWN (4-4-2): Phil Smith; Kevin Amankwaah, Scott Cuthbert, Andy Frampton, Alan Sheehan; Jon-Paul McGovern (David Prutton, 79), Michael Timlin, Jonathan Douglas, Alan O’Brien; Matt Ritchie, Thomas Dossevi

Subs not used: Mark Scott, Paul Caddis, Will Evans, Aden Flint, Simon Ferry, Billy Bodin

EXETER CITY (4-3-3): Ben Hamer; Steve Tully Richard Duffy (Troy Archibald-Henville, 89), Matt Taylor, Scott Goldbourne; David Noble, Ryan Harley, Liam Sercombe; John O’Flynn (Richard Logan, 81), Jamie Cureton (Jake Thomson, 36), Dan Nardiello

Subs not used: Artur Krysiak, James Dunne, Marcus Stewart, Billy Jones

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