SWINDON Town progressed to the next round of the Checkatrade Trophy after picking up a bonus point against Exeter City.

Luke Norris had put the visitors in the lead with his first goal for the club at St James’ Park, but his effort was cancelled out by a second-half leveller from David Wheeler, deflected in by Lloyd Jones.

Michael Doughty, Jake Evans, Raphael Rossi Branco and Yaser Kasim were successful from the spot in the subsequent shootout and a Lloyd James miss, plus Will Henry’s save from former Town player Lee Holmes wrapped up the extra point.

Luke Williams opted to make six changes to the team that drew 1-1 with Eastleigh last Friday in the FA Cup first round.

Henry, Tom Smith, Anton Rodgers, Ellis Iandolo, John Goddard and James Brophy all came into the side.

Exeter City made a few changes themselves, strangely having striker Robbie Simpson partnering Matt Oakley at the centre of defence.

Despite the miserable conditions at St James’ Park it was Swindon who broke the deadlock on the half hour mark through Norris.

The Town striker had come agonisingly close last time out at Eastleigh, but finally got off the mark after Goddard’s corner found the head of Norris who was able to head Williams’ side into the lead.

Before that it had been a fairly even affair, Exeter being comfortable in possession but never really carrying a concrete threat despite their best efforts.

Henry was the first of the two goalkeepers to be called into action when he managed to initially bat away an Exeter corner.

A minute later he was needed again as the hosts had a free-kick in a dangerous position outside the penalty area.

After initially getting down to his left well, Henry then needed to make another save this time from Reuben Reid who could only put the ball back into the arms of the young keeper. In the 24th minute Goddard again managed to find Norris with a superb long-range pass, but the former Gillingham man over-thought the chance as his pass didn’t find a Town shirt.

Goddard was again involved in the action a minute later as Norris held the ball up well to find him, but the former’s curling effort was just wide of the mark.

It was moments later the two would combine yet again, but this time Norris climbed well to nod Goddard’s corner past James Hamon in the home goal.

From there onwards it was a fairly straight-forward performance for Swindon, Exeter threatened with a corner towards the end of the first period, but Lloyd James’ effort was high, wide and not very handsome.

With five minutes of the first period remaining, Swindon’s young stopper Henry did well to deny Reid from a one on one opportunity.

In terms of substitutions it was Williams who showed his hand first, opting to introduce Michael Doughty at the expense of Rodgers.

The second half also saw a change in system for the home side as Simpson, who played the first half as a centre-half was moved back to his more natural position as a striker.

Eight minutes into the half Exeter had their best chance to that point, but the opportunity came gift-wrapped by the Town backline.

Confusion between Jones and Smith saw the ball handed over to Paul Tisldale’s side, with James’ effort from just outside the penalty area hitting the inside of the left post with Henry well beaten.

Williams then decided to make his second change of the game, bringing on Evans for Iandolo.

Tisdale responded by replacing Reid with Matt Jay, who made an immediate impression as his shot cracked against the bar, before Wheeler’s follow-up effort was diverted past Henry by Town defender Jones in the 58th minute.

Just past the hour mark it was the home side who looked the more dangerous, with Town at sixes and sevens defensively Exeter continued to pile on the pressure.

Kasim was then brought on in the 68th minute as Swindon looked to retake the lead once again, but it was Exeter who managed to get yet another shot away.

This time it was Simpson’s effort after he picked the ball off Jones, before his left-footed effort required Henry to dive to his left hand-side.

Sweeney then went close again for the hosts but his half-volley could only find the side netting as Exeter continued to probe.

The second half hadn’t presented many chances for Swindon despite the introduction of Doughty and Kasim.

With the scores at 1-1 the visitors would only fail to progress if they were to lose to Exeter in normal time and local rivals Oxford won their penalty shoot-out against Chelsea Development.

The former nearly happened as Jake Taylor has his 86th minute header saved by Henry from close range as following a good ball from the left.

In the dying moments of the game it Norris nearly sealed all the points for the Robins as his long-range effort hit the crossbar.

With neither side able to find the all-important second goal they went to the shootout where Town rubber-stamped their progress.