A young Cheltenham Town side earned a 2-2 draw from an entertaining game against Swindon Town in the Central League this afternoon.
The match at Swindon Supermarine FC was played on a heavy pitch and the home side adapted better in the opening stages, racing into a 2-0 lead before being pegged back in the second half.
Among them was George Lloyd, now a regular starter for the second team having signed a professional contract shortly before Christmas, and he struck the bar with a fearsome shot just after kick-off.
The Swindon team featured former Premier League player Matt Taylor, once of Portsmouth, and he initiated a move that brought about the first goal when Paul Mullin touched in at close range from a cross by John Goddard after only 13 minutes.
Chances came and went at both ends during the remainder of the first half then, three minutes after the re-start, Swindon went further ahead when Goddard's through ball found Ollie Rejek and he beat Rhys Lovett with a cool finish.
Cheltenham didn't deserve to be 2-0 down and they pulled a goal back on 56 minutes when development squad player Ryan New headed in from a Will Dawes corner kick.
Lloyd then shot over the bar from a good position and hit the post with a low shot before claiming the equaliser nine minutes from time after substitute Ben Hailwood had set him up with a strong solo run.
"I thought we were very good and probably deserved to win," said Robins assistant manager Russell Milton.
"We conceded a couple of goals against the run of play but it was pleasing the way the boys came back and created chance after chance in the last 25 minutes. Some of the young lads came out with some real credit against a more experienced Swindon side."
CHELTENHAM TOWN (4-4-2): Lovett; Handley, New (Hunt 68), Bower, Trialist; Lloyd, Llewelyn, Thomas, Dawes; Trialist (Hailwood 81), Graham (Wright 46). Other subs: Clayton (Gk), Briscoe