Three second half goals from Swindon Town secured a point for The Robins at Whaddon Road after an entertaining ninety minutes of football.

The home side had raced into a 2-0 lead but goals from Michael Pook, trialist Shana Haji and Ben Joyce had put Swindon ahead. However, a late goal from substitute Theo Lewis secured ensured both sides went away with a point.

The visitors included trialist Shana Haji in their line-up for the reserve clash at Cheltenham Town. Haji,19, who has previously spent time with Iranian outfit Esteghlal and Real Zaragoza, lined up on the right hand side of midfield with a mixed side taking to the field at Whaddon Road.

Phil Smith started the game in goal with a back four including Andy Nicholas and Welsh youth international Tom Evans, continuing his comeback from injury. Ben Joyce and Kaid Mohamed began the game as the front pairing.

It was far from the ideal start from Swindon as they went behind on 15 minutes. After good work from Chris Fagan sent Marley Watkins away down the left, his cross found Craig Reid who finished well from close range to put his side ahead.

The home side could have doubled their lead on 21 minutes although goalscorer Reid was denied from close range by Phil Smith who turned the ball round the post.

Swindon's first real chance fell on 24 minutes when Sofiene Zaaboub did well on the left, before whipping the ball across to Ben Joyce who narrowly missed out on connecting for the equaliser.

The visitors then saw another excellent opportunity go begging. After Kaid Mohamed's header had crashed off the bar, Andy Nicholas could only blast the follow-up over the bar from 8 yards out.

The home side doubled their lead on 36 minutes. Craig Reid had the beating of the Swindon defence on the left and his cross from the left found Fagan who got the ball under control before firing home from close range to make it 2-0.

Swindon almost got a goal back shortly before the break. Another Zaaboub cross from the left was headed down by Chris Allen who saw the ball rebound off the post and away to safety.

Half-Time: Cheltenham Town 2 Swindon Town 0

After a half-time team-talk from reserve boss Ady Williams, Swindon emerged unchanged for the second half.

It didn't take long for Swindon to hit back and they did so just two minutes into the new half. Good work on the left from Ben Joyce saw the ball squared to Michael Pook who finished from close range to make it 2-1.

Captain Andy Nicholas saved his side twice before the hour mark, with Cheltenham continuing to surge forward at the earliest opportunity.

Kaid Mohamed then carved out a chance for himself with a decent run, but after cutting inside from the left fired straight at Scott Brown in the Cheltenham goal.

Swindon made their first change of the evening on 65 minutes with Jack Winter replacing Nathan Thompson at right-back.

Sofiene Zaaboub was booked on 67 minutes after remonstrating with Referee Mr A Watts, and became the first player of the evening to enter the referee's notebook.

Swindon's equaliser arrived on 74 minutes. A strong run down the left from Zaaboub saw the Frenchman square the ball to trialist Haji, who took the ball down on his chest before slotting the ball into the right hand corner of the net from close range.

It proved to be Zaaboub's last action of the game as he was replaced before the restart by Lloyd Macklin.

Swindon could have taken the lead on 77 minutes although Andy Nicholas saw his header well saved by Scott Brown on the line.

The vital goal Swindon had been looking for arrived on 81 minutes. After Mohamed had broken the offside trap, he took the ball on before squaring the ball back from the byline to Joyce who fired home from seven yards.

The lead lasted just two minutes with substitute Theo Lewis latching onto a through ball from Craig Reid. Lewis took the ball on before lobbing Phil Smith from inside the area to draw level.

Trialist Shana Haji was withdrawn on 87 minutes with Kurt Hammonds coming on to take his place on the right hand side of midfield.

In the end it was a creditable point for Swindon, who went close in the closing minutes through Mohamed and Macklin, but were unable to carve out a winner.

Goals: Reid '15, Fagan '36, Pook '47, Haji '74, Joyce '81, Lewis '84