SWINDON Town confirmed their spot in the second round draw of the FA Cup with a hard-fought 2-1 win against non-league York City at the Energy Check County Ground this afternoon. 

Scott Twine initially put Town ahead before a brave York City equalised minutes before the half time whistle was due through David Ferguson. 

A second half strike from Steven Alzate following a gradual build-up of pressure saw Town re-take the lead and earn their first home victory in more than two months.

Boss Brown made seven changes to the side that were beaten by a goal at Colchester United a week ago.

Defenders Olly Lancashire, Kyle Knoyle, Joe Romanski and Matt Taylor were all preferred to a back three consisting of Sid Nelson in the centre with Dion Conroy on his left and Luke Woolfenden on the right.

Martin Smith and Jak McCourt were axed from the midfield while Marc Richards missed out through injury.

Swindon started the game brighter but had to wait until the eighth minute to force York stopper Adam Bartlett into a save from a free-kick.

A foul on Scott Twine 25 yards from City’s goalline was struck by Keshi Anderson, whose dipping effort resulted in nervous punch by Bartlett before Luke Woolfenden’s follow up header didn’t have the power behind it to threaten.

Swindon teenager Scott Twine experienced a moment to savour four minutes later when backheeling Town into the lead.

Winger Jermaine McGlashan managed to cross the ball in from the right in the nick of time before Twine’s backheel rebounded off Bartlett’s far post and trickled into the net.

The goal was Twine’s first for the first team in 12 competitive appearances.

Town’s opener certainly inspired Twine to try his chance on a more frequent basis.

He first crashed a volleyed effort onto Bartlett’s post before a more ambitious strike from 25 yards was blasted high into the Stratton Bank.

Though Town were generally in control of the contest, visitors York displayed flashes of confidence when moving forward – in particular on the right wing where Nathan Dyer was emerging into areas of unchallenged space.

This eventually led to a corner, from which Joe Davis’ header took a wicked deflection off Jordan Burrow’s knee before flashing wide of Vigouroux’s top left corner.

City’s first genuine chance of the game prompted Town’s lacklustre style from recent home game to return, namely when persistent passing between the back three eventually led to Conroy trying his luck from 25 yards – which ended unsuccessfully.

Conroy continued to impress in his left back role as two accurate cross-field balls were met by an advancing McGlashan on the right wing.

The first cross was followed by a City clearance before Conroy’s similar second delivery led to a volley from James Dunne, whose effort was directed just wide on 39 minutes.

York City equalised against the run of play though with a clinical finish by David Ferguson following another unchallenged cross from Dyer.

Dyer escaped marker Conroy before looping his cross into the 18-yard box.

While City’s initial chance was saved by Vigouroux, Ferguson towered over McGlashan to level the contest with only three minutes remaining in the half.

The goal dampened Town’s first half efforts, which up to that point had been – generally – positive.

That positive edge evaded Town’s traits in the opening minutes of the first half as fans’ restless attitude on the terraces quickly returned.

Kallum Griffiths forced Lawrence Vigouroux into an awkward early save after his accurate 30-yard drive tested Town’s stopper.

Elijah Adebayo’s continued to struggle in his search for the target a cross from Iandolo was headed high before Scott Twine similarly ballooned his effort from outside the area over City’s crossbar with 54 minutes played.

On the hour mark, Keshi Anderson could only watch his header from the penalty spot drift wide after Iandolo rescued Adebayo’s poor pass from the edge of City’s box.

Cries of frustration from home supporters returned when Nathan Dyer almost put City ahead after he met Ferguson’s cross in the penalty area.

James Dunne responded to those cries by bursting through York’s half and gifting Adebayo a chance to re-establish Town’s one-goal lead.

The Fulham loanee’s effort was weak and comfortably saved by Bartlett’s right leg.

Swindon’s persistence in front of goal eventually led to Phil Brown’s re-taking the lead.

Keshi Anderson burst into space on the right and found Steven Alzate on the penalty spot, who leisurely slotted his effort into Bartlett’s net with 16 minutes remaining.

Alzate’s goal prompted Sam Collins to introduce Jon Parkin to York City’s attacking threats.

And the standout striker had a sight on goal with his first touch of the game when a whipped ball from the left was headed just wide.

A slightly lacklustre conclusion to the game from both teams resulted in Town booking their spot in the second round hat – though that conclusion didn’t come as easy as some presumed.