Aston Villa loanee Sil Swinkels makes instant Bristol Rovers impact to deny Stockport County

Debutant Sil Swinkels was the Bristol Rovers hero with a dramatic late equaliser that salvaged a point for the Gas against high-flying Stockport County at the Memorial Stadium.

Aston Villa loanee Swinkels rose from the bench on 70 minutes and finally came to Rovers rescue when he leveled in the first minute of stoppage-time to earn his side a 1-1 draw against Stockport.

The 21-year-old Dutch defender’s headed goal ensured that Rovers' good home run was extended and kept Inigo Calderon’s five points above the relegation zone.

He was a the centre of late drama that was a huge contrast to the early exchanges which were filled with possession football and few chances Matt Butcher’s corner which Chris Martin headed wide but was deemed offside.

Yellow peril

Tempers then flared moments later with an incident involving Jack Hunt and Stockport’s Will Collar which saw Hunt receive a yellow card.

Goalkeeper Jed Ward, making his return to the team following his loan at Forest Green Rovers, made the first save of the day from Collar’s header to keep the gas at a level score.

It was then the Gas’s turn to attack again as good work down the left-hand side by Ruel Sotiriou and his cross to the far post was narrowly headed wide by Luke Thomas.

Ward was inspired throughout the first half and made his second cracking save from a header from Stockport captain Kyle Wooton to keep the scores level.

Just before the end of the first half, Lino Souza was held back by Callum Connolly and the Stockport player received a yellow card for a high boot.

Hutch ado about nothing

The first chance of the second half fell to Connolly again but his half-volley from a corner sailed over the bar and into the stands

But the second chance once again fell to the visitors and after a shot from Wooton hit the post, a pretty much open goal for Isaac Olafe to give the away side the lead in front of a loud away end.

There was nothing Ward could do about it after he had parried the initial shot onto the post.

Rovers had their first chance of the second half when a long pass sent Sotiriou on his way down the wing before finding Hutchinson. And the midfielder's cross, after an attempted header from Martin, found Grant Ward but his header didn't trouble Ben Hinchcliffe in the Stockport goal.

After 67 minutes, Calderon decided it was time for substitutions and he made four of them in one go. With Joel Senior, Scott Sinclair, Swinkels and Michael Reindorf on for Isaac Hutchinson, Souza, Jack Hunt and Luke Thomas. Both Swinkels and Reindorf making their Rovers debuts after being deadline day acquisitions.

Stockport boss Dave Challinor reacted by making a triple substitution bringing on Kyle Knoyle, Odin Bailey and Sam Cosgrove for Kyle Wooton, Owen Moxon and goalscorer Tanto Olafe.

These replacements sparked life once again into the visitors with Brad Hills shot/cross parried over for a corner by Ward.

Butch of class

Bailey had his first action of the game with his shot stinging the palms of Ward and the ball was subsequently cleared.

Rovers made their fifth and final change with eight minutes to play bringing on Jamie Lindsey for Sotiriou with Calderon's final roll of the dice trying to salvage at least a point.

With Rovers trying to get the equaliser they played possession football in the visitors half before a Swinkels’ cross found Martin before the referee blew for something that the home crowd nor Martin knew what for. This resulted in Martin getting booked.

Challinor decided to bring on some fresh legs in attack bringing on Micah Hamilton for Jack Diamond Late on.

And late on the substitutes combined with Reindorf winning a free kick which was delivered by Matt Butcher.

And once Butcher's set piece was swung in it was new singing Swinkels’ header in front of the Thatcher's end to rescue a precious point for the Gas.

The result leaves Rovers still in 19th place and now five points fourth-bottom Shrewsbury while having played a game less than the majority around them.