MICHAEL Doughty missed a second-half penalty as a strong Swindon Town performance only resulted in a point in a draw at home to Fleetwood Town this afternoon.

Swindon’s Luke Norris and Fleetwood’s David Ball traded strikes in an uninspiring first half but the hosts were far superior after the break but could not get the winning goal their display deserved.

The hosts were handed a gilt-edged chance to retake the initiative shortly after the interval when Jermaine Hylton was brought down in the box by Nathan Pond but Doughty saw his penalty clawed away by Fleetwood keeper Alex Cairns.

The contest got off to a lacklustre start and chances were at a premium at both ends. It took 12 minutes for either side to create a meaningful opportunity but once it arrived, Town were able to get their noses in front.

Hylton, who impressed all afternoon, did well to hold up possession in the box before playing the ball back out to Darnell Furlong on the right and his deep corner was met by Norris, who climbed highest to send a looping header past Cairns and into the top corner.

The goal did little to liven up the contest and the next genuine chance took another 10 minutes to arrive but again it yielded a goal as Fleetwood levelled the scores.

Ashley Hunter drove up the right and was able to whip a teasing low ball into the Town six-yard box, where Ball muscled his way between Nathan Thompson and Lloyd Jones to plant a powerful first-time strike past Lawrence Vigouroux.

Again, the same tepid pattern of play unfolded as possession swung from end to end but with neither side having another real sight of goal.

The best chance before the interval came when Hylton chased a hopeful ball from Raphael Branco up the right and the Town forward tried his luck with an audacious effort from 30 yards on the angle which only just sailed wide.

The half-time break seemed to gee the players into life and Swindon almost got their noses in front within a minute of the restart. Hylton darted up right and pulled the ball back to Doughty in the box and although he sliced his shot, it fell nicely to the onrushing Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill who cracked a strike just over the top.

Swindon were handed the perfect opportunity to retake the lead just three minutes later, with Hylton again at the heart of the action. The Town forward wriggled up the right, twisting Nathan Pond inside out and the Fleetwood man lunged in but only succeeded in chopping Hylton to the floor.

Referee Darren Deadman swiftly pointed to the spot but the hosts were not able to capitalise as Doughty saw his low strike pushed away by Cairns, who got down well to his left.

Town did not let the setback affect them and continued to dictate play, with Norris going close a second goal on the hour mark following a splendid piece of control and turn on the edge of the box, after which the striker cracked a powerful effort just wide.

Substitute Sean Murray, brought on at half-time for Anton Rodgers, was the next Swindon player to threaten, creating room for himself 30 yards out to try his luck and his dipping effort flew narrowly wide.

Fleetwood had been on the back foot since the change of ends but gave Town a big scare with 17 minutes to go when Bobby Grant smashed a powerful effort from 18 yards that rattled the crossbar.

Town soon wrestled back control of proceedings but they were unable to fashion out one more big chance in the closing stages and had to settle for a point.

SWINDON TOWN: Vigouroux; Branco, Thompson, Jones; Furlong, Rodgers (Murray 46), Kasim, Doughty, Omonde-Ottewill (Smith 90+2); Hylton, Norris. Subs not used: Henry, Thomas, Evans, Goddard, Delfouneso.

FLEETWOOD TOWN: Cairns; McLaughlin, Pond, Bolger, Bell; Ball, Glendon (Jonsson 90), Grant; Hunter (Jakubiak 69), Long (Nirennold 55), Cole. Subs not used: Neal, Amadi-Holloway, Davis, Haughton.

Referee: Darren Deadman

Attendance: 6,143 (56 away)