SWINDON Town's run in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy has come to an end after defeat in a penalty shootout to Brentford in the area quarter-final this evening.

The two sides played out a 1-1 draw over the course of the 90 minutes, but Michael Timlin and David Ball missed from the spot to send the Robins crashing out.

Charlie Austin put the hosts ahead in the 13th minute, prodding home Lecsinel Jean-Francois’ lob before Robbie Simpson levelled matters with seven minutes remaining in the first half.

Austin produced an extraordinary miss just after the hour, firing straight at Craig Woodman’s legs on the line with an open goal gaping as Town held the upper hand for much of the match without seeing off their opponents, leaving shootout defeat an even more bitter pill to swallow.

Here are the key moments from today's match:

Two mins: A bit of an early heart-in-mouth moment for Town, as Lecsinel Jean-Francois lays the ball back to Phil Smith, the home stopper takes too long getting rid and Swindon’s old foe Nicky Forster charges down the keeper’s kick.

Luckily for the hosts, the deflection flies over the Town End rather than into the back of the net, but it’s a decent reminder of how dallying in possession can be disastrous.

Three mins: A swift, flowing move from the home side sees Michael Rose provide Charlie Austin with the ball on the edge of the box.

Austin holds off Leon Legge well, and turns neatly onto his right foot to unleash a shot, but the effort takes a glance off Legge’s boot and bobbles harmlessly through to visiting keeper Richard Lee.

Six mins: Only the Arkell’s Stand and Town End open tonight, but there is already an expectant buzz about the County Ground whenever the Robins are in control of the football – probably a knee-jerk reaction to the mauling dished out to Plymouth on Saturday.

Now that really was a cracking performance from Swindon.

13 mins: (GOAL 1-0, Austin) A superb piece of poaching from Austin, a dreadful piece of defending from Brentford.

A period of head tennis on the edge of the area finishes with Jean-Francois aiming an ambitious lob into the Bees’ area. Pim Balkestein and Legge stand like mannequins in a shop window, Town’s hotshot striker takes advantage and beats Lee to the ball, sliding in to nudge home his ninth of the campaign.

That’s the sign of a top draw centre-forward, fashioning something out of pretty much nothing. Great stuff.

17 mins: Swindon break quickly after David Prutton wins possession in midfield and releases Vincent Pericard down the middle.

Pericard shrugs off the challenge of the backtracking Legge and fires at goal, but the visiting defender sticks a leg out to make a crucial block.

19 mins: Rose launches a long ball over the top which Balkestein and Legge leave to each other, allowing Pericard to steam in behind.

The big front man makes strides into the area, Legge comes in from behind and brings him down, but referee Jonathan Moss rules no penalty, much to the ire of the assembled Town faithful.

The Brentford centre-backs seem to have their wires knotted at the moment, which can only mean good things for Pericard, Austin & Co.

20 mins: Ritchie takes aim from 20 yards, but can only produce a fairly tame daisy-cutter which slowly dribbles into Lee’s awaiting arms.

Bright stuff from the hosts, they have their London guests rattled, that’s for sure.

23 mins: Phil Smith hasn’t had anything to do until now, but he’s had to deliver some fairy acrobatic goalkeeping to preserve Town’s lead.

Sam Saunders’ corner lands plush on the head of Robbie Simpson, and his effort races towards the bottom corner, but Smith dives one-handed to push the ball away from danger. A terrific save.

24 mins: Sam Wood’s corner finds Michael Spillane completely unmarked 15 yards from goal, but the defender’s half-volley is several yards over.

32 mins: Sean Morrison rises to meet Jon-Paul McGovern’s outswinging corner from the right. The young centre-back makes a good connection, but can only find the roof of the net.

It’s starting to lose its way a bit now, this match.

38 mins: (GOAL 1-1, Simpson) After a period of quiet, Town shoot themselves in the foot.

Somehow a hopeful long ball catches the home defence by surprise, Forster tees up Woodman for the cross and Simpson has a simple header from six yards at the back post to level the match.

The on-loan Huddersfield stiker makes no mistake from such close range, with Smith grasping at thin air as the ball sails over both his centre-backs.

Pretty lacklustre from the County Ground team. Undeservedly, Brentford are back in the contest.

45 mins: Ritchie’s shot from 18 yards is blocked as Town struggle to find a way back into the lead.

49 mins: Balkestein’s clearance from Rose’s cross rebounds goalwards off David Ball, but does not trouble Lee.

54 mins: A quite extraordinary miss from Austin.

David Ball robs Legge on halfway, breaks forward, beats Balkestein on the edge of the box and hits a shot which evades Lee and strikes the left-hand upright.

With the Bees keeper prostrate, the ball bounces back out to Austin three yards from goal with each and every corner to aim at to restore Town’s lead.

Somehow the 21-year-old fires straight at Woodman’s legs on the line.

Quite astonishing. Quite out of character. Will Swindon end up ruing that miss?

61 mins: Brentford are gathering confidence with every passing minute this half, and Town seem to find themselves relieving the pressure with long balls.

The home side need to rediscover that spark quickly.

63 mins: Ball is at the heart of everything in an attacking respect for Swindon at present, and his charge down the right and pull-back gives Prutton the space to aim at Lee’s goal.

However, the former Leeds man can only scoop the ball over the bar.

That is encouraging for the Robins, nevertheless.

67 mins: Of all people, substitute winger Alan O’Brien rises to meet Rose’s corner.

The Irishman’s effort takes a small deflection, forcing Lee into a good save.

68 mins: Rose’s rash and ugly half-volley from 25 yards is closer to doing damage to the County Ground Hotel than it is the back of the Brentford net.

69 mins: There is an element of fizz coming back into this encounter, as the visitors really take the game to Town.

77 mins: O’Brien races onto Ball’s pass and sends a looping cross in from the left.

Austin causes panic in Lee, forcing the keeper to spill the ball and, as it lands, Ritchie jumps in in an effort to prod it goalwards, but his toe-poke rolls agonisingly wide.

80 mins: We haven’t seen Morrison’s long throw in a while, but the centre-back pulls it out of his armoury now, sending a mammoth fling into the Brentford area. Ball jumps to meet it, but his glancing header floats into Lee’s hands.

82 mins: A sudden glimpse of a more fluent Town as Ball feeds Austin inside the area, and the striker’s pop at goal is well blocked.

When the ball falls to Timlin on the edge of the penalty area the midfielder obliges the crowd’s advice to have a crack, and pulls a good fingertip save out of Lee – who has been in fine form this evening.

85 mins: As we head towards penalty kicks, it’s fair to say this Town performance has been a long way short of what we witnessed on Saturday.

88 mins: Another gilt-edged chance goes begging for the hosts.

Paul Caddis, whose looked lively since his introduction, dances past three defenders and crosses well to the back post where Austin is unmarked. But the forward can’t get his header on target.

Penalties summary:

Kevin O'Connor slots bottom left for Brentford, 1-0.

Charlie Austin fires straight down the middle, 1-1.

Phil Smith gets a hand to Charlie MacDonald's effort, but it still finds the back of the net, 2-1.

David Ball steps up, and his rasping effort comes back off the crossbar, 2-1.

Michael Spillane puts the guests in a commanding position, hitting the ball into the bottom right-hand corner, 3-1.

Michael Timlin's rash strike is miles over the crossbar, still 3-1.

Craig Woodman steps up to win it for Brentford, but Smith palms his shot away, it remains 3-1.

Michael Rose must score to keep Town in the tie, and he somehow finds the bottom corner, 3-2.

Robbie Simpson has another chance to win the tie for the Bees, and he makes no mistake, 4-2. Town are out.

SWINDON TOWN (4-4-2): Phil Smith; Scott Cuthbert, Sean Morrison, Lecsinel Jean-Francois, Michael Rose; Jon-Paul McGovern (Alan O’Brien, 63), David Prutton, Michael Timlin, Matt Ritchie (Paul Caddis, 81); Charlie Austin, Vincent Pericard (David Ball, 39)

Subs not used: David Lucas, Alan Sheehan

BRENTFORD (4-4-2): Richard Lee; Michael Spillane, Leon Legge, Pim Balkestein, Craig Woodman; Sam Saunders (Myles Weston, 77), Kevin O’Connor, Toumani Diagouraga, Sam Wood; Robbie Simpson, Nicky Forster (Charlie MacDonald, 77)

Subs not used: Ben Hamer, Karleigh Osborne, David Hunt

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