TOM Broadbent netted in the 93rd minute to hand Swindon Town a 1-0 victory away at Forest Green Rovers in their final EFL Trophy group stage fixture.

Noel Hunt’s men were excellent for large parts of the contest, but looked as though they would pay for not taking one of several good chances throughout the 90 minutes.

Yet, Broadbent, who had been ostracised under the previous manager, came back into the team to bundle home the winner in the dying seconds.

However, despite securing their first three points of the campaign, Town saw their quest to reach the knockout stages end by virtue of failing to record a win by two or more goals.

Swindon made five changes to the starting XI that began the weekend's defeat to Darlington.

Goalkeeper Joe Fryer started for just the second time, Rob Hunt came in at right-back and Taylor Curran slotted into the middle of a five-man defence.

Meanwhile, Luke Haines made his first start of the season while Jonny Smith was also recalled following his one-game suspension.

On the bench, it was very much a case of looking to youth. Harry Parsons, Massimo Giamattei, Anthony Cheshire and Toby Holland all featured, while the previously exiled Broadbent returned to the squad.

An open start produced very few clear-cut chances until Jordan Stevens was denied in the eighth minute.

Matt Smith slipped the winger in down the left, Stevens steadied himself before seeing a big left arm from Lewis Thomas deflect the ball behind.

Moments later, Pitman held the ball up for Jonny Smith to try his luck, but this time, Thomas sprung away to his right to push the effort away from danger.

An early injury to Ellis Iandolo saw the defender forced off and replaced by the previously ostracised Broadbent in the 20th minute for his season debut.

Swindon almost opened the scoring in the 23rd minute as Stevens crashed an effort off the post.

Town dispossessed Rovers high up and Pitman laid off for Stevens to run at the final two home defenders.

He jinked to his left and stuck a low shot off Thomas' left-hand upright.

Minutes later, Stevens wasted another glorious chance after Thomas cleared straight at the Leeds United loanee.

Stevens collected the ball one-on-one but could only wildly lash over with the goalkeeper stranded.

The final 15 minutes of the first half belonged to the hosts, though Fryer was only seriously tested twice as his three centre-backs dealt with most that came their way.

First, seven minutes before half-time, Rovers broke the offside trap and won a free-kick after Curran accidentally clipped the heels of Josh March 25 yards from goal.

Aaron Collins stepped up and curled his free-kick towards the near post, but Fryer was equal to it and pushed the ball behind.

Fryer’s best save came on the stroke of half-time, however.

Rovers’ corner was swung in onto the head of a free home attacker, but Fryer reacted as sharp as a tac to flick the ball away off the line and keep the scores level.

The visitors thought they had taken the lead in the 53rd minute when Jonny Smith tapped in, only to be flagged offside.

The chance came about as Stevens raced through on goal, but surely plagued by memories of missed opportunities in the first half, the winger decided to square it to Jonny Smith who had joined alongside.

Unfortunately for Town, Smith was adjudged to be offside when the ball was played.

Town continued to dominate at the New Lawn without reward as Jonny Smith and Pitman both went close.

The better of the two chances came when Stevens galloped forward and away from a challenge before playing Jonny Smith down the right.

Smith cut back for Pitman who rolled his effort narrowly wide of Thomas' right-hand post.

Despite all their domination, Swindon had their goalkeeper to thank that they didn’t go behind with 10 minutes to play.

Haines had his pocket picked on the edge of his own area before substitute Jayden Richardson snuck in to shoot.

Fryer was equal to the first effort before safely collecting the tame rebound.

Five minutes later, Town’s stopper was to the fore once again. Richardson blasted goalwards from the edge of the box, but Fryer reached up to flick the ball over and keep his clean sheet intact.

The Swindon man repeated his action with time expiring to deny March, also.

Not to be outdone, Thomas sprung down to his right as the clock hit 90 to deny Pitman and appear to send the tie to penalties.

However, with the final play of the game, Broadbent bundled home from a Matt Smith corner to mark a triumphant return to the Swindon squad and land Town all three points.

FGR starting XI: Thomas, Wilson, Sweeney, Stokes (C), M Stevens, Collins, Cadden, Allen, Evans, Whitehouse, March.

STFC starting XI: Fryer, Hunt, Baudry, Odimayo, Curran, Iandolo, M Smith, Haines, J Smith, Stevens, Pitman.