MICHAEL Doughty’s strike two minutes from time gave Richie Wellens’ men a deserved equaliser as they recorded a 2-2 draw against League Two leaders Lincoln City at the County Ground.

Jason Shackell’s deflected volley had given Lincoln the lead with six first-half minutes to play before a wonder strike from Shay McCartan doubled the visitors’ lead in first-half stoppage time.

But when Keshi Anderson was brought down early on in the second half, Doughty dispatched the penalty to give Town hope before netting the equaliser just before the end.

Lincoln ended the game with nine men following a red card shown to Bruno Andrade for a stamp midway through the first period while Shackell was shown a second yellow for dissent in the aftermath of the Town penalty.

Wellens made two changes from Town’s 2-1 win over Macclesfield – Matt Taylor and James Dunne were brought in for Scott Twine and Ellis Iandolo as a more combative midfield option was preferred in Dunne.

Town set up in a 4-4-2 formation with Keshi Anderson and Jak McCourt as the wide men as Wellens opted to try and contain Lincoln, thus not allowing them the freedom they were afforded in the reverse fixture.

Jason Shackell had the games first effort as he jumped well from a corner however, the experienced defender couldn’t direct his header on target.

Minutes later, McCourt volleyed goalwards, but the ball was intercepted en route by Keshi Anderson before attempting an acrobatic overhead volley at goal, forcing a good save from Vickers.

Town settled well in the opening salvos and if not for better volleyed efforts from their midfielders, Swindon may have gone ahead. First McCourt and then Dunne volleyed off target for the home side.

Dunne then found the target with a fantastic left-footed volleyed strike, forcing Vickers into a top save to swat the ball out of the top corner.

Ten minutes before the half-time whistle, Bruno Andrade was given his marching orders for the most petulant of stamps on Kyle Knoyle.

The winger made a clear stamping motion down the back of the Town full-back's calf and was deservedly sent off, leaving City with one less man for over an hour.

Five minutes before the break however, City took the lead after a long hopeful free-kick was pumped into the Swindon box.

The initial ball was dealt with, but Shackell was left unmarked at the back post, giving him time to volley at an effort goalwards.

If not for a sizable deflection off Taylor, Lawrence Vigouroux would have collected comfortably.

And in first-half stoppage time, Lincoln’s Shay McCartan produced an outrageous volley to double their lead.

Dion Conroy’s improvised clearance served as the perfect assist – McCartan simply walked on to the ball 25 yards out and lashed it underneath Vigouroux’s crossbar for a goal of the season contender.

Town began the second half brightly with Taylor, McCourt and Doughty all having efforts at goal but to no avail.

But after Anderson was brought down in the box – awarding Town an early penalty – the scales tipped back towards Swindon.

Firstly, substitute Michael Doughty dispatched the penalty before Jason Shackell was sent off for dissent, leaving the visitors with nine men as they attempted to hold on to their slender lead.

Town continued to play patiently but as Lincoln had a goal lead to defend, they defended narrowly and resolutely, forcing Swindon to play around them before hitting hopeful crosses into a crowded box.

Anderson was the latest to try his luck from distance, yet the Lincoln back line stood firm to head over.

From a resulting corner, McCourt opted to shoot from distance too but could only curl narrowly wide as Town searched for the equaliser that they so dearly craved.

And with two minutes to spare of normal time, Michael Doughty found that all important equalising goal from 20 yards.

The substitute collected the ball on the edge, faked to curl it into the far corner but instead whipped it into Vickers’ near post to give Wellens’ men a goal they will feel was the least they deserved.