THE occasions down the years that Swindon Town have still had an interest in the FA Cup come March are few and far between.

But they were still very much involved on Tuesday, March 14, 1967, when top-flight side Nottingham Forest came to the County Ground for a fifth round replay following a goalless encounter by the Trent.

Just over 28,000 packed in under the lights and they were treated to a pulsating cup tie that would still be unresolved after 120 minutes.

Winger Bruce Walker was the man responsible for the added time, grabbing a late equaliser after Barry Lyons’ earlier strike.

Lyons might have presented Town with a tougher task had he taken advantage of a gilt-edged opportunity in the first minute. Town skipper Mel Nurse sent a short ball to fellow defender Stan Harland, who was immediately dispossessed by the speedy Forest winger.

Thankfully for the home throng, Lyons placed his shot wide of the far post.

The First Division side held the upper hand for most of the opening half and were rewarded when overlapping full-back Peter Hindley set up Lyons, who saw his 25-yard drive squeeze under the body of keeper Tony Hicks.

But Swindon started the second half with renewed vigour and created a number of chances, the closest coming on 74 minutes.

Forest only half-cleared a Don Rogers corner and the ball fell to Harland just outside the area.

He caught it cleanly, sending a right-footed effort flying past keeper Peter Grummitt. However the ball struck the bar with such force that it rebounded back outside the penalty area.

With the Stratton Bank clock indicating little time left, Town looked to be heading out of the competition when, after going on one of his solo runs, Rogers’ shot was blocked en route for goal.

But the winger harried John Barnwell and, before the defender could get the loose ball away, slid a pass into the path of Walker on the edge of the area. Without breaking stride, he smashed the ball past the helpless Grummitt as the ground erupted.

The stalemate continued for the extra half hour, prompting a second replay at neutral Villa Park six days later. Forest went through by a comfortable 3-0 margin, but thousands of Swindon fans were unable to back their heroes due to horrendous traffic problems and a ‘pay at the turnstiles’ policy.