Robins clipped

FRUSTRATED Swindon boss Richie Wellens admitted his side missed a trick as they saw their lead at the summit cut to two points.

Arch-rivals Crewe snatched a late win at home to Oldham as the Robins were held at Brunton Park.

Rarmani Edmondsgreen’s 11th-minute goal looked to have earned Wellens’ title-chasing charges their first away win since New Year’s Day.

The Huddersfield loanee bagged his first league goal with a volley but Aaron Hayden equalised with a 62nd minute header, also his first league goal, to secure a battling draw as the hosts extended an unbeaten run to five games.

“It’s bittersweet,” reflected Wellens (above). “A hard one to take. Did we have enough chances to win? Probably. But I’m halfpleased with a point because it was not a great day for quality football.”

Byron Webster rifled a right-foot shot wide as the hosts showed early promise, before Edmonds-green latched on to Hallam Hope’s corner and smashed the ball into the bottom-right corner.

Leading scorer Eoin Doyle had a shot charged down as the Robins pressed for a second goal, before alert keeper Adam Collin denied Diallang Jaiyesimi.

Doyle went close to scoring his first goal since being recalled from his Bradford loan, but his effort was deflected wide. Skipper Michael Doughty fired over with a free-kick, but it was the hosts who bagged a deserved equaliser.

Hayden powered his header from Elliott Watt’s cross beyond Steven Benda to restore parity. And he could have put Carlisle in front moments later, but his header was saved by Benda. Doyle went within a whisker of bagging the winner but Collin pulled off a splendid fingertip save. Blues boss Chris Beech said: “The commitment we showed was tremendous.”