SWINDON TOWN - 2 (Austin '52; Ward '60)

CHARLTON ATHLETIC - 1 (Burton '65)

Swindon Town will take a 2-1 lead into their play-off semi-final second leg at The Valley after a hard-fought 2-1 win over Charlton Athletic. Two goals inside ten second-half minutes from Charlie Austin and Danny Ward put Town two goals to the good before Deon Burton halfed the deficit, writes Tom Otrebski.

Danny Wilson made three changes to the side that lost at Millwall on Saturday. Billy Paynter missed out with a hamstring strain and was replaced by Alan O'Brien, with Danny Ward moving into Paynter's striking position. Elsewhere, Kevin Amankwaah replaced Stephen Darby at right-back, and Scott Cuthbert was restored to the side in place of Lecsinel Jean-Francois in the centre of defence.

It was Wilson's men who made the brighter start against the backdrop of an expectant County Ground who had responded to their manager's call to produce an electric atmosphere. Charlie Austin squandered no fewer than three chances to score but on each occasion was denied by Darren Randolph in the Charlton goal.

In a nervous first half, both sides had few real chances and the half-time whistle blew with neither side having really tested the other but the Town arguably shading the possession.

The second-half roared into life after 52 minutes when Charlie Austin ended his streak of games without a goal by heading the Town into the lead. Some smart build-up play inside the Charlton half ended with the ball being flicked out to the left wing where Alan Sheehan had ghosted into a good position. The Irishman teased a lovely ball over to Austin who lept higher than anyone before planting a header back across Randolph and into the far corner.

For the next eight minutes, Charlton piled on the pressure. Nicky Bailey came closest when his clever step-overs fashioned a shooting opportunity that he grabbed with both hands: the woodwork the only obstacle in denying him and his team a precious equaliser, as his curling effort had David Lucas well beaten.

As the pressure grew, a sloppy ball was cut out by Simon Ferry. With 60 yards of grass ahead of him, the midfielder sprinted upfield and offloaded the ball to his left to the waiting Danny Ward. The on-loan Bolton man took a touch before drilling a low shot across the goalkeeper and into the far corner to cue scenes of sheer jubilation from three sides of the County Ground. 

Minutes later, Charlton were handed a gift-wrapped lifeline. A routine clearance from the goalkeeper upfield seemed at first to be slightly over-hit and looked to be bouncing harmlessly through to Lucas. Deon Burton never gave up the chase and as Lucas raced off his line, the striker beat the goalkeeper to the ball and nodded over Lucas into the open goal.  

The goal certainly woke the visitors from their slumber and it was only thanks to some herioc defending and some high-quality catching from David Lucas that kept the score-line intact.

At the other end Danny Ward had a glorious opportunity presented to him to restore Swindon's two-goal advantage but his shot was somehow blocked by the covering defender after he was inexplicably left unmarked on the penalty spot.

Vincent Pericard was a late substitute, replacing goalscorer Austin and he too was guilty of missing a fantastic chance in stoppage time. His low diving header from no further than 6 yards out hit the foot of the post before being hacked to safety, to the disbelief of nearly everybody inside the County Ground. 

A rapturous cheer greeted the final whistle and despite some shaky defending, Danny Wilson's men will take a huge number of positives from this first leg tie. So to the Valley on Monday night. From there? Who knows....

Swindon Town: David Lucas; Kevin Amankwaah (Darby '75), Gordon Greer (Capt.), Scott Cuthbert, Alan Sheehan; Jon-Paul McGovern, Simon Ferry, Jonathan Douglas, Alan O'Brien (Timlin '84); Danny Ward, Charlie Austin (Pericard '88)

Substitutes: Phil Smith (GK), Stephen Darby, Vincent Pericard, Frank Nouble, Lecsinel Jean-Francois, Michael Timlin, Craig Easton

Charlton Athletic: Darren Randolph; Frazer Richardson, Christian Dailly, Sam Sodje, Gary Borrowdale; Lloyd Sam, Nicky Bailey (Capt.), Jose Semedo, Therry Racon; David Mooney, Deon Burton

Substitutes: Rob Elliott (GK), Miguel Llera, Scott Wagstaff, Chris Solly, Kyel Reid, Akpo Sodje, Nicky Forster

Referee: J J Linington

Attendance: 13, 560 (2,024 away supporters)