Swindon Town are through the final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at Wembley courtesy of a 1-0 win over Barnet in the second leg of the Southern Area final.

Alan Connell's first-half header was enough to secure a 2-1 win on aggregate, writes Tom Otrebski.

Paolo Di Canio made three changes to the starting line-up following last week's thumping win at Southend. With Luke Rooney and Billy Bodin both cup-tied, in came Raffa De Vita and Connell alongside Simon Ferry, who replaced Oliver Risser. Risser and Ronan Murray had to be content with a place on the bench.

On a bitterly cold night at SN1, the first half was understandably a nervy and tense affair although Swindon did have the better of the chances. It took 17 minutes however for the home side to make the breakthrough. Paul Caddis looped an inviting cross over from the Town right where Connell had come free of his marker. The Swindon front-man made a firm connection with the ball and watched as it bounced across goal before nestling just inside the post with the visitors' goalkeeper rooted to the spot.

Ten minutes later, the advantage could have been doubled. Matt Ritchie, from a position close to the touchline, fed a clever ball inside for the marauding Caddis. The skipper's vicious ball across the box didn't pick out anyone in red.

Callum Kennedy saw a free kick drift narrowly wide before Ritchie had one of his trademark strikes well saved by Dean Brill. Late on in the half, De Vita found himself free on the left following a wonderful lofted through ball from Ritchie. The Italian could neither find a team-mate in the box nor fashion a shooting opportunity and the chance was gone.

The second half brought with it the inevitable Barnet onslaught and Wes Foderingham had to be alert early on. At the other end, Paul Caddis went on another one of his driving runs into the box and had a fierce drive well kept out by Brill.

The closest the Town got to extending their advantage after that came firstly through Jonathan Smith, whose thunderbolt from 20 yards was acrobatically pushed away by the Barnet goalkeeper. Then, with 20 minutes to go, a ball into the box was flicked up in the air and dropped to Ritchie on the edge of the area. The midfielder swung a left boot at the loose ball but his volley only managed to graze the side-netting on its way through.

With five minutes to go and tensions mounting, Barnet substitute Charlie Taylor was shown a straight red card for a dangerous high challenge on fellow substitute Oliver Risser.

Over ten thousand fans were packed The County Ground and the tension mounted even further as five minutes were added on by referee Darren Deadman.

Cue scenes of unbridled joy at the final whistle. Swindon Town will play at Wembley for the fifth time in their history, the first time they have made it through to the final of the Football League trophy.

Di Canio's charges will face Chesterfield on Sunday 25th March but before they can enjoy a day out at the home of English football, the manager must refocus the players' minds on the battle for promotion starting with a familiar trip to Barnet on Saturday.