Wonder strike the highlight as Latics take a point

Athletic players celebrate James Dayton’s superb goal.

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JAMES Dayton’s wonder-goal was the highlight of an impressive Athletic effort that saw the side come home with a deserved draw.

But Lee Johnson’s side did things the hard way: Dayton’s 35-yard rocket midway through the first half was followed only four minutes later by a scruffy Jon Obika equaliser.

And in a second half mostly dictated by Athletic, Andy Williams’ wonderful finish for the Robins came against the run of play. That too was answered four minutes later, when Oldham substitute Amari Morgan-Smith sent 228 noisy, exuberant visiting fans back home happy after slotting home at the far post.

Athletic were also up against a referee, Graham Horwood, who made Johnson's blood boil in the technical area. Swindon were pinged only six times for fouls, not the 18 Johnson expected.

Midfield duo Liam Kelly – whose yellow was borderline absurd, and Mike Jones, whose booking was justified - trod a fine line as Horwood seemed ready to blow up in favour of the home side for every slight contact.

Dayton’s goal was an absolute rip-snorter: hit from 35 yards out after a poor first touch from Joseph Mills’ laid-off free-kick, the ball dipped and swerved and sung on its way past the hapless Wes Foderingham. It was a goal good enough to win a World Cup, the FA Cup, Wimbledon, the Kentucky Derby and the EuroMillions lottery. Athletic’s loud and proud visiting support lapped it up.

Dominic Poleon could have scored in the third minute, fluffing a volley at the far post from a Jones corner.

Swindon’s 3-5-2 system againt Athletic's 4-4-2, made the extra man in the middle count and caused problems for the visitors. A seven hours and 53 minutes clean-sheet ended when Obika slotted home, following up a headed corner.

Athletic came under pressure and it became clear they needed to get on the ball more and assert themselves - which is just what they did at the restart.

Carl Winchester came into the game more on the right flank and one of his crosses was only a foot too high to be met by Poleon's head. The ex-Leeds centre-forward then tested Foderingham's reflexes with a low shot parried away awkwardly, after a number of slick counter-attacks.

Athletic came again in a contest that ebbed and flowed. Paul Rachubka was swiftly down to block as Obika rampaged forward on one occasion, but he could do little about the goal, which arrived against the run of play.

Johnson could be forgiven if he had cursed his luck at that stage. But his team simply got on with the job of responding.

When Timothee Dieng got his head to the ball to a floated Mills free-kick a minute after arriving on the pitch, George Elokobi caused havoc in the centre and Morgan-Smith struck from close range.

Swindon pressed for a winning strike that didn’t arrive. Neither side could reasonably be too dissatisfied with the result.