A brace from Captain for the night Chris Blackburn helped secure Swindon's place in the second round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy with an emphatic victory at The County Ground. First half goals from Ibon Arrieta and Simon Cox sent Town into the break with the advantage in front of 3,118.

Paul Sturrock made eleven changes to his line-up to face Brentford at The County Ground. Portuguese defender Mauro Almeida made his debut alongside summer signing Chris Blackburn in the heart of the defence with Ben Tozer and Callum Kennedy filling the full-back berths.

There were also debuts for new signings Jon-Paul McGovern and Simon Cox, although striker Billy Paynter missed out. Peter Brezovan was handed a start in between the sticks with Steve Adams and Ibon Arrieta also starting.

Jon-Paul McGovern's first contribution in a Town shirt was a neat turn on the touchline in front of the Arkells Stand and shortly after he saw his right-footed free-kick was ruled out for offside.

Brentford, who had included former County Ground regulars Ricky Shakes and Matt Heywood in their line-up, were under pressure early on with a succession of free-kicks given against them although Swindon were unable to test the Bees keeper Simon Brown.

Shakes himself was part of a three-pronged Brentford attack alongside Alan Connell and Glenn Poole. Former Hereford United striker Connell had the first effort for the visitors although his shot flew high and wide from 22 yards.

However the visitors took the lead in controversial circumstances with just 11 minutes on the clock. After a fine save Brezovan to deny Gary Smith from close range, Ricky Shakes was on hand to fire the ball home from six yards and Swindon went a goal down.

Matt Heywood was summoned by referee Mr. S Atwell after a robust challenge on Spanish striker Ibon Arrieta although no caution was forthcoming.

Town should have equalised on 18 minutes with Simon Cox's good work creating the opportunity. Cox held the ball up well before turning on the edge of the area. He laid the ball off to Chris Allen who squared across to the left for Comminges, who skewed his effort into the Town End from 14 yards on the angle.

With 26 minutes on the clock Swindon had equalised. Summer signing Ibon Arrieta was the man who produced a fantastic finish to bring his side level. A surging run down the left from Comminges saw the Frenchman release Kennedy, who crossed first time for Arrieta. The Spaniard, with his back to goal, gathered the ball before unleashing a perfectly executed overhead kick with his right foot from the left hand edge of the six-yard box. The ball looped over Simon Brown and into the back of the net with Arrieta racing back to the half way line, eager to get the game back under way.

Straight after the restart Arrieta attempted an audacious chip from 30-yards although his effort drifted just the wrong side of the crossbar for the Robins.

Chris Blackburn had to be alert to cut out a low cross from Basey on 35 minutes before Almeida saw his left footed effort fly wide from 25 yards at the other end.

Just four minutes before the interval Swindon had got themselves in front. After a run down the right by Tozer, his cross rebounded out to McGovern who steadied himself before curling a precise ball into the box which was met by debutant Simon Cox. The striker hardly had to move before heading past Brown from six yards to leave Swindon well-placed going into the break.

Half-Time: Swindon 2 Brentford 1

There was one change for the visitors at the restart with Matt Heywood playing only 45 minutes of his return to SN1 with Craig Pead replacing him at the back.

Just three minutes into the new half Swindon had a chance to extend their advantage with Simon Cox heading just over from another decent cross from the right from McGovern.

Cox was then involved minutes later with a long drive drifting just wide of Brown's left hand post in front of the Stratton Bank.

Ibon Arrieta made a bright start to the second period and linked up well with Cox, with several incisive passes exchanged between the front pair in the opening exchanges.

Jon-Paul McGovern saw hit right footed shot from inside the area cannon off a defender to earn Swindon's first corner of the evening. It was a productive set-piece from the new signing from MK Dons, with the ball falling to skipper for the night Chris Blackburn who slid the ball home from close range on 68 minutes.

Brentford boss Terry Butcher responded with a substitution of his own with Ryan Peters entering the fray in place of Glenn Poole. Swindon then introduced Kaid Mohamed for goalscorer Ibon Arrieta.

Mohamed was soon involved and his pass to McGovern set the new signing clear. He advanced towards Brown's goal but saw his ambitious chip was gathered by the Bees keeper when perhaps a low drive would have been a safer option.

A surging overlap run from Tozer on 75 minutes saw the ball crossed and come out to Adams in space. His solid drive was deflected over with a succession of Robins corners following.

Mohamed's deft touch from a McGovern pass forward set Cox free minutes later with another Swindon chance going begging. Cox advanced forward before firing narrowly wide from the edge of the area.

On 81 minutes McGovern's stinging drive from 22 yards was parried away for a corner. Another superb delivery from McGovern saw Blackburn sweep the ball home with a sweet volley from six yards. Four minutes from time youngster Lloyd Macklin was handed his competitive first team debut in place of the impressive debutant McGovern.

Overall it was an impressive comeback from Swindon who fought back from the early Shakes goal to seal their place in Saturday mornings second round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

Full-Time: Swindon 4 Brentford 1

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Goal: Shakes '11, Arrieta '26, Cox '41, Blackburn '68, '81